Option 2

In the summer of 2013 drama unfolded in the Texas legislature over an abortion bill that was considered during a special session. Texas Senator Wendy Davis and her colleagues attempted to filibuster the bill as the session came to a close, leading Governor Perry to call another special session. This incident is great example to show the Texas politics and government in action through the Formal and Informal power of governor, the roles of the Lieutenant governor and Speaker of the House, role of Grassroots activism and Interest groups, Legislative tactics and rules, and the politics of law making in Texas.
The governor has many roles throughout the legislature. The firmest part of a governor’s capacity for leadership involves handling legislature matters. The governor does not have any direct lawmaking authority. However, according to our text, Practicing Texas politics on page 319 it is said, “the legislative power is exercised through four major functions authorized by the Texas Constitution. These four major functions are, Delivering messages to the legislature, signing bills and concurrent resolutions, vetoing bills and concurrent resolutions and calling special sessions of the legislature.” The Texas governor has less formal powers than most other governors. Some Formal powers of the governor include: qualified veto, line item veto, “State of the state” address, appointment powers, call special sessions of legislature, plan powers, budget powers, law enforcement, military powers and clemency. According to thinkprogress.org, governor Rick Perry convened the first special session to give lawmakers more time to consider abortion-related bills that failed to advance during the state’s regular legislative period. Since special sessions operate under different rules, they allow the Republican majority to more easily rush through legislation without as much room for debate. This is an example of effective use in the governor’s formal power. Although the governor has formal powers, he also has Informal powers. Informal powers are resources related to the person holding the office rather than the office itself. Some informal powers include: ceremonial, media, head of party, bargaining powers and national spotlight. According to The Legislative Process in Texas, the Texas constitution provides that the lieutenant governor serves as president of the senate and the presiding officer of that body. The voters of Texas elect the lieutenant governor statewide and the governor is the chief executive officer of the state. The lieutenant governor in Texas assumes the powers and duties of the governor when the governor is unable to serve or is absent from the state. The Texas constitution names the lieutenant governor the constitutional president of the senate, but the constitution also gives the senate the authority to write its own rules. That is where the lieutenant governor derives most of his power. According to cbsnews.com, Texas' lieutenant governor late Tuesday suspended a senator's filibuster against wide-ranging abortion restrictions, but democrats moved quickly to appeal the decision and set off a parliamentary fight over the rules. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the symbol of the power and authority of the House. The Speaker's most prominent role is that of presiding officer of the House. In this capacity administers proceedings on the House floor, including the power to recognize Members on the floor to speak or make motions and the power to appoint members to conference committees. The speaker also oversees much of the non-legislative business of the House, such as general control over the hall of the house and the house side of the capitol and service as the chairman of the House Office Building Commission. According to cnn.com, The Texas House of Representatives approved a measure Wednesday that would place broad new restrictions on abortions in the state. Wendy Davis tried to block the bill with a filibuster, talking for more than 10 hours in an attempt to run out the clock on the legislative session.
When a group of people feels strongly enough about an issue to actively campaign to make a difference the group is called “grassroots activism.” The grassroots activism relies on the basic rights to freedom of speech and expression by individuals when it comes to trying to make a change to a particular issue. There were many grassroots activist because of the summer 2013 Texas abortion bill. According to Texastribune.org, there were many chants and cheers from a massive crowd gathered outside of the chamber in the rotunda were constantly audible in the Senate, echoing the boisterous conclusion of the first special session. But the audience observing from the packed gallery remained quiet and orderly, with a few exceptions, throughout the proceedings. When lawmakers finished voting on proposed amendments, a small group of women attempted to chain themselves to the gallery's railings, singing softly to the tune of "Give Peace a Chance." Texas Department of Public Safety officers quickly arrived, but not before one of them secured herself to the railing. According to thinkprogress.org, Texas abortion bill was a coalition of grassroots women’s health activists and state Sen. Wendy Davis were able to block the stringent SB 5 measure by delaying a final vote. Another group where citizens can usually find an interest in a group that focuses on their concerns, no matter how specialized they may be are called Interest groups. The interest groups play a critical role in all democratic systems of government. Interest groups are one important mechanism through which citizens in the United States make their ideas, needs, and views known to elected officials.
When the congress and others attempt to block legislation or to get legislation passed with strategies and devices is called Legislative tactics. According to Thinkprogress.org, in order to block SB 5 from passing the Senate and heading to Gov. Rick Perry’s desk before midnight on Tuesday, Wendy Davis filibustered the legislation for more than 12 hours. Under Texas’ Senate rules, Davis was not allowed to sit, lean against a desk, eat, drink, go to the restroom, or talk about anything unrelated to SB 5 during this time so she put on a back brace. With the efforts from hundreds of protesters and state Sen. Wendy Davis, an omnibus abortion bill did not win legislative approval from Texas lawmakers early on Wednesday morning. Republicans conceded that their vote to end Davis’ thirteen-hour filibuster on the legislation did not make the midnight deadline, when Texas special session officially concluded. According to npr.org, a vote approving the bill was found to have occurred after the legislative session's official deadline of midnight, rendering the vote invalid. That immediately led to questions of whether Gov. Perry would call lawmakers back to the Capitol to hold a special session that will take up the abortion issue as well as transportation and crime bills. In the process of law making, especially, legislators help shape and fix the political agenda for Texas. Meaning they have a major voice in determining what the state’s policies will be in such important areas like education, welfare, and the environment.
According to theguardian.com, “Democrats argue that the bill will force the closure of all but five of the state's 42 abortion clinics, resulting in a loss of access to other family-planning services they provide, such as advice and disease screening. Opponents also claim it will force women in rural areas to travel vast distances or seek medical help from black-market sources.” However, those in favor say that tightening regulations will help protect women if complications occur.
Overall, this incident is great example to show the Texas politics and government in action through the Formal and Informal power of governor, the roles of the Lieutenant governor and Speaker of the House, role of Grassroots activism and Interest groups, Legislative tactics and rules, and the politics of law making in Texas.
Work cited
"Abortion Bill Finally Bound for Perry's Desk, by Morgan Smith, Becca Aaronson and Shefali Luthra." The Texas Tribune. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 July 2015.
"Center on the American Governor." Center on the American Governor. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 July 2015.
"Epic One-Woman Filibuster Blocks Radical Anti-Abortion Legislation In Texas." ThinkProgress RSS. N.p., 26 June 2013. Web. 04 July 2015.
"Texas House Passes Restrictive Abortion Measure - CNNPolitics.com." CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 06 July 2015.
"Texas Legislators Called Back For Special Session On Abortion Bill." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 06 July 2015.
"Texas Passes One of Toughest Anti-abortion Laws in US." Theguardian. N.p., 2013. Web.