Across
- 1. the power, exercised by the House, the Senate, or both chambers jointly, to investigate problems facing the state.
- 4. a district in which one official is elected rather than multiple officials.
- 6. a proposed law that has been sponsored by a member of the legislature and submitted to the clerk of the House or Senate.
- 7. a bill that applies to all people and/or property in the state.
- 9. the second step in the legislative process, during which a bill is assigned to the appropriate standing committee by the Speaker (for House bills) or the lieutenant governor (for Senate bills).
- 11. occurring every two years.
- 12. a resolution, commonly a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution or ratification of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, that must pass both the House and Senate but that does not require the governor's signature.
- 15. the power of the House to impeach and of the Senate to convict members of the executive and judicial branches of state government.
- 16. the legislature's power over the executive branch; for example, the legislature determines the size of appropriations for state agencies.
- 24. a permanent committee with the power to propose and write legislation that covers a particular subject, such as finance or agriculture.
- 25. a legislative session called by the governor that addresses an agenda set by him or her and that lasts no longer than 30 days.
- 27. a person who is represented by an elected official.
- 28. an expression of opinion on an issue by a legislative body.
- 29. a bill affecting only units of local government, such as a city, county, or special district.
- 30. the third step in the legislative process, during which a bill is killed, amended, or heard by a standing committee.
Down
- 2. according to the Texas Constitution, the formal charge by the House of Representatives that leads to a trial in the Senate and possibly to the removal of a state official.
- 3. a resolution that concerns only the Texas House or Senate, such as the adoption of a rule or the appointment of an employee, and that does not require the governor's signature.
- 5. the fourth step in the legislative process, during which a bill referred by a standing committee is scheduled for floor debate by the Calendars Committee.
- 8. a resolution that is of interest to both chambers of the legislature and must pass both the House and Senate and generally be signed by the governor.
- 10. a joint committee created to work out a compromise on House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation.
- 13. non legislative activities legislators perform to assist people living in their districts, including writing letters of recommendation, giving speeches to civic groups, or working to solve a problem for someone in their community.
- 14. according to the Texas Constitution, the governor's power to turn down legislation; can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate.
- 17. a step in the legislative process during which a bill is killed by the chair of the standing committee to which it was referred, as a result of his or her setting the bill aside and not bringing it before the committee.
- 18. the 140-day period, occurring only in odd-numbered years, during which the Texas legislature meets to consider and pass bills.
- 19. daily payment to a public official engaged in state business.
- 20. a tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down. Once given the floor, senators have unlimited time to speak as long as they follow Senate rules, and it requires a vote of three-fifths of the Senate to end a filibuster.
- 21. a bill that gives an individual or corporation a special exemption from state law.
- 22. having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses.
- 23. the legislature's mandated role in counting returns in the elections for governor and lieutenant governor.
- 26. the first step in the legislative process, during which a member of the legislature drafts a bill and files a copy of it with the clerk of the House or secretary of the Senate.