The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of Texas. The legislature meets at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. In Texas, the legislature is considered "the dominant branch of state government," according to the Texas State Historical Association.[1] Show
It is composed of the upper chamber, the Texas State Senate, and the lower chamber, the Texas House of Representatives. Texas entered the Union in 1845. The first legislature met from February 16 to May 13, 1846. Texas has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature. Texas enacted new state legislative districts on October 25, 2021. After both sets of legislative district maps passed their respective chambers, the House and Senate both approved maps for the other chamber's districts on October 15, 2021. The House approved the Senate map by an 81-60 vote, and the Senate approved the House map by an 18-13 vote.[2] Gov. Abbott signed both maps into law on October 25, 2021.[3]These maps took effect for Texas' 2022 legislative elections. In April 2022, the state of Texas said it will redraw legislative district boundaries before the 2024
elections. In a filing for a motion to stay in League of United Latin American Citizens, et al., v. Abbott, et al., Texas said, “Between now and the 2024 elections, the Texas Legislature will enact legislation regarding state legislative seats as required by article III, section 28 of the Texas Constitution... Specifically, article III, section 28 of the Texas Constitution requires that “[t]he Legislature shall, at its first regular session after the publication of each United States
decennial census, apportion the state into senatorial and representative districts, agreeable to the provisions of Sections 25 and 26 of” Article III of the Constitution. In this instance, due to the U.S. Census Bureau’s delays in releasing the necessary data, that first regular session is the 2023 regular session. The State has already acknowledged that while federal law required the State to reapportion sooner than 2023, that does not relieve the State of its obligation to enact redistricting
legislation in 2023 as required by its Constitution.”[4] Click here for more information. Elections2022See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2022 and Texas House of Representatives elections, 2022Elections for the Texas State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for March 1, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for May 24, 2022. The filing deadline was December 13, 2021. Elections for the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for March 1, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for May 24, 2022. The filing deadline was December 13, 2021. 2020See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2020 and Texas House of Representatives elections, 2020Elections for the office of Texas State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020, and a primary runoff was scheduled for July 14, 2020. The filing deadline was December 9, 2019. Elections for the office of Texas House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020, and a primary runoff was scheduled for July 14, 2020. The filing deadline was December 9, 2019. 2018See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2018 and Texas House of Representatives elections, 2018Elections for the Texas State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on March 6, 2018.[5] A primary runoff election took place on May 22, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was December 11, 2017.[6] Elections for the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on March 6, 2018.[7] A primary runoff election took place on May 22, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was December 11, 2017.[8] 2016See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2016 and Texas House of Representatives elections, 2016Elections for the Texas State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.[9] Elections for the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.[10] 2014See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2014 and Texas House of Representatives elections, 2014Elections for 15 of the 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Elections for all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Those candidates who did not receive 50 percent or more of the vote in their party primary on March 4 faced an additional May 27 primary runoff. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. 2012See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2012 and Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012Elections for the office of Texas State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 29, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2012. Elections for the office of Texas House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 29, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2012. 2010See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2010 and Texas House of Representatives elections, 2010Elections for the office of Texas State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on March 2, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was January 4, 2010. Elections for the office of Texas House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on March 2, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was January 4, 2010. SessionsArticle III of the Texas Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to be in session. Section 5 of Article III states that the Legislature shall meet every two years at times to be established by law. Current law establishes the start of session to be noon on the second Tuesday in January of all odd numbered years.[11] Section 5 goes on to say that the Legislature can also be convened by the Governor of Texas. Sessions are limited to 140 days. 2022See also: Dates of 2022 state legislative sessionsIn 2022, the legislature will not hold a regular session. 2021See also: 2021 Texas legislative session and Dates of 2021 state legislative sessionsIn 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 12, 2021, and adjourn on May 31, 2021. 2020See also: Dates of 2020 state legislative sessionsIn 2020, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2019See also: 2019 Texas legislative session and Dates of 2019 state legislative sessionsIn 2019, the legislature was in session from January 8, 2019, through May 27, 2019. 2018See also: Dates of 2018 state legislative sessionsIn 2018, the legislature did not hold a regular session.
Role in state budgetSee also: Texas state budget and financesThe state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[41]
The legislature is constitutionally required to adopt a balanced budget. The governor must sign a balanced budget into law.[41] Qualification for serviceThe Texas Constitution sets the qualifications for election to each house as follows:
Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate has term limits. Texas State SenateSee also: Texas State SenateThe current make-up of the Texas Legislature is as follows: There are 31 Senators in the Texas State Senate. As of the 2020 Census, Texas state senators represented an average of 940,177 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 811,147 residents.
Click here for a list of members of this chamber. Between 1992 and 2020, partisan control of the Texas State Senate shifted in favor of the Republican Party. As a result of the 1992 elections, Democrats held an 18-13 majority. Republicans flipped the chamber in 1996 and, by 2020, expanded their majority to 18-13. The table below shows the partisan history of the Texas State Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2020. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff. Texas State Senate
election results: 1992-2020
The movement from an 18-13 Democratic majority in 1992 to a 18-13 Republican majority in 2020 was gradual. Half of the elections between 1992 and 2018 saw no change to the partisan balance of the state Senate. In years where there was a shift in balance, those shifts were minimal. Republicans made their largest gains—three seats—in the 2002 elections. The only years Democrats made gains were 2008, 2018, and 2020 picking up one seat in each year. Texas House of RepresentativesSee also: Texas House of RepresentativesThere are 150 representatives in the Texas House of Representatives. As of the 2020 Census, Texas state representatives represented an average of 194,303 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 167,637 residents.
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Texas House of Representatives election results: 1992-2020
Republicans gained control of the state House in 2002 after gaining 16 seats. The partisan balance of the chamber moved 14 seats in favor of Republicans in the four elections leading up to the 2002 elections. Between 2002 and 2008, Democrats were able to take back 12 seats. After 2008, the chamber was nearly split at a 76-74 Republican majority. Republicans' largest gains would occur as a result of the 2010 elections, when they picked up 23 seats. Democrats gained 16 seats between 2010 and 2020. District mapsState SenateState HouseVeto overridesSee also: Veto overrides in state legislaturesState legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Texas are listed below. How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers. Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 100 of the 150 members in the Texas House of Representatives and 21 of the 31 members in the Texas State Senate. Texas is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. Authority: Article 4, Section 14 of the Texas Constitution. "Every bill which shall have passed both houses of the Legislature shall be presented to the Governor for his approval. If he approve he shall sign it; but if he disapprove it, he shall return it, with his objections, to the House in which it originated, which House shall enter the objections at large upon its journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, to the other House, by which likewise it shall be reconsidered; and, if approved by two-thirds of the members of that House, it shall become a law; but in such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively." RedistrictingSee also: Redistricting in TexasIn Texas, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Texas State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[43] If the state legislature is unable to approve a state legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines (the backup commission is not involved in congressional redistricting). This backup commission, established in 1948, comprises the following members:[43]
The Texas Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and "that they preserve whole counties when population mandates permit."[43] 2020See also: Redistricting in Texas after the 2020 censusTexas enacted new state legislative districts on October 25, 2021. After both sets of legislative district maps passed their respective chambers, the House and Senate both approved maps for the other chamber's districts on October 15, 2021. The House approved the Senate map by an 81-60 vote, and the Senate approved the House map by an 18-13 vote.[44] Gov. Abbott signed both maps into law on October 25, 2021.[45]These maps took effect for Texas' 2022 legislative elections. In April 2022, the state of Texas said it will redraw legislative district boundaries before the 2024 elections. In a filing for a motion to stay in League of United Latin American Citizens, et al., v. Abbott, et al., Texas said, “Between now and the 2024 elections, the Texas Legislature will enact legislation regarding state legislative seats as required by article III, section 28 of the Texas Constitution... Specifically, article III, section 28 of the Texas Constitution requires that “[t]he Legislature shall, at its first regular session after the publication of each United States decennial census, apportion the state into senatorial and representative districts, agreeable to the provisions of Sections 25 and 26 of” Article III of the Constitution. In this instance, due to the U.S. Census Bureau’s delays in releasing the necessary data, that first regular session is the 2023 regular session. The State has already acknowledged that while federal law required the State to reapportion sooner than 2023, that does not relieve the State of its obligation to enact redistricting legislation in 2023 as required by its Constitution.”[46] 2010See also: Redistricting in Texas after the 2010 censusTexas received its local census data on February 17, 2011. The state grew 20.6%, with Hispanics making up at least 2/3 of that growth. As far as the large cities, Houston grew by 7.5 percent, San Antonio grew by 16.0 percent, Dallas grew by 0.8 percent, Austin grew by 20.4 percent, and Fort Worth grew by 38.6 percent. However, Harris County -- of which Houston is the seat -- grew by 20%, suggesting suburban growth.[47] In 2012, Texas held elections under interim maps drawn by a federal court after the Legislature's passed maps were thrown out by a panel of three federal judges on Voting Rights Act grounds. The panel drew up its own maps, but the federal court struck down those as well, substituting its own so that the elections could proceed. LegislatorsSalariesSee also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
PensionWhen calculating a legislators pension, their normal salary is artificially inflated to $125,000. This goes back to 1981, when lawmakers linked their salaries to those of state judges. Since then, they raised judges' salaries while removing the caps on their own pensions, pushing the maximum benefit up to 100% of a judge's salary. In 2011, this resulted in an average state employee pension of $17,526 annually. The maximum pension a legislator can earn is $125,000, of which Rep. Tom Craddick (R) will be the first to qualify for when he retires. [48] When sworn inSee also: When state legislators assume office after a general electionTexas legislators assume office at the beginning of the legislative session, which starts at noon on the second Tuesday in January in the year after the election.[49] Amending the constitutionThe Texas legislature has the authority to propose amendments to the Texas Constitution. Proposed amendments must be approved in a joint resolution of both the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives. The joint resolution can originate in either the House or the Senate. The resolution must be adopted by a vote of at least two-thirds of the membership of each house of the legislature. That amounts to a minimum of 100 votes in the House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Senate. Amendments may be proposed in either regular or special sessions. Joint CommitteesIn the Texas state government, Joint Committees are comprised of members of both the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives, and sometimes civilian members of executive agencies, commissions, and councils. Joint committees are created by the Lieutenant Governor Speaker of the House through special proclamation. Under normal circumstances, joint committees in Texas are created to operate in the interim of legislative sessions, and rarely during a session. All joint committees in Texas are classified as select committees, and do not carry over between legislative sessions.[50] 2011-2012The Texas Legislature had one joint committee:
2009-2010
HistoryPartisan balance 1992-2013See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, TexasPartisan breakdown of the Texas legislature from 1992-2013 Texas Senate: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Texas State Senate for five years while the Republicans were the majority for 17 years. Texas was under Republican trifectas for the final 11 years of the study. Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013. Texas House: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Texas State House of Representatives for the first 11 years while the Republicans were the majority for the last 11 years. Texas was under Republican trifectas for the final 11 years of the study. Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013. Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied. The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Texas, the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013. SQLI and partisanshipTo read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.Texas was one of eight states to demonstrate a dramatic partisan shift in the 22 years studied. A dramatic shift was defined by a movement of 40 percent or more toward one party over the course of the study period. Texas started out with Democratic trifectas but shifted to Republican trifectas by the end of the study. The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Texas state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Prior to Republican trifectas, which started in 2003, the SQLI rating for Texas stayed consistently in the 30s, except for its lowest ranking of 40 in 1994 during a Democratic trifecta. Within a few years of the Republican trifectas that ranking moved up, and Texas finished 11th, its highest ranking, in 2012.
Chart displaying the partisanship of Texas government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI). Constitutional amendmentsIn every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures. The methods in which the Texas Constitution can be amended: See also: Article 17 of the Texas Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Texas
Certified: The following measures were certified for the ballot.No measures to list
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2022 ballot by the legislature. See also: Texas 2022 ballot measuresCertified: The following measures were certified for the ballot.
See also
External links
Footnotes
What role does Texas Legislature serve what are some of its powers and responsibilities?The duties of the legislature include consideration of proposed laws and resolutions, consideration of proposed constitutional amendments for submission to the voters, and appropriation of all funds for the operation of state government.
What are the 3 main roles of state legislatures?State legislatures serve three primary functions. They perform a lawmaking function by researching, writing, and passing legislation. Members represent their districts and work to meet requests for help from citizens within it. Finally, legislatures perform an oversight function for the executive branch.
What does the Texas Constitution state about those serving in the Texas Legislature?No person shall be a Representative, unless he be a citizen of the United States, and, at the time of his election, a qualified voter of this State, and shall have been a resident of this State two years next preceding his election, the last year thereof a resident of the district for which he shall be chosen, and ...
What are some characteristics of the Texas Legislature?The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of the US state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin.
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