Texas Legislature Terms of Office and Qualifications

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Texas LegislatureTerms of Office and
Qualifications

• House of Representatives
• Two Year Terms
• 21 years old
• Texas resident for 2 years
• District resident for 1 year

• Senate
• Four Year Terms Staggered
• 26 years old
• Texas resident for 5 years
• District resident for 1 year

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Factors That Shape Legislative Decisions

• Wishes of Constituents
• Other Legislators
• Colleagues from the same county or region
• The Bills Sponsor
• Speakers Leadership Team.
• Lieutenant Governors Leadership Team.
• Staff
• Interest Groups
• Governor
• Statewide Office Holders
• News Media

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Texas LegislatureHouse Leadership

• Speaker of the House
• Names Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs
• Appoints all members of procedural committees
• Appoints a Speaker pro tempore (assistant
  presiding officer)

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Texas LegislatureSenate Leadership

• Lieutenant Governor
• Most Powerful Office in Texas State Government
• President pro tempore is chosen by senators from
  among their membership.
• Rotated among senators on a seniority basis.
• President pro tempore is third in line of
  succession to the governorship.

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Procedural Obstacles to Legislation in the Senate

• Two-Thirds Rule
• Two-thirds approval necessary before a bill can
  be debated on the Senate floor.
• Tag
• Senator can postpone a committee hearing for at
  least forty-eight hours
• Filibuster
• Senator can speak against a bill for as long as
  he or she can stand and talk.

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Texas Legislature 21st Century Directions

• Constitutional Changes
• Emerging Partisanship
• Demographic Changes