bicameral - Answers a legislature with two houses or chamber, such as Texas' House of Representatives
and Senate
unicameral - Answers a one-house legislature, such as the Nebraska legislature
regular session - Answers a session of the Texas legislature that is constitutionally mandated and begins
on the second Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years and lasts for a maximum of 140 days
special session - Answers a legislative session called by the governor and limited to no more than 30
days
redistricting - Answers redrawing boundaries after the federal decennial census to create districts with
approximately equal population. Local governments must also redistrict for some positions
gerrymandering - Answers drawing the boundaries of a district, such as a state senatorial or
representative district, to include or exclude certain groups of voters and thus affect election outcomes
single-member district - Answers an area that elects only one representative to a policy making body,
such as a state House, state Senate, or U.S Congress
multi-member district - Answers a district in which all voters participate in the election of two or more
representatives to a policy making body, such as a state House or state Senate
president of the Senate - Answers title of the lieutenant governor in his or her role as presiding officer
for the Texas Senate
speaker of the House - Answers the state representative elected by House members to serve as the
presiding officer for that chamber
substantive committee - Answers appointed by the House Speaker, this committee considers bills and
resolutions related to the subject identified by its name and may recommend passage of proposed
legislation to the appropriate calendars committee
procedural committee - Answers these House committees consider bills and resolutions relating
primarily to procedural legislative matters
select committee - Answers this committee, created independently by the House Speaker or the
lieutenant governor, may consider legislation that crosses committee jurisdictional lines or may conduct
special studies
interim committee - Answers a House or Senate committee appointed by the Speaker or lieutenant
governor to study an important policy issue between regular sessions
standing committee - Answers a Senate committee appointed by lieutenant governor for the purpose of
considering proposed bills and resolutions before possible floor debate and voting by senators