THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 3. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
Sec. 1. SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Legislative power of this
State shall be vested in a Senate and House of Representatives, which together
shall be styled "The Legislature of the State of Texas."
Sec. 2. MEMBERSHIP OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Senate
shall consist of thirty-one members. The House of Representatives shall consist
of 150 members.
(Amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 2:
See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 3. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF SENATORS. The Senators shall be
chosen by the qualified voters for the term of four years; but a new Senate shall
be chosen after every apportionment, and the Senators elected after each
apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes. The seats of the Senators
of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first two years, and
those of the second class at the expiration of four years, so that one half of the
Senators shall be chosen biennially thereafter. Senators shall take office
following their election, on the day set by law for the convening of the Regular
Session of the Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to
which elected.
(Ameded Nov. 8, 1966, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION
PROVISIONS for Sec. 3: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 4. ELECTION AND TERM OF MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The
Members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified
voters for the term of two years. Representatives shall take office following their
election, on the day set by law for the convening of the Regular Session of the
Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to which elected.
(Amended Nov. 8, 1966, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION
PROVISIONS for Sec. 4: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 5. MEETINGS; ORDER OF BUSINESS. (a) The Legislature shall meet every
two years at such time as may be provided by law and at other times when
convened by the Governor.
(b) When convened in regular Session, the first thirty days thereof shall be
devoted to the introduction of bills and resolutions, acting upon emergency
appropriations, passing upon the confirmation of the recess appointees of the
Governor and such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in
special messages to the Legislature. During the succeeding thirty days of the
regular session of the Legislature the various committees of each House shall
hold hearings to consider all bills and resolutions and other matters then
pending; and such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor.
During the remainder of the session the Legislature shall act upon such bills and
resolutions as may be then pending and upon such emergency matters as may
be submitted by the Governor in special messages to the Legislature.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), either House may determine its order of
business by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of its membership.
(Amended Nov. 4, 1930, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION
PROVISIONS for Sec. 5: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 6. QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS. No person shall be a Senator, unless
he be a citizen of the United States, and, at the time of his election a qualified
voter of this State, and shall have been a resident of this State five years next
preceding his election, and the last year thereof a resident of the district for
which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of twenty-six years.
(Amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 6:
See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 7. QUALIFICATIONS OF REPRESENTATIVES. No person shall be a
Representative, unless he be a citizen of the United States, and, at the time of
his election, a qualified voter of this State, and shall have been a resident of
this State two years next preceding his election, the last year thereof a resident
of the district for which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of
twenty-one years.
(Amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 7:
See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 8. EACH HOUSE JUDGE OF QUALIFICATIONS AND ELECTION; CONTESTS.
Each House shall be the judge of the qualifications and election of its own
members; but contested elections shall be determined in such manner as shall
be provided by law.
Sec. 9. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF SENATE; LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OFFICE
VACANCY; SPEAKER OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (a) The Senate shall, at
the beginning and close of each session, and at such other times as may be
necessary, elect one of its members President pro tempore, who shall perform
the duties of the Lieutenant Governor in any case of absence or temporary
disability of that officer. If the office of Lieutenant Governor becomes vacant, the
President pro tempore of the Senate shall convene the Committee of the Whole
Senate within 30 days after the vacancy occurs. The Committee of the Whole
shall elect one of its members to perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor
in addition to the member's duties as Senator until the next general election. If
the Senator so elected ceases to be a Senator before the election of a new
Lieutenant Governor, another Senator shall be elected in the same manner to
perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor until the next general election.
Until the Committee of the Whole elects one of its members for this purpose,
the President pro tempore shall perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor
as provided by this subsection.
(b) The House of Representatives shall, when it first assembles, organize
temporarily, and thereupon proceed to the election of a Speaker from its own
members.
(c) Each House shall choose its other officers.
(Amended Nov. 6, 1984; Subsec. (a) amended Nov. 2, 1999.)
ARTICLE 3. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
Sec. 1. SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Legislative power of this
State shall be vested in a Senate and House of Representatives, which together
shall be styled "The Legislature of the State of Texas."
Sec. 2. MEMBERSHIP OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Senate
shall consist of thirty-one members. The House of Representatives shall consist
of 150 members.
(Amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 2:
See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 3. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF SENATORS. The Senators shall be
chosen by the qualified voters for the term of four years; but a new Senate shall
be chosen after every apportionment, and the Senators elected after each
apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes. The seats of the Senators
of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first two years, and
those of the second class at the expiration of four years, so that one half of the
Senators shall be chosen biennially thereafter. Senators shall take office
following their election, on the day set by law for the convening of the Regular
Session of the Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to
which elected.
(Ameded Nov. 8, 1966, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION
PROVISIONS for Sec. 3: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 4. ELECTION AND TERM OF MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The
Members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified
voters for the term of two years. Representatives shall take office following their
election, on the day set by law for the convening of the Regular Session of the
Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to which elected.
(Amended Nov. 8, 1966, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION
PROVISIONS for Sec. 4: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 5. MEETINGS; ORDER OF BUSINESS. (a) The Legislature shall meet every
two years at such time as may be provided by law and at other times when
convened by the Governor.
(b) When convened in regular Session, the first thirty days thereof shall be
devoted to the introduction of bills and resolutions, acting upon emergency
appropriations, passing upon the confirmation of the recess appointees of the
Governor and such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in
special messages to the Legislature. During the succeeding thirty days of the
regular session of the Legislature the various committees of each House shall
hold hearings to consider all bills and resolutions and other matters then
pending; and such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor.
During the remainder of the session the Legislature shall act upon such bills and
resolutions as may be then pending and upon such emergency matters as may
be submitted by the Governor in special messages to the Legislature.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), either House may determine its order of
business by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of its membership.
(Amended Nov. 4, 1930, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION
PROVISIONS for Sec. 5: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 6. QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS. No person shall be a Senator, unless
he be a citizen of the United States, and, at the time of his election a qualified
voter of this State, and shall have been a resident of this State five years next
preceding his election, and the last year thereof a resident of the district for
which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of twenty-six years.
(Amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 6:
See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 7. QUALIFICATIONS OF REPRESENTATIVES. No person shall be a
Representative, unless he be a citizen of the United States, and, at the time of
his election, a qualified voter of this State, and shall have been a resident of
this State two years next preceding his election, the last year thereof a resident
of the district for which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of
twenty-one years.
(Amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 7:
See Appendix, Note 1.)
Sec. 8. EACH HOUSE JUDGE OF QUALIFICATIONS AND ELECTION; CONTESTS.
Each House shall be the judge of the qualifications and election of its own
members; but contested elections shall be determined in such manner as shall
be provided by law.
Sec. 9. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF SENATE; LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OFFICE
VACANCY; SPEAKER OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (a) The Senate shall, at
the beginning and close of each session, and at such other times as may be
necessary, elect one of its members President pro tempore, who shall perform
the duties of the Lieutenant Governor in any case of absence or temporary
disability of that officer. If the office of Lieutenant Governor becomes vacant, the
President pro tempore of the Senate shall convene the Committee of the Whole
Senate within 30 days after the vacancy occurs. The Committee of the Whole
shall elect one of its members to perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor
in addition to the member's duties as Senator until the next general election. If
the Senator so elected ceases to be a Senator before the election of a new
Lieutenant Governor, another Senator shall be elected in the same manner to
perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor until the next general election.
Until the Committee of the Whole elects one of its members for this purpose,
the President pro tempore shall perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor
as provided by this subsection.
(b) The House of Representatives shall, when it first assembles, organize
temporarily, and thereupon proceed to the election of a Speaker from its own
members.
(c) Each House shall choose its other officers.
(Amended Nov. 6, 1984; Subsec. (a) amended Nov. 2, 1999.)
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