Introduction
The lawmaking process is a complicated procedure that involves a number of different factors. Legislative leaders and constituents influence the actions of individual legislators and the course of the process, determining, to an extent, the fate of a bill. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of these factors on the decision-making process in legislation from the perspective of a newly appointed Republican senator.
Representational Roles
Legislators are elected to represent the will of the voters in the state. A member of a legislative institution can choose to adopt different roles while deciding on a new bill. Selecting the role of a trustee, a legislator takes personal responsibility for a decision with reliance on personal experience and knowledge. Thus, by judging based on his or her understanding, a trustee might support a decision that is unpopular among the voters.
The role of a delegate, on the other hand, emphasizes the fact that a member is supposed to do as the people who elected him expect. A legislator, who adopts this role, may support a bill that is popular among the voters, even if he personally disagrees with it. Members of the Taxes House of Representatives are more prone to this approach, as shorter terms require them to remain popular to keep their position.
The Politico Model provides a compromise between the delegate and trustee approaches. This role suggests that a legislator may act as a trustee voting on bills that are personally relevant while adopting the delegate role dealing with questions that are important for the district. Combining elements of the two other roles, this model creates an alternative and a middle ground, helping to find a balance between them.
Following personal values and views on morality is critical for responsible decision-making as a legislator. Having strong beliefs regarding the issue of capital punishment, I will adopt the role of a trustee while voting on the bill in question. My position as a newly appointed senator allows doing so, as longer terms together with larger districts make taking an unpopular position possible without fear of losing the seat.
Influence of Legislative Leaders
Lieutenant Governor of Texas is a high-ranking executive officer, but the occupant of this post also has control over the work of the Senate. This position has a substantial amount of legislative power and plays one of the leading roles in the process (Jillson, 2018). Lieutenant Governor can influence the fate of a bill by choosing to what committee it will be assigned. This officer also appoints senators to different committees and assigns chairs. Speaker is the head of the House of Representatives, and this figure makes important decisions regarding the lawmaking process in this chamber. This official runs the House of Representatives and has powers similar to Lieutenant Governor in the Senate (Newell, Prindle, & Riddlesberg, 2016). As the Speaker and Lieutenant Governor make critical decisions, it is improbable that a legislature can pass without their support. In addition to that, the leaders and senior congressional members have substantial procedural knowledge that allows them to have more influence on the process.
The Governor of Texas makes decisions at the final step of the lawmaking process. The head of state gets bills that receive a majority of votes in both chambers and has the right to sign them into new laws. The Governor has the right to veto any bill that he or she opposes. In this case, the legislature still has a small chance to survive if it gets two-thirds of votes in both chambers and, thereby, overturns the veto. The option of neither signing nor vetoing a bill is also reserved for the Governor. In that case, the bill becomes a law without the signature of the head of the Taxis government.
Influence of Constituents
As the job of a legislator is to represent his or her voters, the opinion of the constituents is a primary source of guidance in decision-making and, thus, is critically important. In addition to that, constituents can influence the attitude of a senator on an issue. The fear of not being re-elected might make a legislator try to appease the public by taking a populist position (Moncrief & Squire, 2019). It also needs to be mentioned that as a senator from a competitive district, I represent the interests of all citizens and should avoid favoring one group, even if it forms a majority. It is essential to avoid the temptation of the expedience of populism and be guided by the interests of the community to guarantee the effective work of the legislative branch.
Importance of Factors
As the bill in question deals with a moral issue, my personal values and moral principles need to be used as the primary source of guidance. The opinion of the citizens needs to be taken into consideration as the second most crucial factor, as the decision should be reflective of the views of people. The attitude of the Governor is next in importance, as this official plays a significant role in the legislative process. Moreover, belonging to the same political party, the Governor will expect me to vote in accordance with the party’s agenda, and acting otherwise may lead to less support from the party. Lieutenant Governor of Texas is also an influential factor, as being the head of the Senate, this official possesses notable power. Taking decisions regarding the appointment of chairs of committees and procedural ruling, the Lieutenant Officer controls the work of the Senate and the roles of individual legislators in the process.
Decision
In the situation in question, I will vote against the bill, as it is in disagreement with my values and views regarding death punishment. Although the opinion of the voters is of great importance, the position of a senator allows taking an unpopular stand when it is justified by the situation. Making a decision that is not in line with the agenda of the party and the Governor is also acceptable, even though it might cause disagreement with other Republicans. Adopting the trustee role, in this case, allows taking personal responsibility and voting for what, according to the own understanding of the case, is best for society. As the Head of the House opposes the bill as well, there is a good chance that the document will not become a law; thus, making efforts to vote against it is worthwhile.
Conclusion
Choosing a representational role that is adequate to the case in question is critical to determine how to approach the lawmaking process. It is also vital to understand the attitude of legislative leaders and public opinion about the bill. Taking these factors into consideration, a senator needs to make decisions in accordance with his or her values and beliefs about what is best for the people in the state.
References
Jillson, C. (2018). Lone Star Tarnished: A Critical Look at Texas Politics and Public Policy. New York, NY: Routledge.
Moncrief, G. F., & Squire, P. (2019). State legislatures today: Politics under the domes. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Newell, C., Prindle, D.F., & Riddlesberg, J.W. (2016). Texas Politics (13th ed). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.