POLS 2312 1st Edition Exam 3 Study Guide Lectures 16 22 Lecture 16 2 sessions of legislature regular and special sessions Special sections are called by the governor for 30 days at a time can extend and the topics are limited Cannot be called during regular session Regular sessions are mandated by the constitution Last 140 days unlimited topics Legislature must do redistricting as required by the constitution after denial census Influences of redistricting gerrymandering single member multi member districts Lecture 17 A senator must be a U S citizen qualified TX voter residence in district to be represented for at least one year preceding the election must be a TX residence for 5 years preceding election 26 years old A HOR must be a U S citizen qualified TX voter residence in district to be represented for at least one year preceding the election must be a TX residence for 2 years preceding election 21 years old TX state senator receive a low pay reasonable allowances and a relatively generous retirement pension after a minimum period of service At the beginning of each session each chamber authorizes contingent expense allowances Lecture 18 Lt gov presides over most sessions and plays a leading role in legislative matters Lt gov is chosen by a statewide election for 4 year terms Appoints senate committee and standing committee chairs and vice chairs Determines the senate committee to which a bill will be sent to after introduction Recognizes senators who wish to speak on the senate floor to make a motion Votes only to break a tie Serves as a joint chair with speaker of the house on the legislative council the legislative budget boards and the legislative audit committee Speaker of the house is the presiding officer over the House of Representatives Elected for two year term by an open vote in the House Speaker of the House duties Appoints all chairs and vice chairs of the House substantive and procedural committees Appoints all members of the House procedural committees Appoints house substantive committee members within limitation of the seniority rules Recognizes members who wish to speak on the House floor or to make a motion Assigns bills and resolutions to the House Committees Votes rarely on bills and resolutions Lecture 19 Presiding officers appoint committee chairs and vice chairs and determine the committees to which bills will be referred Substantive committee appointed by house speaker this committee considers bills and resolutions related to the subject identified by the name and may recommend passage of a proposed legislation to the appropriate calendars committee Procedural committee these house committees consider bills and resolutions relating primarily to procedural legislative matters Standing committee a senate committee appointed by the Lt Gov for the purpose of considering proposed bills and resolutions before possible floor debates and voting by senators Lecture 20 Governor shares power with officials boards commissions as mandated by legislative branch The governor uses personal powers such as arm twisting persuasion relating to the public use PACs Requirements to become the governor of TX 30 years old U S citizen 5 years of residence immediately presiding election Governors often give their money to blind trust These are usually maintained by a close friend and the governor has influence on these funds and they usually do very very well Sounds good because its supposed to be blind but still very corrupt If the governor has to step down due to impeachment death resign etc the succession order is Lt Governor senate president pro tempore speaker of the house attorney general chief justices in order Lecture 21 Governor has appointive and removal power Governor can make an appointment when the TX legislature is not in session known as a recess appointment Martial law temporary rule by the military authorities when civil authorities are unable to handle a riot or other civil disorder Governor submits budget to legislature at beginning of each regular session A line item veto action by the governor to eliminate an individual budget item whiol permitting enactment of other parts of an appropriation bill Executive order governor issues executive orders to set policy within the executive branch and to create task forces council and other bodies Lecture 22 Plural executive the governor elected department heads and the secretary of state as provided by the TX constitution The Lt Gov is popularly elected constitutional official who serves as the president of the Senate and is first in the line of succession Attorney general the constitutional official elected to head the office of the attorney general which represents the state government in lawsuits and provides legal advice to state and local officials