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Texas House of Representatives

The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits. The House meets at the Texas Capitol in Austin.

Contents

Leadership of the House

Speaker pro Tempore, Craig Eiland

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer and key leader of the House. The Speaker's duties include maintaining order within the House, recognizing members during debate, rule on procedural matters, the appointment chairships and members to committees, sending bills for committee review. The Speaker pro tempore is a primarily a ceremonial position; by long-standing tradition, the Speaker pro tempore presides over the House during its consideration of local and consent bills.

Unlike other state legislatures, the House Rules do not formally recognize majority or minority leaders for parties represented in the House. However, each political party has a caucus that elects officers and participates in the lawmaking process. The leader of the Republican caucus is the Caucus Chairman, while the leader of the Democratic Caucus is the House Democratic Leader.

The current Speaker of the House is Joe Straus, a Republican from San Antonio. The Speaker pro tempore is Craig Eiland, a Democrat from Galveston. The current Republican Caucus Chairman is Larry Taylor of Friendswood and the current House Democratic Leader is Jim Dunnam of Waco.

Leaders

Position Name Party Residence District
Speaker of the House Joe Straus Republican San Antonio 121
Speaker Pro Tempore Craig Eiland Democratic Galveston 23

Committee Structure

The following represents the House committee structure for the 81st Legislature.

There are also statutory joint committees, composed of members of both the House and the Senate

Current composition

Affiliation Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
End of previous legislature 79 71 150 0
Begin 76 74 150 0
November 6, 2009[1] 77 73
March 18, 2010[2] 77 72 149 1
April 02, 2010[3] 76 72 148 2
April 20, 2010 77 73 150 0
Latest voting share 51.3% 48.7%

List of members

Representative Party Home Town/City District ↑ County
Stephen Frost D New Boston 1 Bowie, Cass, Marion, Morris
Dan Flynn R Canton 2 Rains, Hunt, Van Zandt
Mark Homer D Paris 3 Lamar, Hopkins, Delta, Franklin, Titus, Red River
Betty Brown R Athens 4 Henderson, Kaufman
Bryan Hughes R Marshall 5 Camp, Upshur, Wood, Harrison
Leo Berman R Tyler 6 Smith
Tommy Merritt R Longview 7 Smith, Gregg
Byron Cook R Corsicana 8 Anderson, Freestone, Limestone, Navarro
Wayne Christian R Center 9 Shelby, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Sabine, Jasper
Jim Pitts R Waxahachie 10 Ellis, Hill
Chuck Hopson R Jacksonville 11 Panola, Rusk, Cherokee, Houston
Jim McReynolds D Lufkin 12 Angelina, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler
Lois W. Kolkhorst R Brenham 13 Austin, Grimes, Walker, Washington
Fred Brown R Bryan 14 Brazos
Rob Eissler R The Woodlands 15 Montgomery
Brandon Creighton R Conroe 16 Montgomery
Tim Kleinschmidt R Eagle Lake 17 Bastrop, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Lee
John Otto R Dayton 18 Montgomery, Liberty, Polk
Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton R Mauriceville 19 Hardin, Newton, Orange
Dan Gattis R Georgetown 20 Milam, Williamson
Allan Ritter D Nederland 21 Jefferson
Joe D. Deshotel D Port Arthur 22 Jefferson, Orange
Craig Eiland D Galveston 23 Chambers, Galveston
Larry Taylor R League City 24 Galveston
Dennis Bonnen R Angleton 25 Brazoria
Charlie F. Howard R Sugar Land 26 Fort Bend
Dora Olivo D Missouri City 27 Fort Bend
John Zerwas R Katy 28 Wharton, Fort Bend, Waller
Randy Weber R Pearland 29 Brazoria, Matagorda
Geanie Morrison R Victoria 30 Refugio, Victoria, Jackson, DeWitt, Lavaca
Ryan Guillen D Rio Grande 31 Duval, Starr, Webb, Zapata
Todd Hunter R Portland 32 Calhoun, Aransas, San Patricio, Nueces
Solomon Ortiz, Jr. D Corpus Christi 33 Nueces
Abel Herrero D Corpus Christi 34 Nueces
Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles D Beeville 35 Atascosa, Karnes, McMullen, Live Oak, Bee, Jim Wells, Goliad
Ismael "Kino" Flores D Mission 36 Hidalgo
Rene O. Oliveira D Brownsville 37 Cameron
Eddie Lucio III D San Benito 38 Cameron
Armando Martinez D Weslaco 39 Hidalgo
Aaron Peña D Edinburg 40 Hidalgo
Veronica Gonzalez D McAllen 41 Hidalgo
Richard Peña Raymond D Laredo 42 Webb
Tara Rios Ybarra D Kingsville 43 Jim Hogg, Brooks, Kenedy, Willacy, Cameron
Edmund Kuempel R Seguin 44 Wilson, Guadalupe, Gonzales
Patrick Rose D Dripping Springs 45 Blanco, Hays, Caldwell
Dawnna Dukes D Austin 46 Travis
Valinda Bolton D Austin 47 Travis
Donna Howard D Austin 48 Travis
Elliott Naishtat D Austin 49 Travis
Mark Strama D Austin 50 Travis
Eddie Rodriguez D Austin 51 Travis
Diana Moldanado D Round Rock 52 Williamson
Harvey Hilderbran R Kerrville 53 Crockett, Sutton, Schleicher, Real, Kerr, Kimble, Menard, Mason, Llano, San Saba, McCulloch, Concho, Coleman, Runnels, Callahan
Jimmie Don Aycock R Lampasas 54 Lampasas, Burnet, Bell
Ralph Sheffield R Temple 55 Bell
Charles "Doc" Anderson R Waco 56 McLennan
Jim Dunnam D Waco 57 McLennan, Falls, Leon, Madison, Robertson
Rob Orr R Burleson 58 Bosque, Johnson
Sid Miller R Stephenville 59 Erath, Comanche, Mills, Hamilton, Coryell, Somervell
Jim Keffer R Eastland 60 Brown, Eastland, Shackelford, Stephens, Palo Pinto, Hood
Phil King R Weatherford 61 Parker, Wise
Larry Phillips R Sherman 62 Fannin, Grayson
Tan Parker R Flower Mound 63 Denton
Myra Crownover R Lake Dallas 64 Denton
Burt R. Solomons R Carrollton 65 Denton
Van Taylor R Plano 66 Collin
Jerry Madden R Plano 67 Collin
Rick Hardcastle R Vernon 68 Motley, Dickens, Cottle, King, Hardeman, Foard, Knox, Haskell, Wilbarger, Baylor, Throckmorton, Young, Jack, Clay, Montague, Cooke
David Farabee D Wichita Falls 69 Wichita, Archer
Ken Paxton R McKinney 70 Collin
Susan King R Abilene 71 Nolan, Taylor
Drew Darby R San Angelo 72 Coke, Mitchell, Scurry, Tom Green
Doug Miller R New Braunfels 73 Gillespie, Kendall, Comal, Bandera
Pete Gallego D Alpine 74 Uvalde, Edwards, Val Verde, Terrell, Pecos, Brewster, Presidio, Jeff Davis, Ward, Reeves, Loving, Culberson, Hudspeth
Chente Quintanilla D El Paso 75 El Paso
Norma Chavez D El Paso 76 El Paso
Marisa Marquez D El Paso 77 El Paso
Joseph E. Moody D El Paso 78 El Paso
Joe Pickett D El Paso 79 El Paso
Tracy O. King D Eagle Pass 80 Kinney, Maverick, Zavala, Dimmit, La Salle, Frio, Medina
Tryon D. Lewis R Odessa 81 Andrews, Winkler, Ector
Tom Craddick R Midland 82 Crane, Upton, Midland, Martin, Dawson
Delwin Jones R Lubbock 83 Lubbock, Hockley, Cochran, Yoakum, Gaines
Carl H. Isett R Lubbock 84 Lubbock
Joseph P. Heflin D Crosbyton 85 Reagan, Irion, Sterling, Glasscock, Howard, Borden, Terry, Lynn, Garza, Crosby, Kent, Stonewall, Fisher, Jones, Hale, Floyd
John T. Smithee R Amarillo 86 Dallam, Hartley, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Randall
David Swinford R Amarillo 87 Sherman, Moore, Carson, Potter
Warren Chisum R Pampa 88 Parmer, Bailey, Lamb, Castro, Swisher, Armstrong, Briscoe, Hall, Donley, Collingsworth, Childress, Gray, Wheeler, Hutchison, Roberts, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Hansford
Jodie Anne Laubenberg R Rockwall 89 Rockwall, Collin
Lon Burnam D Fort Worth 90 Tarrant
Kelly Hancock R Fort Worth 91 Tarrant
Todd Smith R Bedford 92 Tarrant
Paula Pierson D Arlington 93 Tarrant
Diane Patrick R Arlington 94 Tarrant
Marc Veasey D Fort Worth 95 Tarrant
Chris Turner D Arlington 96 Tarrant
Mark Shelton R Fort Worth 97 Tarrant
Vicki Truitt R Southlake 98 Tarrant
Charlie Geren R River Oaks 99 Tarrant
Eric Johnson D Dallas 100 Dallas
Robert Miklos D Mesquite 101 Dallas
Carol Kent D Dallas 102 Dallas
Rafael Anchia D Dallas 103 Dallas
Roberto R. Alonzo D Dallas 104 Dallas
Linda Harper-Brown R Irving 105 Dallas
Kirk England D Grand Prairie 106 Dallas
Allen Vaught D Dallas 107 Dallas
Dan Branch R Dallas 108 Dallas
Helen Giddings D De Soto 109 Dallas
Barbara Mallory Caraway D Dallas 110 Dallas
Yvonne Davis D Dallas 111 Dallas
Angie Chen Button R Richardson 112 Dallas
Joe Driver R Garland 113 Dallas
Will Hartnett R Dallas 114 Dallas
Jim Jackson R Carrollton 115 Dallas
Trey Martinez Fischer D San Antonio 116 Bexar
David McQuade Leibowitz D San Antonio 117 Bexar
Joe Farias D San Antonio 118 Bexar
Roland Gutierrez D San Antonio 119 Bexar
Ruth McClendon D San Antonio 120 Bexar
Joe Straus R San Antonio 121 Bexar
Frank Corte, Jr. R San Antonio 122 Bexar
Mike Villarreal D San Antonio 123 Bexar
Jose Menendez D San Antonio 124 Bexar
Joaquin Castro D San Antonio 125 Bexar
Patricia Harless R Spring 126 Harris
Joe Crabb R Kingwood 127 Harris
Wayne Smith R Baytown 128 Harris
John E. Davis R Houston 129 Harris
Allen Fletcher R Houston 130 Harris
Alma Allen D Houston 131 Harris
William "Bill" Callegari R Houston 132 Harris
Kristi Thibaut D Houston 133 Harris
Ellen Cohen D Houston 134 Harris
Gary Elkins R Houston 135 Harris
Beverly Woolley R Houston 136 Harris
Scott Hochberg D Houston 137 Harris
Dwayne Bohac R Houston 138 Harris
Sylvester Turner D Houston 139 Harris
Armando Walle D Houston 140 Harris
Senfronia Thompson D Houston 141 Harris
Harold V. Dutton, Jr. D Houston 142 Harris
Ana Hernandez D Houston 143 Harris
Ken Legler R Pasadena 144 Harris
Carol Alvarado D Houston 145 Harris
Al Edwards D Houston 146 Harris
Garnet Coleman D Houston 147 Harris
Jessica Cristina Farrar D Houston 148 Harris
Hubert Vo D Houston 149 Harris
Debbie Riddle R Houston 150 Harris

Notable past members

The House chamber

Recent controversies

House voting controversy

On May 14, 2007, CBS Austin affiliate KEYE reported on multiple voting by representatives during House floor sessions.[4] The report noted how representatives register votes for absent members on the House's automated voting machines. Each representative would vote for the nearest absent members (apparently regardless of party affiliation). This practice was in direct violation of a Rule of the House; however, no representative had ever been disciplined for the practice in the almost 70 years since the rule was adopted. Speaker Craddick, responsible for enforcement of House Rules, issued a statement that discipline for violations of the rule is left to the individual members.

Craddick removal controversy

Chaos erupted in the Texas House of Representatives on Friday, May 25, 2007, when Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, attempted to offer a motion to remove Tom Craddick as Speaker and have the House elect a new speaker. Craddick (also a Republican) refused to allow him to make the motion.[5] The attempts to oust Craddick continued through the weekend as other Republicans made additional motions, which were also disallowed.

The last time a Texas House speaker was removed by a vote of his fellow members was in 1871, when the House adopted a resolution removing Speaker Ira Evans. The Republican House majority removed Evans because he was seen as cooperating too much with Democrats on an elections bill.[5] While Craddick's close allies say the 2007 attempt to remove Craddick was just an effort by Democrats to gain greater control of the Legislature before the legislative and congressional redistricting process of 2011,[5] Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, says the fight was about Craddick consolidating power with lobbyists and using campaign contributions to maintain control in the House: "This is about the convergence of money and power and influence," Cook said."[5]

In January 2009, Craddick lost the Speaker's chair after a challenge from Joe Straus.

See also

References

  1. ^ Democrat Chuck Hopson (D-011) switched parties and joined the Republicans
  2. ^ Democrat Terri Hodge (D-100) resigns
  3. ^ Republican Brian McCall (R-066) resigns
  4. ^ CBS Channel 42 KeyeTV Investigates: One Lawmaker, Many Votes?, May 14, 2007, available at "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask"; see also Wilson, Nanci, One Lawmaker, Many Votes?, May 14, 2007, available at "www.keyetv.com/topstories/local_story_134224129.html"
  5. ^ a b c d R.G. Ratcliffe and Gary Scharrer. "The House struggles to move forward". Houston Chronicle, chron.com (May 27, 2007). http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4839441.html. Retrieved 2007-05-27.

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Categories: State agencies of Texas | Texas Legislature | State lower houses in the United States

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