Texas Legislative Branch Essay

Texas is one of the largest states in the nation, holding many traditions dearly. In particular the Texas legislative branch, which has remain the same since the ratification of the 1876 state constitution. This legislative branch is the "most important representative institution in the state", which means that is should function correctly in a way that it completely addresses the needs of the population properly. When the constitution was ratified times where different and now have drastically changed however this legislature tradition has stayed with Texas bringing in question if its still as functioning structure. To a great extent the differences between the 19th century and the 21st century should lead to a remodeling of the Texas legislative branch, but that does not mean that it should be completely changed as parts of it seem to still function.

In the nineteenth-century the idea of a part-time legislature was established in a mainly agricultural state, where it function well.

Today Texas is no longer a rural state but a modern state where the populations, jobs, and economy have grown but the biennial tradition remains. In a normal session thousands of bills are introduced "and the 140-day limitation places a considerable restriction on the legislature's ability to deal with this workload". This part-time legislature puts restrains on how well the legislature functions letting a lot of bills "die in the end-of-session crush of business because there isn't time to consider them". Governing a large urban state is difficult, and its even more difficult trying to prepare a budget for a two-year period, it leaves room for errors and leads to deficiencies. Arguably an annual budget would be more fitting for today's large state, as the two-year budget is an apparent outdated

idea.
It might also be because of the power the legislature structure gives. The in frequencies of the sessions increase the power of the government and the state agencies because of the lack of oversight. The "lack of formal lines of gubernatorial authority in the legislature are very important in centralizing power in the hands of the Speaker and the lieutenant governor", with this structure a vast power is held by both the speaker and the lieutenant governor. The agencies in charge don't want to give away the power that this structure has generated. The structure of this branch has survived since the 1876 Constitution, "and there seems little likelihood that the structure will soon change." This might be because no one will take on this difficult task of major revision to the structure without the incentive of voter support.
However a major reason why the legislature has stayed and worked in the same way as centuries ago, as a biennial, 140-day session might be because of Texas conservatives. Texas is dominated by conservative republicans, who support limited government which is what the current structure displays. Conservatives of Texas "are more likely to support a minimal role for legislators so that citizens are free to make their own choices without governmental interference". This is a similar thought for many in Texas obviously including the elected former republican governor Rick Perry who supported the legislative short biennial sessions as he believes the founders intended that the members who serve should only do it "for only a few terms and retaining their regular employment". This way the government is limited and has a small role.
The Texas state government operates a small and long lasting legislative branch. It has remained the same for centuries and with no change in sight. The 19th century institution in place has not changed for the current 21st century population. To an extent it is antiquated, because Texas is not small and rural anymore, but still parts of it remains function for the Texans who support limited government.