Texas House of Representatives

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Texas House of Representatives
Texas State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type Lower house of the Texas Legislature
Term limits None
History
New session started January 8, 2013
Leadership
Speaker of the House Joe Straus, (R)
Since January 13, 2009
Speaker pro Tempore TBD, (R)
Structure
Seats 150
Political groups Republican Party (95)
Democratic Party (55)
82 Texas House Structure.svg
Length of term 2 years
Authority Article 3, Texas Constitution
Salary $7,200/year + per diem
Elections
Last election November 6, 2012
(150 seats)
Next election November 4, 2014
(150 seats)
Redistricting Legislative Control
Meeting place
Texas House Chamber.jpg
House of Representatives Chamber
Texas State Capitol
Austin, Texas
Website
Texas House of Representatives

The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Texas House elections are held every two years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits. The House meets at the Texas Capitol in Austin.

Contents

Leadership of the House [edit]

Seal of the Speaker
Former Speaker pro Tempore, Craig Eiland

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer and key leader of the House. The Speaker's duties include maintaining order within the House, recognizing members during debate, rule on procedural matters, the appointment chairships and members to committees, sending bills for committee review. The Speaker pro tempore is primarily a ceremonial position; by long-standing tradition, the Speaker pro tempore presides over the House during its consideration of local and consent bills.

Unlike other state legislatures, the House Rules do not formally recognize majority or minority leaders for parties represented in the House. However, each political party has a caucus that elects officers and participates in the lawmaking process. The leader of the Republican caucus is the Caucus Chairman, while the leader of the Democratic Caucus is the House Democratic Leader.

The current Speaker of the House is Joe Straus, a Republican from San Antonio. The Speaker pro tempore is Dennis Bonnen, a Republican from Angleton, TX. The current Republican Caucus Chairman is Brandon Creighton of Conroe and the current House Democratic Leader is Jessica Farrar of Houston. Bonnen was chosen to replace Democrat and former Speaker pro tempore Beverly Wooley.[1]

Leaders [edit]

Position Name Party Residence District
Speaker of the House Joe Straus Republican San Antonio 121
Speaker Pro Tempore Dennis Bonnen Republican Angleton, Texas 25

Committee Structure [edit]

The following represents the House committee structure for the 81st Legislature.

  • Agriculture and Livestock
  • Appropriations
    • Subcommittee on Business and Economic Development
    • Subcommittee on Criminal Justice
    • Subcommittee on Education
    • Subcommittee on General Government
    • Subcommittee on Health & Human Services
    • Subcommittee on Hurricane
    • Subcommittee on Stimulus
  • Border & Intergovernmental Affairs
  • Business & Industry
  • Calendars
  • Corrections
  • County Affairs
  • Criminal Jurisprudence
  • Culture, Recreation, & Tourism
  • Defense & Veterans' Affairs
  • Elections
  • Energy Resources
  • Environmental Regulation
  • Federal Economic Stabilization Funding (Select Committee)
  • General Investigating & Ethics
  • Higher Education
  • House Administration
  • Human Services
  • Insurance
  • Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
  • Land & Resource Management
  • Licensing & Administrative Procedures
  • Local & Consent Calendars
  • Natural Resources
  • Pensions, Investments, & Financial Resources
  • Public Education
  • Public Health
  • Public Safety
  • Redistricting
  • Rules & Resolutions
  • State Affairs
  • Technology, Economic Development, & Workforce
  • Transportation
  • Urban Affairs
  • Ways & Means

There are also statutory joint committees, composed of members of both the House and the Senate

  • Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight
  • Legislative Audit Board
  • Legislative Budget Board
  • Legislative Library Board
  • Sunset Advisory Commission
  • Texas Legislative Council

Current composition [edit]

The chamber was narrowly split heading into the 2010 election cycle, but large Republican gains on election day, a Republican victory in a December 14, 2010 special election, and the party switch of two Democratic members have given the GOP a supermajority of 101 members at the start of the 82nd legislature. Unlike in the 1965 session, when there was only one Republican in the entire Texas House: Frank Kell Cahoon of Midland, then District 77.[2]

In 2013, the 83rd legislature has 95 Republicans and 55 Democrats. Of the Democrats, only ten are non-Hispanic whites. Only one of those ten, Tracy King of Zavala County, represents a predominantly rural district. All other rural districts have Republican representatives. By contrast, there were eighty-three Anglo Democrats in the House in 1987, with fifty-six of those from primarily rural areas.[3]

Composition [edit]

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Previous Legislature 75 73 148 2
Begin 101 49 150 0
End of Previous Legislature 48 149 1
Begin 95 55 150 0
Latest voting share 63.3% 36.7%

List of Members [edit]

Representative Party Home Town/City District ↑ County
  George Lavender R New Boston 1 Bowie, Franklin, Lamar, Red River
  Dan Flynn R Canton 2 Hopkins, Hunt, Van Zandt
  Cecil Bell Jr. R 3 Montgomery, Waller
  Lance Gooden R Terrell 4 Henderson, Kaufman
  Bryan Hughes R Marshall 5 Camp, Morris, Rains, Smith, Titus, Wood
  Matt Schaefer R Tyler 6 Smith
  David Simpson R Longview 7 Gregg, Upshur
  Byron Cook R Corsicana 8 Anderson, Freestone, Hill, Navarro
  Chris Paddie R Center 9 Cass, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Sabine, Shelby
  Jim Pitts R Waxahachie 10 Ellis, Henderson
  Travis Clardy R Jacksonville 11 Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Rusk
  Kyle Karcal R Hillister 12 Brazos, Falls, Limestone, Mclennan, Robertson
  Lois W. Kolkhorst R Brenham 13 Austin, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Lavaca, Washington
  John Raney R Bryan 14 Brazos
  Steve Toth R The Woodlands 15 Montgomery
  Brandon Creighton R Conroe 16 Montgomery
  Tim Kleinschmidt R Eagle Lake 17 Bastrop, Caldwell, Gonzales, Karnes, Lee
  John Otto R Dayton 18 Liberty, San Jacinto, Walker
  James White R Woodville 19 Hardin, Jasper, Newton, Polk, Tyler
  Marsha Farney R Georgetown 20 Burnet, Milam, Williamson
  Allan Ritter R[4] 21 Jefferson, Orange
  Joe D. Deshotel D Port Arthur 22 Jefferson
  Craig Eiland D Galveston 23 Chambers, Galveston
  Greg Bonnen R Friendswood[1] 24 Galveston
  Dennis Bonnen R Angleton 25 Brazoria, Matagorda
  Rick Miller R Sugar Land 26 Fort Bend
  Ron Reynolds D Missouri City 27 Fort Bend
  John Zerwas R Katy 28 Fort Bend
  Ed Thompson R Pearland 29 Brazoria
  Geanie Morrison R Victoria 30
  Ryan Guillen D Rio Grande 31
  Todd Ames Hunter R Portland 32
  Scott Turner 33
  Abel Herrero D Corpus Christi 34
  Oscar Longoria D Beeville 35
  Sergio Muñoz, Jr. D Mission 36
  Rene O. Oliveira D Brownsville 37
  Eddie Lucio III D San Benito 38
  Armando Martinez D Weslaco 39
  Terry Canales D Edinburg 40
  Robert Guerra D 41
  Richard Peña Raymond D Laredo 42
  J. M. Lozano R[5] Kingsville 43
  John Kuempel R Seguin 44
  Jason Isaac R Austin 45
  Dawnna Dukes D Austin 46
  Paul D. Workman R Austin 47
  Donna Howard D Austin 48
  Elliott Naishtat D Austin 49
  Mark Strama D Austin 50
  Eddie Rodriguez D Austin 51
  Larry Gonzalez R Round Rock 52
  Harvey Hilderbran R Kerrville 53
  Jimmie Don Aycock R Lampasas 54
  Ralph Sheffield R Temple 55
  Charles "Doc" Anderson R Waco 56
  Trent Ashby R Waco 57
  Rob Orr R Burleson 58
  J.D. Sheffield R Stephenville 59
  Jim Keffer R Eastland 60
  Phil King R Weatherford 61
  Larry Phillips R Sherman 62
  Tan Parker R Flower Mound 63
  Myra Crownover R Lake Dallas 64
  Ron Simmons R Carrollton 65
  Van Taylor R Plano 66
  Jeff Leach R Plano 67
  Drew Springer R Vernon 68
  James Frank R Wichita Falls 69
  Scott Sanford R McKinney 70
  Susan King R Abilene 71
  Drew Darby R San Angelo 72
  Doug Miller R New Braunfels 73
  Poncho Nevarez D Alpine 74
  Mary E. Gonzalez D El Paso 75
  Naomi Gonzalez D El Paso 76
  Marisa Marquez D El Paso 77
  Joe Moody D El Paso 78
  Joe Pickett D El Paso 79
  Tracy O. King D Eagle Pass 80
  Tryon D. Lewis R Odessa 81
  Tom Craddick R Midland 82
  Charles Perry R Lubbock 83
  John Frullo R Lubbock 84
  Phil Stephenson R Crosbyton 85
  John T. Smithee R Amarillo 86
  Four Price R Amarillo 87
  Ken King R Pampa 88
  Jodie Anne Laubenberg R Rockwall 89
  Lon Burnam D Fort Worth 90
  Stephanie Klick R Fort Worth 91
  Jonathan Stickland R Bedford 92
  Matt Krause R Arlington 93
  Diane Patrick R Arlington 94
  Nicole Collier D Fort Worth 95
  Bill Zedler R Arlington 96
  Craig Goldman R Fort Worth 97
  Giovanni Capriglione R Southlake 98
  Charlie Geren R River Oaks 99
  Eric Johnson D Dallas 100
  Chris Turner D Mesquite 101
  Stefani Carter R Dallas 102
  Rafael Anchia D Dallas 103
  Roberto R. Alonzo D Dallas 104
  Linda Harper-Brown R Irving 105
  Pat Fallon R Grand Prairie 106
  Kenneth Sheets R Dallas 107
  Dan Branch R Dallas 108
  Helen Giddings D De Soto 109
  Toni Rose D Dallas 110
  Yvonne Davis D Dallas 111
  Angie Chen Button R Richardson 112
  Cindy Burkett R Garland 113
  Jason Villalba R Dallas 114
  Bennett Ratliff R Carrollton 115
  Trey Martinez Fischer D San Antonio 116
  Philip Cortez D San Antonio 117
  Joe Farias D San Antonio 118
  Roland Gutierrez D San Antonio 119
  Ruth McClendon D San Antonio 120
  Joe Straus R San Antonio 121
  Lyle Larson R San Antonio 122
  Mike Villarreal D San Antonio 123
  José Menéndez D San Antonio 124
  Justin Rodriguez D San Antonio 125
  Patricia Harless R Spring 126
  Dan Huberty R Kingwood 127
  Wayne Smith R Baytown 128
  John E. Davis R Houston 129
  Allen Fletcher R Houston 130
  Alma Allen D Houston 131
  William "Bill" Callegari R Houston 132
  Jim Murphy R Houston 133
  Sarah Davis R Houston 134
  Gary Elkins R Houston 135
  Tony Dale R Houston 136
  Gene Wu D Houston 137
  Dwayne Bohac R Houston 138
  Sylvester Turner D Houston 139
  Armando Walle D Houston 140
  Senfronia Thompson D Houston 141
  Harold V. Dutton, Jr. D Houston 142
  Ana Hernandez Luna D Houston 143
  Mary Ann Perez D 144
  Carol Alvarado D Houston 145
  Borris Miles D Houston 146
  Garnet Coleman D Houston 147
  Jessica Cristina Farrar D Houston 148
  Hubert Vo D Houston 149
  Debbie Riddle R Houston 150

Notable past members [edit]

The House chamber

Recent controversies [edit]

House voting controversy [edit]

On May 14, 2007, CBS Austin affiliate KEYE reported on multiple voting by representatives during House floor sessions.[6] The report noted how representatives register votes for absent members on the House's automated voting machines. Each representative would vote for the nearest absent members (apparently regardless of party affiliation). This practice was in direct violation of a Rule of the House; however, no representative had ever been disciplined for the practice in the almost 70 years since the rule was adopted. Speaker Craddick, responsible for enforcement of House Rules, issued a statement that discipline for violations of the rule is left to the individual members.

Craddick removal controversy [edit]

Chaos erupted in the Texas House of Representatives on Friday, May 25, 2007, when Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, attempted to offer a motion to remove Tom Craddick as Speaker and have the House elect a new speaker. Craddick (also a Republican) refused to allow him to make the motion.[7] The attempts to oust Craddick continued through the weekend as other Republicans made additional motions, which were also disallowed.

The last time a Texas House speaker was removed by a vote of his fellow members was in 1871, when the House adopted a resolution removing Speaker Ira Evans. The Republican House majority removed Evans because he was seen as cooperating too much with Democrats on an elections bill.[7] While Craddick's close allies say the 2007 attempt to remove Craddick was just an effort by Democrats to gain greater control of the Legislature before the legislative and congressional redistricting process of 2011,[7] Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, says the fight was about Craddick consolidating power with lobbyists and using campaign contributions to maintain control in the House: "This is about the convergence of money and power and influence," Cook said.[7]

In January 2009, Craddick lost the Speaker's chair after a challenge from Joe Straus.

See also [edit]

  • Killer Ds a group of Texas House Democrats who left the state of Texas in 2003 to prevent House consideration of the redistricting legislation that would have benefited Texas Republicans.
  • Texas Government Newsletter for long-time coverage of issues such as the Dirty Thirty, the Killer Bees, and Killer D's.

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://www.dennisbonnen.com/index.php/ins/item/82-bonnen-appointed-speaker-pro-tem-chair-of-special-purpose-districts
  2. ^ Sue Watkins, The Alcade, 1965. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
  3. ^ Gary Scharrer, "Election trends reflect change", Laredo Morning Times, January 5, 2013, pp. 1, 14A
  4. ^ Ross Ramsey (December 20, 2010). "Left, Behind". Texas Weekly. Retrieved June 2, 2012. 
  5. ^ Aguilar, Julián (March 5, 2012). "Rep. J.M. Lozano Confirms Plans to Switch to GOP". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 2, 2012. 
  6. ^ CBS Channel 42 KeyeTV Investigates: One Lawmaker, Many Votes?, May 14, 2007, available at "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask"; see also Wilson, Nanci, One Lawmaker, Many Votes?, May 14, 2007, available at "www.keyetv.com/topstories/local_story_134224129.html"
  7. ^ a b c d R.G. Ratcliffe and Gary Scharrer. "The House struggles to move forward". Houston Chronicle, chron.com (May 27, 2007). Retrieved May 27, 2007. 

External links [edit]