Texas State Legislature: A Questionnaire

The Texas legislature is the dominant branch of state government within the state constitutional framework of separation of powers. “Under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the legislature, as representative of the people of Texas, exercises plenary powers, limited only by the Texas and United States constitutions and valid federal laws” (Texas Legislature). In the 1845-1879 Texas statehood constitution, which laid out the basic legislative framework established the bicameral legislature, which contains the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is formed by forty-five to ninety members, which are elected form counties, cities, or towns for two-year terms. The House of Reps. originated from the British House of Commons, which has the exclusive right to create taxes and spend that revenue, which is considered the ultimate check on royal authority. Therefore, “All bills for revenue shall be originated in the House of Representatives…” (U.S. Constitution), in reference to the fiscal policy. A fiscal policy is the means by which a government adjusts its spending levels and tax rates to

I believe that many people in Texas do not care to vote because of apathy and the majority see a system that is corrupt, full of lies and

There four possible ways of reforming the system: Nonpartisan elections, Legislative election, Merit selection and Gubernatorial appointment. Nonpartisan elections are similar to partisan election as judges will be elected directly by the people. However, in nonpartisan election candidates are listed on the ballot without a label designating party affiliation. Nonpartisan elections can minimize the involvement of interest group in the campaigning process. However, In the absence of party affiliation, issue-based campaigning will be popular. The other solution to Texas’s judicial flaws is a Legislative election. In this system, judges will be selected by the state legislature. In spite of that Legislative elections can potentially create a judiciary primarily made up of past

The Texas Legislature has powers either by non-legislative power or legislative power. The legislative power includes power that can be passed by bills and resolutions, and non-legislative powers by functions falling outside the lawmaking function. In general the Texas Legislatures responsibilities are to set public policy by passing bills and resolutions. It supervises the state bureaucracy through the budgetary process and the Sunset Act, this act provides review and termination of state agencies. The Texas Constitution sets Legislative power in two houses, a Senate of 31 members and a House of Representatives of no more than 150 members. The Texas Constitution stipulates the terms of the office and qualifications, for example House members

The Texas Legislature members cannot hold another official government office. In addition, the members must meet specific criteria such as voter status, citizenship, and district residence. Although all the large criteria required in order to become a member, millions of Texas residents occupy these legal qualifications. Biographical data, however, has advised that numerous individuals recent to Texas Legislatures have informal qualifications which are restricting opportunities for election.

In Texas, the state legislature is the most important representative institution in the state. Like the US Congress, the Texas Legislature is bicameral. This means that the legislature in split into two separate assemblies; the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate. There are 150 House members and 31 senators, and they meet for 140 days every odd-numbered year. The Texas Legislature is the state's lawmaking branch. Its main function is to enact laws to provide for the health, welfare, education, environment, and economic and general well-being of the citizens of Texas. It also establishes public policy through the passage of bills and resolutions and proposes amendments to the state constitution, which are then submitted to the voters for approval or disapproval.

Rubesh Phaiju Professor Sherry Sharifian GOVT 2306-71003 28 November 2017 Committees Texas House of Representative consists of many committees which are working for the development of society and the people. Some of the committees which I would consider, if elected are Opioids & Substance Abuse Select Committee, Business & Industry Committee and Economic & Small Business Development Committee.

Over the course of United States history, Texas has always been a peculiar state. It has had it's fair share of triumphs and downfalls, some of which were the Battle of The Alamo, the defeat of the Spanish army, and its acquisition by the United States. Although the history of Texas might seem to dominate the opinions of many, the governmental component is no different. In fact, some have debated if the very foundation of our government is a democracy or a republic. In response, and through thorough research, I have concluded that Texas is, in fact, a democracy, because there is a multitude of electoral systems, an array of elected positions that citizens can run for, and a myriad of court systems to which justice can be served.

Texas Legislature met for the 85th time last spring since statehood. The Texas Legislature passed several laws from State budget, protecting children, schools, sanctuary cities, and many more, at the same time some laws where not passed.

Texas remains a large state with masses of diversity in addition. Despite all the Texas greatness and large land there remains one issue that stays still not immense in, which is voting. Surprisingly, only twenty-two percent of Texans vote. Furthermore, Texas is positioned second to last with the lowest voting rate. There exist plenty of reasons Texas has such a minimal voter turnout rate. One reason mentioned in the Texas Civil Health Index “transpires Texas demographic” (Texas 20). In addition, another reason befalls that people actually believe that their vote doesn’t matter. Finally, a third reason stands that people ensue uneducated. Voting will transform our lives, if citizens just speak up everything will be just the way Texans want it. Texans need to benefit of their freedom and not let only segment of the state control our appeals and needs. It is essential to vote; that will be the only way our voice could be heard; it

In my analysis of the Texas Constitution I will assess the three branches of our State Government, the Legislative Branch, Executive Branch and finally the Judicial Branch. Our State Government resembles our National Government in various ways but also in very different ways which we will review in this essay. I will identify a handful of criticisms and problems associated with the provisions in each of these branches of our State Government and identify suggested reforms that many feel are needed.

The core function of the Texas Legislature is to formulate and enact laws. Apart from the enactment of laws, the legislative body is also mandated with the functions of shaping the state’s political agenda, performing checks and balances on state of the state’s government, pass the state’s budget, as well as oversee the functions of the administration. Similarly, the body also sets the critical details or a court’s organizational procedures when it comes to matters that pertain to impeachment and court disputes regarding election petitions. It is equally important to mention that the body is also mandated with the function of informing and educating the electorate regarding the critical functions the body is required to deliver to the people as provided for by the laws of the State of Texas (Dautrich and Yalof 684).

There are numerous varieties of election races in Texas. The state Constitution and the political society in Texas together have made a framework of our legal system that welcomes Texans to pick applicants for a great numerous public offices in all levels of the government inside the state. The Constitution needs direct election for different state offices inside the executive branch and inside the legal system of the judicial branch, likewise with respect to various county level offices. A few legislative activities oblige changing the Constitution, that also needs special established constitutional amendment elections. Numerous metropolitan and other local offices are filled

The Texas legislative mirrors the federal in a couple of ways and one of them is that it is composed of two chambers. The two chambers are the House and the Senate. These two chambers are the only ones in the Texas government who can file a bill. If started in the House the bill put forward go through an extremely lengthy process. The bill will be given a number and go through a first reading. Afterwards, it is given to a committee who will decide if the bill will die then or go on. It will then be open to public hearings for the public to tell the government of what they feel about

The demographic composition of the Texas house of representatives, according to Anthony Champagne and Edward Harpham in Governing Texas, the gender make up is 21% female and 79% male. The dominant race of the members of the House is White by 66%, Hispanics are in second by 21%, Blacks are in third by 12%, and Asians are in fourth by 1%. Many of the house members are high school graduates or have a higher education, only 7% are high school graduates, 3% have an associate’s degree, 53% have a bachelor’s degree, and 37% have a graduate degree. Based on occupation, 35% of the house members are in the business industry, 30% are attorneys, 1% work in the community service, 5% work in health care, 4% work in education, and 25% work in other occupations (205). The Texas Senators