Regular session - Answers -the 140-day period during which the Texas legislature
meets to consider and pass bills; occurs only in odd-numbered years
Special session - Answers -An extraordinary session of a legislative body, called to deal
with an emergency situation
Single-member district - Answers -Electoral district from which one person is chosen by
the voters for each elected office
Joe Straus - Answers -He is the current speaker of the texas house of representatives.
David Dewhurst - Answers -Lieutenant Governor of Texas.
Bicameral - Answers -A legislative body with two chambers
Incumbent - Answers -Current officeholder
Representation of Hispanics, African Americans, women (Figures 8.1) - Answers -
Figure 8.1 shows the representation of the 81st legislature. Hispanic represent almost
40% of population but represented by 20% in legislature. African Americans were little
over 10% in population and almost same as percentage in legislature. White make up
50% of population but represent 70% in legislature. Asian americans are around 5% or
lower in percentage of population and little bit lower representation in congress. Women
make up around 50% of population but represented almost 30% in legislature.
Majority party in Senate and House - Answers -Republican
Compensation for legislators - Answers -Paid $600 dollars a month a total of $7,200 a
year. Figure is low compared to other states.
Citizen legislators? - Answers -One made up primarily of citizens who have a full-time
occupation besides being a legislator. Low salories the continuation of citizen legislature
whose members are relatively immune from outside pressures, because lawmakers are
not dependent on legislature salaries, more wiling to take politcal chances to do the
right thing.
Evaluate the effect of biennial 140-day sessions - Answers -In 140 days the legislature
may not have the time to do the state's business. Often falls behind and have to act on
, flood of bills in the last few weeks of the session before time runs out. Yet without a limit
the session would drag on. Is not as congested as you would think, has measure
passed that have been under legislature consideration for months even if decided in last
two weeks.
Legislative Council - Answers -Conducts a brief orientation for new legislatures. Helps
members draft bills and assists committees.
Legislative Budget Board (LBB) - Answers -An agency created by the legislature to
study state revenue and budgetary needs between legislative sessions and prepare
budget and appropriations bills to submit to the legislature
Legislative Audit Committee - Answers -Formally checks expenditures of state agencies
to determine if they are spending budget money in accordance with directions from the
legislature
Committees - Answers -Groups that study bills before they are brought up in the 2
houses
Conference committee - Answers -A special committee created to negotiate differences
on similar pieces of legislation passed by the House and Senate.
Filibuster - Answers -An attempt to defeat a bill through prolonged debate
Senatorial courtesy - Answers -A custom of the Texas Senate that allows individuals
senators a veto over nominees who live in their districts
Speaker's team - Answers -The leadership team in the House, consisting of the
Speaker and his or her most trusted allies among the members, most of whom the
Speaker appoints to chair House committees.
Texas Sunshine Act - Answers -...
Pigeonholing - Answers -Occurs when a committee ignores a bill and doesn't report it
out. Also known as "tabling" or "death by committee." Major cause of bill death.
In your opinion, how attractive would it be to be a member of the Texas Legislature? -
Answers -I do not think that it is that attractive to be a texas legislature. I know that
money is not everything but the pay of $7,200 is already makes the job unattractive. If
you are someone who already has a second job, I do not know of that you can leave for
a 140 day period every two years. It seems like the responsiblities are high but pay is
low.
Is it possible in a democracy to run a state government without a legislature? Why or
why not? - Answers -A democracy would be difficult to run with a government without a
state legislature. This is because we need the legislature branch as part of they checks
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