HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW TEXAS LEGISLATURE # MEMBERS IN TEXAS HOUSE: ? # MEMBERS IN TEXAS SENATE: ?

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

TEXAS LEGISLATURE# MEMBERS IN TEXAS HOUSE: ? # MEMBERS IN TEXAS SENATE: ?


TEXAS LEGISLATURE# MEMBERS IN TEXAS HOUSE: 150# MEMBERS IN TEXAS SENATE: 31


STEP 1• Only members of the House or Senate can introduce a BILL• Bill is given a CODE such as HB 253 or SB 145 (shows order bill is introduced)• Speaker of the House or LT Governor sends to a COMMITTEE for review


STEP 2• Bill sent to appropriate committee

How will they decide which committee will study/review the bill?• ?


STEP 2How will they decide which committee will study/review the bill?• Certain committees deal with certain issues


STEP 3• Committee holds a hearing (discussion) on the bill

Can the public speak in regards to the bill during this session? YES


STEP 4• Committee approves the Bill and selects date for Bill to reach the “Floor” for debating and voting

If amendments are needed, what happens?


STEP 4If amendments are needed, what happens?A committee of 5 for each Chamber (remember Bicameral) makes a compromise (give and take to reach agreement) for changed version of the Bill


STEP 4How many must approve the changes?


STEP 4How many must approve the changes?At least 3 from each chamber (House and Senate)


STEP 5• Compromise version of the Bill returns to “Floor” – no changes are allowed now

# needed to pass and become a law? Senate: ? House: ? (>50 percent)


STEP 5# needed to pass and become a law? Senate: 16 House: 76 (>50 percent)


STEP 6• Bill is signed by LT Governor (President of the Senate) and Speaker of the House


STEP 7Bill moves to the Governor

The governor has 3 choices according to the Texas Constitution. What are they?• ?• ?• ?


STEP 7The governor has 3 choices according to the Texas Constitution. What are they?• He can sign the Bill• He can NOT sign the Bill• He can veto the Bill


What can the governor NOT do?• ?• ?


What can the governor NOT do?• He can’t rewrite the Bill• He can’t sign only part of the Bill and veto another part ……unless it is dealing with the budget


What happens if the governor doesn’t sign the Bill?• ?


What happens if the governor doesn’t sign the Bill?• It automatically passes (becomes a law) after 20 days


If the governor chooses to veto the Bill, the Bill may still become a law if 2/3 of the members from each house (chamber) vote to override the veto. How many votes are needed in each house (chamber) in order for this to happen?House: ?Senate: ?


If the governor chooses to veto the Bill, the Bill may still become a law if 2/3 of the members from each house (chamber) vote to override the veto. How many votes are needed in each house (chamber) in order for this to happen?House: 100Senate: 21


It is a long process……most bills DO NOT become LAWS!

Documents

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW TEXAS LEGISLATURE # MEMBERS IN TEXAS HOUSE: ? # MEMBERS IN TEXAS SENATE: ?