Legislative Process Archives

Political History

Legislative Walkouts in Texas: Legal Basis and Political History

From the 1979 "Killer Bees" to the 2021 "Washington Walkout," explore how Texas lawmakers have used this rare tactic—and how state leaders have responded.

editorMay 30, 2025

Featured Political History

The Laziest Legislature in America?

A closer look at Texas’s part-time lawmakers and the case for a biennial legislature

editorMay 12, 2025

Featured Political History

Ghost Voting: The Tradition of Proxy Voting in the Texas House

Exploring a Texas House practice that’s long tolerated, rarely enforced, and often misunderstood.

editorMay 9, 2025

Legislative Branch

Special Sessions of the Texas Legislature

Understanding the role of special sessions in Texas politics

editorDecember 9, 2024

Legislative Branch

Impeachment in Texas

Process for removing senior officials in cases of corruption or misconduct

editorNovember 21, 2022

Legislative Branch

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

Understanding the powerful role of the House Speaker in Texas politics

editorNovember 21, 2022

Legislative Branch Political History

Bracket Bills: Circumventing the Texas Constitution?

How bracket bills work, why they exist, and whether they are constitutional.

editorJanuary 1, 2023

Integrity & Efficiency Legislative Branch

The Role of Fiscal Notes in Texas Legislation

In Texas, nearly every bill that affects the state budget requires a fiscal note—an official estimate of its financial impact. These documents, prepared by the Legislative Budget Board, play a decisive role in shaping which proposals advance through the legislative process.

editorMay 26, 2025