Texas Legislature

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== Texas Legislature ==

The Texas Legislature is the bicameral legislative body of the U.S. state of Texas. It consists of two chambers: the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate. The Legislature meets at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.

Structure

The Texas Legislature is composed of 181 members: 150 members in the Texas House of Representatives and 31 members in the Texas Senate. Members of the House are elected to two-year terms, while Senators serve four-year terms. The Legislature convenes in regular session on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year. Special sessions can be called by the Governor of Texas.

Texas House of Representatives

The Texas House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Texas Legislature. It is composed of 150 members, each representing a district of approximately equal population. The presiding officer of the House is the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, who is elected by the members of the House.

Texas Senate

The Texas Senate is the upper chamber of the Texas Legislature. It is composed of 31 members, each representing a district of approximately equal population. The presiding officer of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, who is elected statewide and serves a four-year term.

Legislative Process

The legislative process in Texas follows several steps:

1. **Introduction**: A bill is introduced by a member of either the House or the Senate.
2. **Committee Review**: The bill is referred to a committee for study and recommendation.
3. **Floor Debate**: If approved by the committee, the bill is debated on the floor of the originating chamber.
4. **Vote**: The bill is voted on by the full chamber. If it passes, it moves to the other chamber for consideration.
5. **Second Chamber**: The bill goes through a similar process in the second chamber.
6. **Conference Committee**: If there are differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, a conference committee may be formed to reconcile them.
7. **Governor's Action**: The final bill is sent to the Governor, who can sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature.

Powers and Functions

The Texas Legislature has several key powers and functions, including:

• **Legislation**: Enacting laws that govern the state of Texas.
• **Budget**: Approving the state budget and appropriating funds.
• **Oversight**: Conducting oversight of state agencies and programs.
• **Constituent Services**: Assisting constituents with issues related to state government.

History

The Texas Legislature was established in 1845 when Texas became the 28th state of the United States. The structure and functions of the Legislature have evolved over time, with significant changes occurring during the Reconstruction era and the Civil Rights Movement.

Related Pages

• Texas House of Representatives
• Texas Senate
• Governor of Texas
• Texas State Capitol
• Lieutenant Governor of Texas
• Legislative process
• Bicameralism

See Also

• Politics of Texas
• Government of Texas
• United States Congress
• State legislature (United States)