Texas House of Representatives

Texas House of Representatives
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type	Lower house
Leadership
Speaker of the House	Joe Straus (R) since January 13, 2009
Speaker pro Tempore	Craig Eiland (D) since February 12, 2009
Structure
Seats	150
Political groups	Democratic Party Republican Party
Elections
Last election	November 4, 2008
Meeting place
House Chamber, Texas State Capitol, Austin
Website
http://www.house.state.tx.us

The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members from an equal amount of districts across the state, with each constituency consisting of nearly 140,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits. The House of Representatives convenes at the Texas Capitol in Austin.

Leadership of the House

Speaker pro Tempore, Craig Eiland

The Speaker of the House presides over the body. The Speaker's duties include maintaining order within the House, recognizing members during debate, rule on procedural matters, the appointment chairships and members to committees, sending bills for committee review.

Unlike other state legislatures, the House does not include majority or minority leaders for parties within the House. The Speaker Pro Tempore is a ceremonial position.

The current Speaker of the House is Joe Straus of District 121 (San Antonio). The Speaker Pro Tempore is Craig Eiland of District 23 (Galveston).

Leaders

Position	Name	Party	Residence	District
Speaker of the House	Joe Straus	Republican	San Antonio	121
Speaker Pro Tempore	Craig Eiland	Democratic	Galveston	23

Current composition

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Template:American politics/party colours/Republican|	Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic|
	Republican	Democratic		Vacant
End of previous legislature	79	71	150	0
Begin	76	74	150	0
Latest voting share	50.7%	49.3%

List of members

Representative		Party	Home Town/City	District ↑	County Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Stephen Frost || D || New Boston || 1 || Bowie, Cass, Marion, Morris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Dan Flynn || R || Canton || 2 || Rains, Hunt, Van Zandt Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Mark Homer || D || Paris || 3 || Lamar, Hopkins, Delta, Franklin, Titus, Red River Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Betty Brown || R || Athens || 4 || Henderson, Kaufman Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Bryan Hughes || R || Marshall || 5 || Camp, Upshur, Wood, Harrison Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Leo Berman || R || Tyler || 6 || Smith Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Tommy Merritt || R || Longview || 7 || Smith, Gregg Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Byron Cook || R || Corsicana || 8 || Anderson, Freestone, Limestone, Navarro Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Wayne Christian || R || Center || 9 || Shelby, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Sabine, Jasper Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Jim Pitts || R || Waxahachie || 10 || Ellis, Hill Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Chuck Hopson || D || Jacksonville || 11 || Panola, Rusk, Cherokee, Houston Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Jim McReynolds || D || Lufkin || 12 || Angelina, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Lois W. Kolkhorst || R || Brenham || 13 || Austin, Grimes, Walker, Washington Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Fred Brown || R || Bryan || 14 || Brazos Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Rob Eissler || R || The Woodlands || 15 || Montgomery Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Brandon Creighton || R || Conroe || 16 || Montgomery Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Tim Kleinschmidt || R || Eagle Lake || 17 || Bastrop, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Lee Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || John Otto || R || Dayton || 18 || Montgomery, Liberty, Polk Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton || R || Mauriceville || 19 || Hardin, Newton, Orange Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Dan Gattis || R || Georgetown || 20 || Milam, Williamson Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Allan Ritter || D || Nederland || 21 || Jefferson Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Joe D. Deshotel || D || Port Arthur || 22 || Jefferson, Orange Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Craig Eiland || D || Galveston || 23 || Chambers, Galveston Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Larry Taylor || R || League City || 24 || Galveston Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Dennis Bonnen || R || Angleton || 25 || Brazoria Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Charlie F. Howard || R || Sugar Land || 26 || Fort Bend Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Dora Olivo || D || Missouri City || 27 || Fort Bend Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || John Zerwas || R || Katy || 28 || Wharton, Fort Bend, Waller Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Randy Webber || R || Pearland || 29 || Brazoria, Matagorda Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Geanie Morrison || R || Victoria || 30 || Refugio, Victoria, Jackson, DeWitt, Lavaca Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Ryan Guillen || D || Rio Grande || 31 || Duval, Starr, Webb, Zapata Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Todd Hunter || R || Portland || 32 || Calhoun, Aransas, San Patricio, Nueces Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Solomon Ortiz, Jr. || D || Corpus Christi || 33 || Nueces Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Abel Herrero || D || Corpus Christi || 34 || Nueces Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles || D || Beeville || 35 || Atascosa, Karnes, McMullen, Live Oak, Bee, Jim Wells, Goliad Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Ismael "Kino" Flores || D || Mission || 36 || Hidalgo Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Rene O. Oliveira || D || Brownsville || 37 || Cameron Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Eddie Lucio III || D || San Benito || 38 || Cameron Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Armando Martinez || D || Weslaco || 39 || Hidalgo Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Aaron Peña || D || Edinburg || 40 || Hidalgo Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Veronica Gonzalez || D || McAllen || 41 || Hidalgo Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Richard Peña Raymond || D || Laredo || 42 || Webb Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Tara Rios Ybarra || D || Kingsville || 43 || Jim Hogg, Brooks, Kenedy, Willacy, Cameron Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Edmund Kuempel || R || Seguin || 44 || Wilson, Guadalupe, Gonzales Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Patrick Rose || D || Austin || 45 || Blanco, Hays, Caldwell Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Dawnna Dukes || D || Austin || 46 || Travis Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Valinda Bolton || D || Austin || 47 || Travis Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Donna Howard || D || Austin || 48 || Travis Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Elliott Naishtat || D || Austin || 49 || Travis Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Mark Strama || D || Austin || 50 || Travis Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Eddie Rodriguez || D || Austin || 51 || Travis Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Diana Moldanado || D || Round Rock || 52 || Williamson Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Harvey Hilderbran || R || Kerrville || 53 || Crockett, Sutton, Schleicher, Real, Kerr, Kimble, Menard, Mason, Llano, San Saba, McCulloch, Concho, Coleman, Runnels, Callahan Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Jimmie Don Aycock || R || Lampasas || 54 || Lampasas, Burnet, Bell Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Ralph Sheffield || R || Temple || 55 || Bell Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Charles "Doc" Anderson || R || Waco || 56 || McLennan Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Jim Dunnam || D || Waco || 57 || McLennan, Falls, Leon, Madison, Robertson Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Rob Orr || R || Burleson || 58 || Bosque, Johnson Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Sid Miller || R || Stephenville || 59 || Erath, Comanche, Mills, Hamilton, Coryell, Somervell Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Jim Keffer || R || Eastland || 60 || Brown, Eastland, Shackelford, Stephens, Palo Pinto, Hood Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Phil King || R || Weatherford || 61 || Parker, Wise Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Larry Phillips || R || Sherman || 62 || Fannin, Grayson Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Tan Parker || R || Flower Mound || 63 || Denton Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Myra Crownover || R || Lake Dallas || 64 || Denton Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Burt R. Solomons || R || Carrollton || 65 || Denton Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Brian McCall || R || Plano || 66 || Collin Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Jerry Madden || R || Plano || 67 || Collin Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Rick Hardcastle || R || Vernon || 68 || Motley, Dickens, Cottle, King, Hardeman, Foard, Knox, Haskell, Wilbarger, Baylor, Throckmorton, Young, Jack, Clay, Montague, Cooke Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || David Farabee || D || Wichita Falls || 69 || Wichita, Archer Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Ken Paxton || R || McKinney || 70 || Collin Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Susan King || R || Abilene || 71 || Nolan, Taylor Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Drew Darby || R || San Angelo || 72 || Coke, Mitchell, Scurry, Tom Green Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Doug Miller || R || New Braunfels || 73 || Gillespie, Kendall, Comal, Bandera Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Pete Gallego || D || Alpine || 74 || Uvalde, Edwards, Val Verde, Terrell, Pecos, Brewster, Presidio, Jeff Davis, Ward, Reeves, Loving, Culberson, Hudspeth Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Chente Quintanilla || D || El Paso || 75 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Norma Chavez || D || El Paso || 76 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Marisa Marquez || D || El Paso || 77 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Joseph E. Moody || D || El Paso || 78 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Joe Pickett || D || El Paso || 79 || El Paso Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Tracy O. King || D || Eagle Pass || 80 || Kinney, Maverick, Zavala, Dimmit, La Salle, Frio, Medina Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Tryon D. Lewis || R ||Odessa || 81 || Andrews, Winkler, Ector Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Tom Craddick || R || Midland || 82 || Crane, Upton, Midland, Martin, Dawson Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Delwin Jones || R || Lubbock || 83 || Lubbock, Hockley, Cochran, Yoakum, Gaines Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Carl H. Isett || R || Lubbock || 84 || Lubbock Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Joe Heflin || D || Crosbyton || 85 || Reagan, Irion, Sterling, Glasscock, Howard, Borden, Terry, Lynn, Garza, Crosby, Kent, Stonewall, Fisher, Jones, Hale, Floyd Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || John T. Smithee || R || Amarillo || 86 || Dallam, Hartley, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Randall Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || David Swinford || R || Amarillo || 87 || Sherman, Moore, Carson, Potter Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Warren Chisum || R || Pampa || 88 || Parmer, Bailey, Lamb, Castro, Swisher, Armstrong, Briscoe, Hall, Donley, Collingsworth, Childress, Gray, Wheeler, Hutchison, Roberts, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Hansford Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Jodie Anne Laubenberg || R || Rockwall || 89 || Rockwall, Collin Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Lon Burnam || D || Fort Worth || 90 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Kelly Hancock || R || Fort Worth || 91 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Todd Smith || R || Bedford || 92 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Paula Pierson || D || Arlington || 93 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Diane Patrick || R || Arlington || 94 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Marc Veasey || D || Fort Worth || 95 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Chris Turner || D || Arlington || 96 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Mark Shelton || R || Fort Worth || 97 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Vicki Truitt || R || Southlake || 98 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Charlie Geren || R || River Oaks || 99 || Tarrant Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Terri Hodge || D || Dallas || 100 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Robert Miklos || D || Mesquite || 101 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Carol Kent || D || Dallas || 102 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Rafael Anchia || D || Dallas || 103 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Roberto R. Alonzo || D || Dallas || 104 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Linda Harper-Brown || R || Irving || 105 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Kirk England || D || Grand Prairie || 106 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Allen Vaught || D || Dallas || 107 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Dan Branch|| R || Dallas || 108 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Helen Giddings || D || De Soto || 109 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Barbara Mallory Caraway || D || Dallas || 110 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Yvonne Davis || D || Dallas || 111 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Angie Chen Button || R || Richardson || 112 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Joe Driver || R || Garland || 113 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Will Hartnett || R || Dallas || 114 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Jim Jackson || R || Carrollton || 115 || Dallas Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Trey Martinez Fischer|| D || San Antonio || 116 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || David McQuade Leibowitz || D || San Antonio || 117 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Joe Farias|| D || San Antonio || 118 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Roland Gutierrez || D || San Antonio || 119 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Ruth McClendon || D || San Antonio || 120 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Joe Straus|| R || San Antonio || 121 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Frank Corte, Jr. || R || San Antonio || 122 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Mike Villarreal || D || San Antonio || 123 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Jose Menendez || D || San Antonio || 124 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Joaquin Castro || D || San Antonio || 125 || Bexar Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Patricia Harless || R || Spring || 126 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Joe Crabb || R || Kingwood || 127 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Wayne Smith || R || Baytown || 128 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || John E. Davis || R || Houston || 129 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Allen Fletcher || R || Houston || 130 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Alma Allen || D || Houston || 131 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || William "Bill" Callegari || R || Houston || 132 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Kristi Thibaut || D || Houston || 133 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Ellen Cohen || D || Houston || 134 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Gary Elkins || R || Houston || 135 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Beverly Woolley || R || Houston || 136 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Scott Hochberg || D || Houston || 137 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Dwayne Bohac || R || Houston || 138 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Sylvester Turner || D || Houston || 139 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Armando Walle || D || Houston || 140 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Senfronia Thompson || D || Houston || 141 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Harold V. Dutton, Jr. || D || Houston || 142 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Ana Hernandez || D || Houston || 143 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Ken Legler || R || Pasadena || 144 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Carol Alvarado || D || Houston || 145 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Al Edwards || D || Houston || 146 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Garnet Coleman || D || Houston || 147 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Jessica Cristina Farrar || D || Houston || 148 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic/row || Hubert Vo || D || Houston || 149 || Harris Template:American politics/party colours/Republican/row || Debbie Riddle || R || Houston || 150 || Harris

Notable past members

The House chamber

• Dolph Briscoe, Governor of Texas from 1973 to 1979.
• Tom DeLay, U.S. House Representative (1985–2006) and House Majority Leader (2003–2006).
• Kay Bailey Hutchison, current U.S. Senator, 1993 to present.
• Barbara Jordan, feminist advocate and U.S. House Representative from 1973 to 1979.
• Rick Perry, current Governor of Texas, 2000 to present.
• Coke R. Stevenson, Governor of Texas from 1941 to 1947.
• Sarah Weddington, attorney for Jane Roe for the 1973 Roe v. Wade case in the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Charles Wilson, US House of Representatives (1973-1996), subject of the book and film "Charlie Wilson's War"

Recent controversies

House voting controversy

On May 14, 2007, CBS Austin affiliate KEYE reported on the rampant multiple voting by members of the House during a voting session. The report noted how representatives would race to the nearest empty seats to register votes for absent members on the legislature's automated voting machines. Each representative would vote for the nearest absent members, apparently regardless of party affiliation. This practice was in direct violation of a Rule of the Texas Legislature; however, no house member had ever been disciplined for the practice. The then-Speaker of the House, responsible for enforcement of the rule, issued a statement that discipline for violations of the rule is left to the individual house members.

Craddick removal controversy

Chaos erupted in the Texas House of Representatives on Friday, May 25, 2007, when Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, attempted to offer a motion to remove Tom Craddick as Speaker and have the House elect a new speaker. Craddick (also a Republican) refused to allow him to make the motion. The attempts to oust Craddick continued through the weekend as other Republicans made additional motions, which were also disallowed. The last time a Texas House speaker was removed by the members was in 1871, when the House adopted a resolution removing Speaker Ira Evans. The Republican House majority removed Evans because he was seen as cooperating too much with Democrats on an elections bill. While Craddick's close allies say this is just an effort by Democrats to gain greater control of the Legislature before the legislative and congressional redistricting process of 2011, Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, says the fight is about Craddick consolidating power with lobbyists and using campaign contributions to maintain control in the House: "This is about the convergence of money and power and influence," Cook said."

External links

• Texas House of Representatives