Fun Facts About Our Government

| Texas

“Fun” Facts about the US Government

 

  1.  The word “Congress” references all 535 elected Representatives (435) and Senators (100) in Washington DC.  In formal settings, you refer to these officials as Congressman, Congresswoman, or Senator when speaking to them.  Congress is in session year-round with recesses that enable Members of Congress to return to their districts and work from here rather than Washington.  Members of Congress are paid to make their roles as our representatives in Washington, DC their full time jobs.
  2.  Our state representatives are collectively referred to as the LegislaTURE.  But individually, they are LegislaTORS.   This is one of those things you will often hear people reference incorrectly.  The Texas Legislature convenes for six months every two years. The regular session runs from January – Memorial Day each odd numbered year.  Our leaders are currently mid-way through the 86th Session in Austin.   These officials are paid a small monthly stipend to account for cost of living expenses and such while in Austin, but they still have full-time jobs outside of their service in the legislature.
  3.  The Governor has the authority to call Special Legislative sessions at times to deal with issues that are not resolved during the General Session – last session, this was when you heard the “Bathroom Bill” talked about so much, and we are likely to see education funding move to a Special Session this year.
  4.  The State of Texas has not elected a Democrat to serve in a state-wide capacity (Governor, Ag Commissioner, Land Commissioner, U.S. Senator, etc) since 1994 when George W. Bush was elected Governor.  (Partisan warning – if you’re a conservative, this should not take you off your guard.  With population and demographic changes in Texas, we are a target of the national Democratic party as a state to flip blue, bolstered by the competitive nature of the Nov 2018 Senate race between Cruz and O’Rourke.)  And from a national perspective, when you look at the Electoral College that plays a role in the election of the U.S. President, if Texas goes blue and it’s Electoral College votes go to a Democrat, it is nearly statistically impossible for the United States to elect a Republican President.