The Legislature Is The Least Weak Of The Three Branches Of Texas Government, But Its Organization Still Reflects Texans’ Embrace Of Limited Government.
The Legislature Is The Least Weak Of The Three Branches Of Texas Government, But Its Organization Still Reflects Texans’ Embrace Of Limited Government.
The legislature is the least weak of the three branches of the Texas government, but its organization still reflects Texans’ embrace of limited government.
In the following paper, the author aims to discuss the government system for Texas which includes the bicameral structure, legislative sessions, special sessions, serving in the legislature, and representation, in terms of office. Furthermore, the author will also include a discussion about compensation. Within the state, Legislature is designed to ensure the maximum representation of the segments and to provide a platform where different parties with different objectives and goals can reunite while making new laws and policies. Congress of the United States also ensures the reconciliations and fair law and policymaking processes.
Bicameral structure
There are many states which have bicameral systems like the United States except the state of Nebraska, and Texas also has a bicameral system for the legislation of the government ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"1WJAAyh5","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature} 3.1)","plainCitation":"(The Legislature 3.1)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}},"locator":"3.1"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.1). The Legislature for Texas has two main and separate chambers that include the house of representatives, and member senates. These both have separate members, whereas there are 31 seats or the member senates, and 150 seats for the house of representatives. The number of these seats also depends on the states. Based on western political backgrounds, bicameralism is considered to be a familiar part of it ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Pi2iv0BA","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature} 3.1)","plainCitation":"(The Legislature 3.1)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}},"locator":"3.1"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.1). The reason for the split in the branch of the government is said to be the fear of the strong legislation of the nation. Moreover, this body of the government was influenced by the prevalent pressures in the system. This is the system that contributes to slowing down the processes of legislation of the state. The process of passing a bill is considered to be as a wending as this has to go through a complex system including reviews, amendments, and finally approvals for two times by the House and the Senate. The system of bicameralism results in the regional disparities among populations within the state.
Legislative sessions and special sessions
The legislative sessions are comprised of two main sessions that include regular and special sessions. The regular sessions are the ones that are convened by the legislature for only 140 days mostly weekends. In Texas, this session gets started in January and ends in June. After 140 days when the initial legislation is not processed and this is considered to be impractical no matter both houses approved it or not ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"CiKBc55G","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature} 3.2)","plainCitation":"(The Legislature 3.2)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}},"locator":"3.2"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.2). Late decision making for passing legislation depicts the failure and lack of interest by the members. Furthermore, the special sessions are held after the regular legislative session. During this session, only one governor is subjected to decide on the legislature that will be helpful during the sessions. After the arrangement and call for the special session, it becomes impossible for the governor for the cancel the session. After the failure of the legislation, then the governor has the authority to re-call the session or another session until and unless all of the members pass the legislation. The results of special sessions are more influenced by the governor. There are also likely chances that, individuals who try to avert the legislation try to implement the delaying tactics ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"C6Tuoq1a","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature} 3.2)","plainCitation":"(The Legislature 3.2)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}},"locator":"3.2"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.2).
Serving in the legislature
There are a total of 181 state legislators for Texas: 150 house members and 31 senate members. To cover these seats in both houses, affiliates get elected from single-member districts. Based on the United States Census all of the boundaries are re-drawn in a period of one decade ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"wPOIk6dF","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature} 3.3)","plainCitation":"(The Legislature 3.3)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}},"locator":"3.3"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.3). The district boundaries are all different for Texas House, Texas Senate, and the House of Representatives which means that citizens live in three different districts, and each district has an office. During 1972, a decision was confirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States which allowed to decrease or end the voting forte of racial groups who would vote ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"zLFcwwoV","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature} 3.3)","plainCitation":"(The Legislature 3.3)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}},"locator":"3.3"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.3). However, until the implementation of a single member, the white majority were supposed to elect representatives from the non-minority groups. Along with the 31 regular members, a lieutenant governor is assigned to the Texas senate which is the office for the president of Senate.
Representation: in terms of office
After every two years, the elections for both houses are carried and the members for the representation of the house get elected for two years, while the duration for the senators is fixed as seven years. Suggestions over the terms and conditions of the office are shared, that is why elections are held in two years ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"WZA7Snws","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature} 3.4)","plainCitation":"(The Legislature 3.4)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}},"locator":"3.4"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.4). When it comes to the elections, each member of the house can take part and they also have the option to serve the house if their constituents show a willingness to elect them again. While there are no as such term limits concerning re-election. To avoid and decrease the discrepancies in the political as well as economic crisis, staggering terms of office in the Senate may be helpful. Only 15 senators run the election cycle out of 31, whereas, the other senators run the elections after two years.
However, the case for Texas is different, the legislation has to be changed after 10 years, for that purpose, a census becomes important for the Texas Constitution. As a result of this process, there starts a new stagger, and this is achieved by making the senators participate in drawing straws which includes all of the members of the Senate. The overall impact of terms of staggering is different because each term is for a fixed time duration ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"BnV5b4LQ","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature} 3.4)","plainCitation":"(The Legislature 3.4)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}},"locator":"3.4"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.4). This process of staggering only results in a distraction from the actual legislative objectives. Members get involved in the campaigns, and this is a disadvantage for the legislators when it comes to dealing with the higher supporters and lobbyists.
Compensation
Every member of the house is provided with the basic salaries, whereas a representative of the senate is likely to earn 7,200$ per year and around 14,000$ in two years of the duration in legislation ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"pNHZ6UQS","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature})","plainCitation":"(The Legislature)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.5). When observed, this seems to be a normal and generous salary as they work for 140 days within a period of two years. The salary is divided on a daily basis, for example, for one day it will be 100$. However, legislators are more engaged, and they also spend their time in different campaigns for the offices. Hourly compensations are reduced when the legislators do not take their time into consideration ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"gbHFXpFB","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}The Legislature} 3.5)","plainCitation":"(The Legislature 3.5)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":707,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/smYQhi21/items/ESLEIDJR"],"itemData":{"id":707,"type":"webpage","title":"The Legislature","URL":"https://www.webtexts.com/courses/34318-alsaeed/traditional_book/chapters/3670996-the-legislature/pages/3609841","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",1,30]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2020"]]}},"locator":"3.5"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Legislature 3.5). Moreover, the annual salary of the lieutenant governor and legislators receive based on the personal allowance is 221$ per day.
Conclusion
Ending the paper, I would say that, the government is divided into different subsystems and the reason goes back to the founding fathers of America. These fathers wanted to make amendments in the constitution of the State, but they could not because of the strong policymaking and legislation by the members of the house. Moreover, the members of both houses are provided with the opportunity to get re-elected by the constituents after two year where they can take time for campaigns. These all members are also provided with the compensation which is based on two years of duration, and this is also based on the daily based representation.
Works Cited
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