Gt lecture ppt_ch07

Chapter 7The TexasLegislature

The Texas Legislature

What Government Does and Why It Matters

2002, GOP wins Texas HouseFirst time since Reconstruction (120+ years)

Tom Craddick (R-Midland) elected SpeakerConservative wing of party supported him

Could not hold his party together though

January 2009Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) elected Speaker

Moderate Republicans and Democrats support him

Conflict with strong conservatives in the GOP remains

Structure of Texas Legislature

Texas Senate31 senators

Represent ~819,000 constituents eachMore than a U.S. congressperson from Texas

Serve four-year terms

No term limits


Texas House150 representatives

Represent ~169,000 constituents each

Serve two-year terms

No term limits


Nonprofessional legislature: not full-time job

Convenes 140 days in odd-numbered yearsRegular sessions are five months, January to May

Legislation must pass in the exact same form in two chambers that represent different constituent districts.


Local and consentLegislatures pass all kinds of trivial bills.

Honorific

Local and not expensive (good will with voters)

Goal is to save time for the major legislation

These kinds of bills can be passed by unanimous agreement without taking up floor time.

Membership in the Legislature

QualificationsU.S. citizen and a qualified voter

Senate26 years old

Resident of state for five years, one year in district

House21 years old

Resident of state for two years, one year in district


Like U.S. Congress, most Texas legislators:White, male, and Protestant

Texas legislature more diverse, though:25% Latino (U.S. Congress 5%)

9% African American (U.S. Congress 7%)

20% women (compared to U.S. Congress 17%)

31% attorneys (compared to U.S. Congress 45%)

Membership


Salaries$7,200 per year

$150 per day when legislature is in sessionUp to 12 days per month when not in session

Another indicator of nonprofessional status

WHO ARE TEXANS?

Chapter 7

WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF TEXAS LEGISLATURE?

WHO ARE TEXANS?

Who are the Members of Texas Legislature?

TX Pop.

50%

50%

Female

Male

TX House

24%

76%

Gender

Texas PopulationKey

Texas House of Representatives

SOURCES: For Texas House, 2009–2010, numbers calculated by author based on data from

the online version of the Texas State Directory, www.txdirectory.com/. State demographic data

calculated from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2006–2008.

WHO ARE TEXANS?


TX Pop.

48%

12%

36%

3%

White

Black

Hispanic

Asian

TX House

69%

9%

20%

1%

Race

Texas PopulationKey





WHO ARE TEXANS?


TX Pop.

21%

27%

6%

17%

8%

<1%

< High school

High School grad

Associate’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Masters degree

Doctorate

TX House

—

14%

1%

35%

50%

5%

Education

Texas PopulationKey





WHO ARE TEXANS?


Occupation

Business

43%

SOURCES: For Texas House, 2009–2010, numbers calculated by author based on data from the online version of the Texas State Directory, www.txdirectory.com/. State

demographic data calculated from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2006–2008.

Attorney

31%

Community Service

8%

Health Care

4%

Other

12%Accounting

3%

Gender and Minority Membership in the Texas Legislature

Sources of the Leadership’s Power

The Texas legislature differs dramatically from Congress with respect to political parties.No formal party leader roles

More bipartisan in natureCommittees can be chaired by either party.

Appointments made by Speaker of the House and lieutenant governor are aimed at getting support from both parties.


Two-thirds ruleA bill requires a two-thirds vote in Senate for a bill to

be voted on out of order

RecognitionSpeaker determines how much floor time a bill gets,

and also controls who can speakVery powerful political tool allowing some

legislators to shine, while others are shut down


Speaker appoints half of all committee seats and also designates the chair

Lt. Gov. appoints 80 percent of all committee seats and also designates the chairRemainder in both chambers is by seniority

Very powerful mechanism for obtaining loyalty of committee members and chairs


CommitteesIn U.S. Congress, committees have clear

jurisdictions.

Less so in Texas, where jurisdictions can overlap

Leadership can choose the committees to send a bill, allowing for more likelihood of passage or less

How a Bill Becomes a Law in Texas

Total Number of Vetoes by Texas Governors

Redistricting

Especially important in TexasGained seats in nine of last 10 reapportionments

2010, Texas picked up four seats (36 total)

Districts must have equal number of voters.Redistricting takes place after each census.

Legislature draws new maps.

Legislative Redistricting Board if no agreement

Federal preclearance required in Texas

Redistricting

Public Opinion Poll

Should the Texas legislature meet annually (instead of

every other year as they do now)?

a) Yes

b) No

Public Opinion Poll

Would you approve of a districting commission that required that equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats draw new congressional districts?

a) Strongly approve

b) Approve

c) Disapprove

d) Strongly disapprove

Public Opinion Poll

Would you approve of longer legislative sessions?

a) Strongly approve

b) Approve

c) Disapprove

d) Strongly disapprove

Public Opinion Poll

Is $7,200 an appropriate salary for state

representatives and senators?

a) Yes

b) No

Public Opinion Poll

Should Texas legislators have term limits?

a) Yes

b) No

Chapter 23: The Texas Legislature

QuizzesFlashcardsOutlinesExerciseswwnorton.com/we-the-people

Following this slide, you will find additional images, figures, and tables from the textbook.

Floor Action

The Governor

Bicameralism

The Media

Power in the Legislature

The Public

Centralizing Power: Sources of the Leadership’s Power

Centralizing Power

Gt lecture ppt_ch07

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