About the Texas Model House of Representatives

Texas Model House of Representatives

Part of the Texas Model General Assembly

The Model Texas House of Representatives, along with the Model Texas Senate, compose the model legislative branch of model state government. Combined, the two bodies form the Texas Model Legislature.

Sessions

Every Monday after the third Tuesday in June, the Texas Model General Legislature convenes.

Membership & Rules

The House of Representatives consists of 150 Members elected from 150 districts, which are apportioned on a one-person, one-vote basis. Each House District (based on Academy for Public Service Districts) has an average population of 113,243, according to the 2020 census.  Parliamentary procedure is guided by the House Rules.

A House Member must be at least 21 years old to serve, a resident of Texas for two years, and a resident of his or her district for one year. Members of the House serve two-year terms. In the Academy for Public Service, each House member must be at least 16 years old. In the Senate, each Senate member must be at least 18 years old. 

The Speaker of the House presides over the body and is elected every two years by the membership. His or her duties include supervising and directing the daily order of business, recognizing Members to speak, preserving order in the House, deciding all questions of order, certifying all measures passed, assigning committee leadership, and naming members to select committees.  The Speaker is also in charge of overseeing all House management functions during sessions and during the interim between sessions.

The Speaker also appoints a leadership team, which includes a Speaker Pro Tempore, who presides in the absence of the Speaker. The Speaker also may appoint representatives from each of the House's four caucus districts to serve as Assistant Speakers Pro Tempore who assist in leadership duties.

Voting

The actual House utilizes an electronic voting system. To vote, a Member pushes buttons on his or her desk.  The green button signifies a yes vote,  the red button indicates a no vote, and yellow means present. The votes are displayed on two large electronic boards at the front of the House Chamber and are counted at the speaker's desk.

An official record of the tabulations is placed into journals, which become the permanent record of House proceedings. The Model Secretary of State maintains the journals.