Art. 3 sec. 1 Senate and House of Representatives
Art. 3 sec. 2 Membership of Senate and House of Representatives
Art. 3 sec. 3 Election and Term of Office of Senators
Art. 3 sec. 4 Election and Term of Members of House of Representatives
Art. 3 sec. 5 Meetings; Order of Business
Art. 3 sec. 6 Qualifications of Senators
Art. 3 sec. 7 Qualifications of Representatives
Art. 3 sec. 8 Each House Judge of Qualifications and Election of Its Members; Election Contests
Art. 3 sec. 9 President Pro Tempore of Senate; Lieutenant Governor Vacancy; Speaker of House of Representatives; Other Officers
Art. 3 sec. 10 Quorum; Adjournments From Day to Day; Compelling Attendance
Art. 3 sec. 11 Rules of Procedure; Punishment or Expulsion of Member
Art. 3 sec. 12 Journals of Proceedings; Record Votes
Art. 3 sec. 13 Vacancy in Legislature
Art. 3 sec. 14 Privilege From Arrest During Legislative Session
Art. 3 sec. 15 Disrespectful or Disorderly Conduct; Obstruction of Proceedings
Art. 3 sec. 16 Open Sessions
Art. 3 sec. 17 Adjournments
Art. 3 sec. 18 Ineligibility for Other Offices; Voting for Other Members; Interest in State or County Contracts
Art. 3 sec. 19 Ineligibility of Persons Holding Other Offices
Art. 3 sec. 20 Eligibility of Collectors of Taxes or Persons Entrusted With Public Money
Art. 3 sec. 21 Words Spoken in Debate
Art. 3 sec. 22 Disclosure of Personal or Private Interest in Measure or Bill; Not to Vote
Art. 3 sec. 23 Vacancy Following Removal From District or County From Which Elected
Art. 3 sec. 23a (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 24 Compensation and Expenses of Members of Legislature; Duration of Regular Sessions
Art. 3 sec. 24a Texas Ethics Commission; Legislative Salaries and Per Diem
Art. 3 sec. 25 Senatorial Districts
Art. 3 sec. 26 Apportionment of Members of House of Representatives
Art. 3 sec. 26a (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 27 Elections for Legislators
Art. 3 sec. 28 Time for Apportionment; Apportionment by Legislative Redistricting Board
Art. 3 sec. 29 Enacting Clause of Laws
Art. 3 sec. 30 Laws Passed by Bill; Amendments Changing Purpose Prohibited
Art. 3 sec. 31 Origination in Either House; Amendment
Art. 3 sec. 32 Reading On Three Several Days
Art. 3 sec. 33 Origination of Revenue Bills in House of Representatives
Art. 3 sec. 34 Defeated Bills and Resolutions
Art. 3 sec. 35 Subjects and Titles of Bills
Art. 3 sec. 36 Revival or Amendment by Reference Prohibited; Re-Enactment and Publication At Length
Art. 3 sec. 37 Reference to Committee and Report
Art. 3 sec. 38 Signing Bills and Joint Resolutions; Entry On Journals
Art. 3 sec. 39 Time of Taking Effect of Laws
Art. 3 sec. 40 Special Sessions; Subjects of Legislation; Duration
Art. 3 sec. 41 Elections by Senate and House of Representatives
Art. 3 sec. 42 (Repealed Aug
Art. 3 sec. 43 Revision of Laws
Art. 3 sec. 44 Compensation of Public Officials and Contractors; Extra Compensation; Unauthorized Claims; Unauthorized Employment
Art. 3 sec. 45 Power of Courts to Change Venue
Art. 3 sec. 46 Uniformity in Collection of Fees
Art. 3 sec. 47 Prohibition On Lotteries and Gift Enterprises; Exceptions for Charitable Bingo, Charitable Raffles, and State Lotteries
Art. 3 sec. 48 (Repealed Aug
Art. 3 sec. 48a (Repealed April 22, 1975
Art. 3 sec. 48b (Repealed April 22, 1975
Art. 3 sec. 48c (Blank
Art. 3 sec. 48-d (Repealed Sept
Art. 3 sec. 48-e Emergency Services Districts
Art. 3 sec. 48-f Jail Districts
Art. 3 sec. 49 State Debts
Art. 3 sec. 49a Financial Statements and Revenue Estimate by Comptroller of Public Accounts; Limitation of Appropriations and Certification of Bills Containing Appropriations
Art. 3 sec. 49-b Veterans’ Land Board; Bond Issues; Veterans’ Land and Housing Funds
Art. 3 sec. 49-c Texas Water Development Board; Bond Issue; Texas Water Development Fund
Art. 3 sec. 49-d Development of Reservoirs and Water Facilities; Sale, Transfer, or Lease of Facilities or Public Waters
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-1 Additional Texas Water Development Bonds
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-2 Additional Bonding Authority of Texas Water Development Board for Flood Control
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-3 Creation and Use of Special Funds for Water Projects
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-4 Bond Insurance Program for Water Projects
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-5 Extension of Benefits to Nonprofit Water Supply Corporations
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-6 Review and Approval of Texas Water Development Bonds
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-7 Use of Proceeds of Texas Water Development Bonds
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-8 Texas Water Development Fund Ii; Additional Bonds; Sale, Transfer, or Lease of Facilities or Public Waters
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-9 Issuance of Additional General Obligation Bonds for Texas Water Development Fund II
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-10 Additional Bonds for Financial Assistance to Economically Distressed Areas
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-11 Continuing Authorization for Additional Bonds for Texas Water Development Fund II
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-12 State Water Implementation Fund for Texas
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-13 State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-14 Flood Infrastructure Fund
Art. 3 sec. 49-d-16 Broadband Infrastructure Fund
Art. 3 sec. 49-e Texas Park Development Fund; Bonds
Art. 3 sec. 49-e-1 Centennial Parks Conservation Fund
Art. 3 sec. 49-f Bonds for Financial Assistance to Purchase Farm and Ranch Land and for Rural Economic Development
Art. 3 sec. 49-g Economic Stabilization Fund; Allocation of Certain Oil and Gas Production Tax Revenue
Art. 3 sec. 49-h Bond Issuance for Correctional and Statewide Law Enforcement Facilities and for Institutions for Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Art. 3 sec. 49-i Texas Agricultural Fund; Rural Microenterprise Development Fund
Art. 3 sec. 49-j Limit On State Debt Payable From General Revenue Fund
Art. 3 sec. 49-k Texas Mobility Fund
Art. 3 sec. 49-l Financial Assistance to Counties for Roadway Projects to Serve Border Colonias
Art. 3 sec. 49-m Short-Term Notes and Loans for Texas Department of Transportation Functions
Art. 3 sec. 49-n Public Securities and Bond Enhancement Agreements Payable From State Highway Fund for Highway Improvement Projects
Art. 3 sec. 49-n v2
Art. 3 sec. 49-o Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund
Art. 3 sec. 49-p General Obligation Bonds for Highway Improvements
Art. 3 sec. 49-q Texas Energy Fund
Art. 3 sec. 50 Loan or Pledge of Credit of the State
Art. 3 sec. 50a (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 50b (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 50b-1 (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 50b-2 (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 50b-3 (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 50b-4 Additional Student Loans
Art. 3 sec. 50b-5 Additional Student Loans
Art. 3 sec. 50b-6 Additional Student Loans
Art. 3 sec. 50b-6A Bond Enhancement Agreements With Respect to Bonds Issued for Student Loans
Art. 3 sec. 50b-7 Continuing Authorization for Additional Bonds for Student Loans
Art. 3 sec. 50c Farm and Ranch Loan Security Fund
Art. 3 sec. 50-d Agricultural Water Conservation Fund
Art. 3 sec. 50-e Guarantee of Texas Grain Warehouse Self-Insurance Fund
Art. 3 sec. 50-f General Obligation Bonds for Construction and Repair Projects and for Purchase of Equipment
Art. 3 sec. 50-g General Obligation Bonds for Maintenance, Improvement, Repair, or Construction Projects and for Purchase of Equipment
Art. 3 sec. 51 Grants of Public Money Prohibited
Art. 3 sec. 51-a Assistance Grants, Medical Care, and Certain Other Services for Needy Persons; Federal Matching Funds
Art. 3 sec. 51-a-1 Financial Assistance to Local Fire Departments and Other Public Fire-Fighting Organizations
Art. 3 sec. 51-b (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 51-c Aid or Compensation to Persons Improperly Fined or Imprisoned
Art. 3 sec. 51-d Assistance to Survivors of Public Servant Suffering Death in Performance of Hazardous Duty
Art. 3 sec. 51-e (Repealed April 22, 1975
Art. 3 sec. 51-f (Repealed April 22, 1975
Art. 3 sec. 51g Social Security Coverage of Proprietary Employees of Political Subdivisions
Art. 3 sec. 52 Restrictions On Lending Credit or Making Grants by Political Corporations or Political Subdivisions; Authorized Bonds; Investment of Funds
Art. 3 sec. 52-a Programs and Loans or Grants of Public Money for Economic Development
Art. 3 sec. 52-b Loan of State’s Credit, Grant of Public Money, or Assumption of Debt for Toll Road Purposes
Art. 3 sec. 52-c (Blank
Art. 3 sec. 52d County or Road District Tax for Road and Bridge Purposes in Harris County
Art. 3 sec. 52e County Payment of Medical Expenses of Law Enforcement Officials
Art. 3 sec. 52f Private Road Work by Counties With Population of 7,500 or Less
Art. 3 sec. 52g Dallas County Bond Issues for Roads and Turnpikes
Art. 3 sec. 52h Donations by Municipalities of Outdated or Surplus Fire Fighting Equipment to Underdeveloped Countries
Art. 3 sec. 52i Donations by Municipalities of Surplus Fire Fighting Equipment for Rural Fire Protection
Art. 3 sec. 52j Sale of Real Property Acquired Through Eminent Domain
Art. 3 sec. 52k County or Municipal Bonds or Notes to Acquire Land Adjacent to Military Installations
Art. 3 sec. 52l Donation of Law Enforcement Animal
Art. 3 sec. 53 Payment of Extra Compensation or Unauthorized Claims Prohibited
Art. 3 sec. 54 (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 55 Release or Extinguishment of Indebtedness to State, County, Subdivision, or Municipal Corporation
Art. 3 sec. 56 Prohibited Local and Special Laws
Art. 3 sec. 57 Notice of Intention to Apply for Local or Special Law
Art. 3 sec. 58 Seat of Government
Art. 3 sec. 59 Workers’ Compensation Insurance for State Employees
Art. 3 sec. 60 Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Employees of Political Subdivisions
Art. 3 sec. 61 (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 61-a Minimum Salaries of Certain State Officers
Art. 3 sec. 62 Continuity of State and Local Governmental Operations Following Enemy Attack
Art. 3 sec. 63 (Repealed Nov
Art. 3 sec. 64 Consolidation of Offices and Functions of Political Subdivisions; Contracts Between Political Subdivisions
Art. 3 sec. 65 Maximum Interest Rate On Public Bonds
Art. 3 sec. 66 Limitation of Liability for Noneconomic Damages
Art. 3 sec. 67 Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas; Bonds
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Terms Used In Texas Constitution > Article 3 - Legislative Department

  • Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Concurrent resolution: A legislative measure, designated "S. Con. Res." and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both chambers, to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses, such as a concurrent budget resolution, or to create a temporary joint committee. Concurrent resolutions are not submitted to the President/Governor and thus do not have the force of law.
  • Conference committee: A temporary, ad hoc panel composed of conferees from both chamber of a legislature which is formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. Conference committees are usually convened to resolve bicameral differences on major and controversial legislation.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Law of descent: The State statutes that specify how a deceased person
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
  • Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.