Frank J. Garrahan

Read Chapter 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13 in your textbook and then be able to:

1) Describe the formal and informal qualifications for membership in both the Texas House and Senate.

2) Describe the election process for legislators.

3) Understand the process involved with legislative districting. Then describe the various types of gerrymandering.

4) Outline the organization of the Texas legislature. Describe the powers of the leadership in each house and the restraints upon these powers.

5) Know the formal and informal functions of the legislature.

6) Know the three most common types of laws and resolutions.

7) Outline and then describe the process of creating law. (Page 200)

8) Know the options that the governor has in the final outcome of a bill.

9) Describe the internal and external influences on the legislature as it attempts to create laws.

10) List the formal and informal qualifications to be Texas governor.

11) Describe the impeachment process in removing a governor and the line of succession to the governor's office.

12) Understand the importance and responsibilities of the governor's staff.

13) Understand the formal and informal powers of the governor. List the powers as to executive, legislative, and judicial powers.

14) Understand the limitations placed on the governor's power of appointments.

15) Define the plural executive and know the powers of each of the major single executives and the Texas Railroad Commission.

16) Understand the role of state agencies in policy implementation and public administration.

17) Describe the state budget process (see below).

18) List the fiscal priorities of the state as determined by the state's budget (p. 337), and know the major sources of state revenues (pp. 318 & 326).

19) Define the key terms at the end of each chapter in the text and also the following:

a) Legislative privileges (immunities)

b) Ma & Pa Ferguson

c) Diffusion

d) Concentration

e) Ex officio

f) "Good Tax"

Texas State Budget Process

Agencies' Requests submitted to the Leglative Budget Board (LBB) & Legislative Budget Office (LBO part of the Governor's office). LBB & LBO Review requests & then hold joint hearings. Both then submit Budget proposals to the Legislature.