"Can a legislature devised in 1876 govern a state in the 21st Century?"

Texas legislators

Serve for short periods of time

Receive primary income from outside sources

Inexperienced in lawmaking

High turnover

Problems

1. Influence of lobbyists and interest groups

2. Legislature is a stepping stone to higher office

3. Conflict of interest - issue of lawyers on retainer

4. Consider a large number of bills in a short legislative session

5. Stressful special sessions

Only called by governor

1960s - turning point for Texas legislature

Ranked 38th out of 50 legislatures

Legislative effectiveness

Reapportionment

Forced by Supreme Court

One person, one vote

Urban areas benefitted

First African American woman elected to state senate

Barbara Jordan

Legislative Redistricting Board

1971 and 1981

First legislative salaries (previously paid per day)

First constitutional limit on legislative sessions (140 days)

Introduction of "interim committees"

More efficient use of resources

1970s - reforms

Result of scandal

1974 - ethics, lobby regulation, campaign finance, and open records and open meeting laws

Other reforms

Additional staff - less reliance on information from lobbyists

New research offices

1970s - more oversight

Sunset review - first in the nation

Evaluate agencies and programs

Agencies must be renewed or legally abolished

Legislature more representative

1961

No African Americans

Two Republicans

Four women

Five Hispanics

1993

16 African Americans

71 Republicans

30 women

32 Hispanics

Number of lawyers has actually declined

Legislators are still better educated than the general population

1980s

Numerous special sessions

Deal with budget crises

108 constitutional amendments proposed

91 approved by voters

1876 constitution seems to hinder economic development

Can government funds be used to help the private sector?

Lt. governor changed slightly

1984 - Senate has to choose a member to be Lt. Governor and Senator in the event of a vacancy until the next general election

1990s

Creation of ethics commission

Sets per diem pay

Recommends legislative salary

With voter approval

Legislators may use laptops on the Floor

Experimented with TEX-SPAN - broadcast sessions

Future changes?

Partisan organization of the chambers

Annual sessions

Increased salaries

Term limits