Texas Legislature

Texas State Legislature

Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate House of Representatives
Leadership
President of the Senate	Dan Patrick (R) Since January 20, 2015
Speaker of the House	Joe Straus (R) Since January 13, 2009
Structure
Seats	181 voting members: 31 Senators 150 Representatives

Senate political groups	Republican (20) Democratic (11)

House political groups	Republican (99) Democratic (48) Vacant (2)
Elections
Senate last election	November 4, 2014
Meeting place

Texas State Capitol, Austin
Website
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us

The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a powerful arm of the Texas government not only because of its power of the purse to control and direct the activities of state government and the strong constitutional connections between it and the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, but also due to Texas's plural executive.

The Legislature is the constitutional successor of the Congress of the Republic of Texas since Texas's 1845 entrance into the Union. The Legislature held its first regular session from February 16 to May 13, 1846.

Structure and operations

The Texas Legislature meets in regular session on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year.^[1] The Texas Constitution limits the regular session to 140 calendar days. The lieutenant governor, elected statewide separately from the governor, presides over the Senate, while the Speaker of the House is elected from that body by its members. Both have wide latitude in choosing committee membership in their respective houses and have a large impact on lawmaking in the state.

Only the governor may call the Legislature into special sessions, unlike other states where the legislature may call itself into session. The governor may call as many sessions as he or she desires. For example, Governor Rick Perry called three consecutive sessions to address the 2003 Texas congressional redistricting. The Texas Constitution limits the duration of each special session to 30 days; lawmakers may consider only those issues designated by the governor in his "call," or proclamation convening the special session (though other issues may be added by the Governor during a session).

Any bill passed by the Legislature takes effect 90 days after its passage unless two-thirds of each house votes to give the bill either immediate effect or earlier effect. The Legislature may provide for an effective date that is after the 90th day. Under current legislative practice, most bills are given an effective date of September 1 in odd-numbered years (September 1 is the start of the state's fiscal year).

Although members are elected on partisan ballots, both houses of the Legislature are officially organized on a nonpartisan basis, with members of both parties serving in leadership positions such as committee chairmanships. As of 2015, a majority of the members of each chamber are members of the Republican Party.

Qualification for service

The Texas Constitution sets the qualifications for election to each house as follows:^[2]

A senator must be at least 26 years of age, a citizen of Texas five years prior to election and a resident of the district from which elected one year prior to election. Each senator serves a four-year term and one-half of the Senate membership is elected every two years in even-numbered years, with the exception that all the Senate seats are up for election for the first legislature following the decennial census in order to reflect the newly redrawn districts. After the initial election, the Senate is divided by lot into two classes, with one class having a re-election after two years and the other having a re-election after four years.
A representative must be at least 21 years of age, a citizen of Texas for two years prior to election and a resident of the district from which elected one year prior to election. They are elected for two-year terms, running for re-election in even-numbered years.^[3]

Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate has term limits.

Salary of legislative officials

State legislators in Texas make $600 per month, or $7,200 per year, plus a per diem of $190 for every day the Legislature is in session (also including any special sessions). That adds up to $33,800 a year for a regular session (140 days), with the total pay for a two-year term being $41,000.^[4]^[5]

Makeup of the Texas Senate

Seal of the Texas State Senate.

Main article: Texas Senate

Affiliation		Members
	Republican Party	20
	Democratic Party	11
Total		31

Makeup of the Texas House of Representatives

Seal of the Texas House of Representatives.

Main article: Texas House of Representatives

Affiliation		Members
	Republican Party	99
	Democratic Party	48
	Vacant	2
Total		150

Support agencies

The Texas Legislature has five support agencies that are within the legislative branch of state government.

Those five agencies are:

Texas Legislative Budget Board;
Texas Legislative Council;
Texas Legislative Reference Library;
Texas State Auditor; and
Texas Sunset Advisory Commission

Scandals

On May 14, 2007, CBS Austin affiliate KEYE reported on the rampant multiple voting by members of the Texas House of Representatives during a voting session.^[6] The report noted how representatives would race to the nearest empty seats to register votes for absent members on the legislature's automated voting machines. Each representative would vote for the nearest absent members, apparently regardless of party affiliation. This practice was in direct violation of a Rule of the Texas Legislature; however, no house member had ever been disciplined for the practice. The then-Speaker of the House Tom Craddick, responsible for enforcement of the rule, issued a statement that discipline for violations of the rule is left to the individual house members.^[6]

References

↑ Texas Government Code 301.001
↑ "Qualifications for Office". Sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
↑ Texas House of Representatives – Frequently Asked Questions
↑ "THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 3. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
↑ "Chapter 50, Ethics Commission Rules". Ethics.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
1 2 CBS Channel 42 KeyeTV Investigates: One Lawmaker, Many Votes?, May 14, 2007, available at "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask"; see also Wilson, Nanci, One Lawmaker, Many Votes?, May 14, 2007, available at "www.keyetv.com/topstories/local_story_134224129.html"

External links

Texas Legislature Online
Texas House of Representatives
Texas Senate
Reference Library of Texas
Open Government Texas from the Sunlight Foundation
Texas at Project Vote Smart
Texas Politics – The Legislative Branch
Texas Government Newsletter and Voter's Guide to the Texas Legislature
Billhop – Texas Legislative Wiki

State of Texas

Austin (capital)

Topics	Architecture Climate Cuisine Geography Government Healthcare History Languages Law Literature National Historic Landmarks Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks National Register of Historic Places Sites Sports Texans Transportation Symbols Visitor attractions

Society	Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Gambling Politics

Regions	Ark‑La‑Tex Big Bend Blackland Prairies Brazos Valley Central Texas Coastal Bend Concho Valley Cross Timbers Deep East Texas East Texas Edwards Plateau Golden Triangle Hill Country Llano Estacado Northeast Texas North Texas Osage Plains Panhandle Permian Basin Piney Woods Rio Grande Valley Southeast Texas South Plains South Texas Texoma Trans-Pecos West Texas

Metropolitan areas	Abilene Amarillo Austin–Round Rock Beaumont–Port Arthur Brownsville–Harlingen College Station–Bryan Corpus Christi Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington El Paso Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land Killeen–Temple Laredo Longview Lubbock McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Midland Odessa San Angelo San Antonio–New Braunfels Sherman–Denison Texarkana Tyler Victoria Waco Wichita Falls

Counties	See: List of counties in Texas

Members of the Texas Senate

83rd Texas Legislature (2013) President of the Senate: David Dewhurst (R) President Pro Tempore: Steve Ogden (R)

Kevin Eltife (R) Bob Hall (succeeding Bob Deuell) (R) Robert Nichols (R) Brandon Creighton (R) Charles Schwertner (R) Sylvia Garcia (D) Paul Bettencourt (succeeding Dan Patrick) (R) Van Taylor (succeeding Ken Paxton) (R) Kelly Hancock (R) Konni Burton (R) (succeeding Wendy Davis (D) Larry Taylor (R) Jane Nelson (R) Rodney Ellis (D) Kirk Watson (D) John Whitmire (D) Don Huffines (succeeding John Carona) (R) Joan Huffman (R) Lois Kolkhorst (succeeding Glenn Hegar) (R) Carlos Uresti (D) Juan Hinojosa (D) Judith Zaffirini (D) Brian Birdwell (R) Royce West (D) Troy Fraser (R) Donna Campbell (R) Jose Menendez (succeeding Leticia Van de Putte) (D) Eddie Lucio Jr. (D) Charles Perry (R) José R. Rodríguez (D) Craig Estes (R) Kel Seliger (R)

Republican (20) Democratic (11) Texas Legislature Texas House of Representatives Texas State Senate

Members of the Texas House of Representatives

84th Texas Legislature (2015) Speaker of the House: Joe Straus (R) Speaker Pro Tempore: Dennis Bonnen (R)

Gary VanDeaver (R) Dan Flynn (R) Cecil Bell Jr. (R) Stuart Spitzer (R) to be succeeded by Lance Gooden Bryan Hughes (R) to be succeeded by Cole Hefner Matt Schaefer (R) David Simpson (R) to be succeeded by Jay Dean Byron Cook (R) Chris Paddie (R) John Wray (R) Travis Clardy (R) Kyle Kacal (R) Leighton Schubert (R) John N. Raney (R) Mark Keough (R) Will Metcalf (R) John Cyrier (R) John Otto (R) James E. White (R) Marsha Farney (R) Dade Phelan (R) Joe Deshotel (D) Wayne Faircloth (R) Greg Bonnen (R) Dennis Bonnen (R) Rick Miller (R) Ron Reynolds (D) John M. Zerwas (R) Ed Thompson (R) Geanie Morrison (R) Ryan Guillen (D) Todd Ames Hunter (R) Scott Turner (R) Abel Herrero (D) Oscar Longoria (D) Sergio Muñoz Jr. (D) Rene Oliveira (D) Eddie Lucio III (D) Armando Martinez (D) Terry Canales (D) Bobby Guerra (D) Richard Raymond (D) J. M. Lozano (R) John Kuempel (R) Jason Isaac (R) Dawnna Dukes (D) Paul D. Workman (R) Donna Howard (D) Elliott Naishtat (D) Celia Israel (D) Eddie Rodriguez (D) Larry Gonzales (R) Andrew Murr (R) Jimmie Don Aycock (R) Molly White (R) Charles Anderson (R) Trent Ashby (R) DeWayne Burns (R) J. D. Sheffield (R) Jim Keffer (R) Phil King (R) Larry Phillips (R) Tan Parker (R) Myra Crownover (R) Ron Simmons (R) Matt Shaheen (R) Jeff Leach (R) Drew Springer, Jr. (R) James Frank (R) Scott Sanford (R) Susan King (R) Drew Darby (R) Doug Miller (R) (to be succeeded by Kyle Biedermann) Poncho Nevárez (D) Mary González (D) Cesar Blanco (D) Marisa Marquez (D) Joe Moody (D) Joe Pickett (D) Tracy King (D) Brooks Landgraf (R) Tom Craddick (R) Dustin Burrows (R) John Frullo (R) Phil Stephenson (R) John T. Smithee (R) Four Price (R) Ken King (R) Jodie Anne Laubenberg (R) Ramon Romero, Jr. (D) Stephanie Klick (R) Jonathan Stickland (R) Matt Krause (R) Tony Tinderholt (R) Nicole Collier (D) Bill Zedler (R) Craig Goldman (R) Giovanni Capriglione (R) Charlie Geren (R) Eric Johnson (D) Chris Turner (D) Linda Koop (R) Rafael Anchia (D) Roberto R. Alonzo (D) Rodney Anderson (R) Pat Fallon (R) Kenneth Sheets (R) (departing) Morgan Meyer (R) Helen Giddings (D) Toni Rose (D) Yvonne Davis (D) Angie Chen Button (R) Cindy Burkett (R) Jason Villalba (R) Matt Rinaldi (R) Trey Martinez Fischer (D) (to be succeeded by Diana Arevalo (D)) Rick Galindo (R) (to be succeeded by Philip Cortez (D)) John Lujan (R) (to be succeeded by Carlos Uresti (D)) Roland Gutierrez (D) Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (succeeded Laura Thompson, interim for Ruth McClendon (also D) Joe Straus (R) Lyle Larson (R) Diego Bernal (D) Ina Minjarez (D) Justin Rodriguez (D) Kevin Roberts (R) (succeeded Patricia Harless (R)) Dan Huberty (R) Wayne Smith (R) (to be succeeded by Briscoe Cain) Dennis Paul (R) Allen Fletcher (R) (to be succeeded by Tom Oliverson) Alma Allen (D) Mike Schofield (R) Jim Murphy (R) Sarah Davis (R) Gary Elkins (R) Tony Dale (R) Gene Wu (D) Dwayne Bohac (R) Vacancy caused by resignation of Sylvester Turner (D) Armando Walle (D) Senfronia Thompson (D) Harold Dutton, Jr. (D) Ana Hernandez Luna (D) Gilbert Peña (R) (to be succeeded by Mary Ann Perez (D)) Carol Alvarado (D) Borris Miles (D) Garnet Coleman (D) Jessica Farrar (D) Hubert Vo (D) Debbie Riddle (R)

Republican (97) Democratic (52) Texas Legislature Texas House of Representatives Texas State Senate

Texas State Legislatures by year convened

1 (1846)
2 (1847)
3 (1849)
4 (1851)
5 (1853)
6 (1855)
7 (1857)
8 (1859)
9 (1861)
10 (1863)
11 (1866)
12 (1870)
13 (1873)
14 (1874)
15 (1876)
16 (1879)
17 (1881)
18 (1883)
19 (1885)
20 (1887)
21 (1889)
22 (1891)
23 (1893)
24 (1895)
25 (1897)
26 (1899)
27 (1901)
28 (1903)
29 (1905)
30 (1907)
31 (1909)
32 (1911)
33 (1913)
34 (1915)
35 (1917)
36 (1919)
37 (1921)
38 (1923)
39 (1925)
40 (1927)
41 (1929)
42 (1931)
43 (1933)
44 (1935)
45 (1937)
46 (1939)
47 (1941)
48 (1943)
49 (1945)
50 (1947)
51 (1949)
52 (1951)
53 (1953)
54 (1955)
55 (1957)
56 (1959)
57 (1961)
58 (1963)
59 (1965)
60 (1967)
61 (1969)
62 (1971)
63 (1973)
64 (1975)
65 (1977)
66 (1979)
67 (1981)
68 (1983)
69 (1985)
70 (1987)
71 (1989)
72 (1991)
73 (1993)
74 (1995)
75 (1997)
76 (1999)
77 (2001)
78 (2003)
79 (2005)
80 (2007)
81 (2009)
82 (2011)
83 (2013)

Legislatures of the United States

United States Congress	United States House of Representatives United States Senate

State legislatures	Alabama (H, S) Alaska (H, S) Arizona (H, S) Arkansas (H, S) California (A, S) Colorado (H, S) Connecticut (H, S) Delaware (H, S) Florida (H, S) Georgia (H, S) Hawaii (H, S) Idaho (H, S) Illinois (H, S) Indiana (H, S) Iowa (H, S) Kansas (H, S) Kentucky (H, S) Louisiana (H, S) Maine (H, S) Maryland (H, S) Massachusetts (H, S) Michigan (H, S) Minnesota (H, S) Mississippi (H, S) Missouri (H, S) Montana (H, S) Nebraska Nevada (A, S) New Hampshire (H, S) New Jersey (GA, S) New Mexico (H, S) New York (A, S) North Carolina (H, S) North Dakota (H, S) Ohio (H, S) Oklahoma (H, S) Oregon (H, S) Pennsylvania (H, S) Rhode Island (H, S) South Carolina (H, S) South Dakota (H, S) Tennessee (H, S) Texas (H, S) Utah (H, S) Vermont (H, S) Virginia (H, S) Washington (H, S) West Virginia (H, S) Wisconsin (A, S) Wyoming (H, S)

Other legislatures	District of Columbia American Samoa (H, S) Guam Northern Mariana Islands (H, S) Puerto Rico (H, S) U.S. Virgin Islands

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.