Taught by former Texas Legislator, Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, and supplemented by guest lecturers, this two-credit course focuses on the ways in which the Texas Legislature functions -- both officially and otherwise. Emphasis is on the regulation of conduct of Texas citizens through statutory enactments, rather than the "purely" political aspects of the institution. A wide range of procedural and substantive topics will be discussed to enable law students to gain an understanding of the process of legislation, the procedural requirements, and the forces at work which all contribute to the criteria for enactment of a statute or the rejection of a bill. In this regard, the formal structure of the legislature will be analyzed in depth, including the Legislative Council (drafting bills), the Budget Board, the leadership and committee structure, scheduling votes on proposals, etc. The informal structure will not be ignored, with an eye to the role of special interest groups, lobbyists, and House-Senate interaction behind the scenes. A paper is required and there is also a final exam.
Brown, James E.