Question

The fact that legislators in Texas meet for only 140 days every other year and receive a small income for the work they do helps to characterize the legislature in Texas as a ___________ legislature?

1) part-time
2) full-time
3) volunteer
4) professional

Answer 1

The Texas Legislature is classified as a part-time legislature due to its biennial sessions, low salaries, and the fact that members often hold other jobs. This contrasts with professional legislatures, where members work year-round, have higher salaries, and have more staff resources.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Texas Legislature, with its 140-day biennial sessions and modest salary for members, is best described as a part-time legislature. This designation reflects the contrast between Texas's legislative structure and that of a professional legislature, where members often see legislating as their primary occupation, benefit from year-round sessions, substantial salaries, and possess significant staff assistance. Texas legislators, on the other hand, earn $7,200 per year plus a daily stipend when in session, indicating that they typically have other primary sources of income and do not rely solely on their legislative role for financial sustenance.

In examining the characteristics of different types of legislatures, it's clear that Texas's approach aligns more closely with a citizen legislature, where public service as a legislator is not full-time work. These legislators balance their responsibilities in the legislature with other professional duties outside of the legislative session. Furthermore, the Texas governor possesses the authority to convene special sessions, a power that is notably significant in states with legislatures like Texas, where legislative sessions are infrequent and brief.