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New & Noteworthy List for January 2017

Jan 27

posted by TexasLRL in New & Noteworthy

New & Noteworthy List for January 2017 Request Form (PDF)


To arrange check out and delivery of any of these items, please contact the library at 463-1252. 
 

1. Taming Texas: How Law and Order Came to The Lone Star State By James L. Haley and Marilyn P. Duncan
Presents the state of Texas' court system and how it evolved through history. Examines the days before law and order came to Texas and how early Texans organized the courts. Outlines how the court system borrows from an eclectic array of European, Mexican, and Spanish influence. Explores various topics including slavery, women's rights, criminal and civil courts, civil rights, and an overview of our current court system in Texas.
Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, 2016. 131 pages.
347.764 H137T 2016


 

 

2. Issues Facing the 85th Texas Legislature
Presents issues that may be considered by the 85th Legislature. Focuses on a variety of broad categories and topics that arose during the interim session including border security, education, criminal justice, health and human services, state affairs, and transportation. Provides concise descriptions of the issues, giving historical context as needed.
Senate Research Center, 2017. 104 pages.
Online at: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/_assets/srcpub/85th_Issues_Facing.pdf
L1803.8 IS8L 2017


 

 

3. Topics for the 85th Legislature
Highlights prominent issues lawmakers may consider during the 85th Texas Legislature. Provides succinct summaries of a variety of topics including property taxes, Child Protective Services and foster care reform, abortion, school choice, school testing, college affordability, voter ID, water needs, and gun regulations.
House Research Organization, 2016. 16 pages.
Online at: http://www.hro.house.state.tx.us/pdf/focus/topics85-1.pdf
L1801.9 ST94 85-1


 

 

4. Bill Ratliff: A Profile of Courage and Leadership in American Politics By Robert Edward Sterken Jr.
Highlights the factors that led former Senator and Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff to be known for his integrity and the philosophy that "nothing is politically right that is morally wrong." Considers his work on education, tort reform, and redistricting to show why he was called Obi-Wan Kenobi by his peers and named recipient of the 2005 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.
Lexington Books, 2016. 218 pages.
328.73092 ST45B 2016


 

 

5. Metaphors Be With You: An A-To-Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations By Dr. Mardy Grothe
Presents a compendium of metaphorical quotations representing “the very best things that have ever been said” about 250 topics of deep human interest. Organizes the quotations by topic rather than by author and uses QR Codes to link each of the topics covered in this book to its corresponding section of Dr. Mardy's Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations, the world's largest online database of more than 25,000 metaphorical quotations organized into over 1,000 categories. Explains that no source information for the quotations is provided in the book, but detailed citations for the quotations - and much more - can be found in the online database.
Harper, 2016. 478 pages.
Online at: http://www.drmardy.com/dmdmq/
808.882 G915M 2016


 

 

6. Seeing Texas History: The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum By Victoria Ramirez, ed.
Illustrates Texas history by highlighting selected artifacts that have been displayed in special exhibitions at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Features full-color plates with brief explanatory captions. Spotlights pieces ranging from Stephen F. Austin's Spanish grammar book to the William B. Travis letter from the Alamo, from Bill Pickett's spurs to Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar.
University of Texas Press, 2016. 134 pages.
976.4 B876S 2016

 

This entry was posted on January 27, 2017 at 12:10 PM and has received 1362 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 26

Jan 26

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

  • Track legislation from the 85th Legislature related to transportation. (Texas A&M Transportation Institute, updated January 25, 2017)
  • Explore services for veterans in Texas. (Texas Veterans Portal, accessed January 26, 2017)
  • Examine consumer law topics and resources. (LegalConsumer.com, ©2005-2017)
  • Find court opinions from 418 jurisdictions. (Free Law Project, CourtListener, accessed January 26, 2017)  
  • Read about the economic impact of an increased minimum wage. (The Heritage Foundation, January 19, 2017)
  • Review presidential actions, including executive orders and memoranda. (The White House, accessed January 26, 2017)

This entry was posted on January 26, 2017 at 3:15 PM and has received 578 views. Print this entry.

End-of-Session Deadline Calendar, 85th R.S.

Jan 20

posted by TexasLRL in 85th Session, Legislative process

The end-of-session deadlines calendar for the 85th Regular Session is now available. The calendar is a practical summary of deadlines for action under House and Senate rules, and is not intended as an interpretation.  End-of-session deadline calendars and dates of interest for previous sessions are available on the library website: Session deadline calendars

 

This entry was posted on January 20, 2017 at 12:25 PM and has received 2520 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 19

Jan 19

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

  • Read about the future of health care spending. (Private Enterprise Research Center, Texas A&M University, December 2016)
  • Review migration patterns related to Texas. (Texas Demographic Center, January 2017)
  • Look at the City of Houston's new approach to pensions. (City of Houston, accessed January 18, 2017)
  • Explore school bus safety. (U.S. Government Accountability Office, January 2017)
  • Consider prisoners' access to social media. (Stateline, January 13, 2017)
  • Examine tobacco use by middle and high school students. (Office of Adolescent Health, December 27, 2016)

This entry was posted on January 19, 2017 at 3:15 PM and has received 610 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 12

Jan 12

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools. 

  • See which significant historic events rank high across generations. (Pew Research Center, December 15, 2016)
  • Explore connections between food security and housing. (U.S. Census Bureau, November 17, 2016)
  • Review a history of straight-ticket voting in Texas. (Austin Community College, Center for Public Policy and Political Studies, December 2016)
  • See how Texas stacks up against other states' rainy day funds. (Governing, January 11, 2017)

This entry was posted on January 12, 2017 at 3:15 PM and has received 902 views. Print this entry.

What to Expect When You're Expecting...Session!

Jan 6

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

The first day of the Regular Session is filled with activity and ceremony, and follows a schedule similar to first days past. The House and Senate journal entries for previous first days can be found on the library's website, and offer a glimpse into what to expect on January 10, 2017, when the 85th Texas Legislature convenes at noon.

Opening day of the 84th Legislative Session, January 13, 2015. Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman

In the Senate, the first day of session is called to order by the Lieutenant Governor, while in the House the Secretary of State acts as Master of Ceremonies until the Speaker is elected. In both chambers, a roll call of members is taken to establish a quorum, and an invocation is offered. Members-elect will also take the oath of office. For information about members of the Texas Legislature, please visit our Texas Legislators: Past & Present page. 

Senator Troy Fraser, right, with his granddaughter on the opening day of the 84th Regular Session in 2015. Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman

Representative Obie Jones with family during opening day of the 55th Legislature in 1957. Douglass, Neal. University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.

In the House, an important piece of business on opening day is the election of the Speaker. Because the Speaker is elected before the permanent rules of the House are adopted for the current session, a motion is usually adopted to temporarily use the rules of procedure from the previous session. Current and historical rules of the House and the Senate can be found on the library's website. Procedures for nomination and election of the Speaker are passed via resolution. In many past sessions, nominating speeches were not to exceed 5 minutes and seconding speeches were not to exceed 4 minutes. The nominating and seconding speeches as well as the final vote tally are often recorded in the House Journal, and the library has compiled these documents on its website. 

 

Learn more about Speakers of the Texas House, 1846 - present.

 

In turn, the Senate elects the President Pro Tempore. Nominating and seconding speeches are also allowed for this election. Traditionally, the senator with the most seniority who hasn't previously served as President Pro Tempore would serve as the next President Pro Tempore. After the election, a committee is appointed to escort the President Pro Tempore-elect to the podium to take the oath of office and to address the Senate.

 

Learn more about Lt. Governors and Senate Presidents Pro Tempore, 1846 - present

 

At the beginning of session each chamber passes a resolution to spell out operational details. In the House, this is called the Housekeeping Resolution, and in the Senate, the Senate Caucus Report. Each chamber notifies the opposite chamber and the governor when their proceedings are concluded, organized, and ready to transact the business of Texas.

 

If you are unable to join us here in Austin, you can watch a live broadcast of the day's proceedings online at the House and Senate websites.

Thomas Reuben Bonner, Speaker of the Texas House during the 15th Legislature (1876).

Richard Bennett Hubbard Jr., Lt. Governor during the 15th Legislature (1876).

 

 

 

This entry was posted on January 6, 2017 at 9:00 AM and has received 1843 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, January 5

Jan 5

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools. 

  • Examine the ride-sharing industry and hurdles that ride-sharing companies face when expanding into major markets. (University of Miami Business Law Review, December 20, 2016)
  • Consider evidence-based strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016)
  • Read about a concussion tracking program in extracurricular athletics. (University Interscholastic League, December 12, 2016)
  • Explore views of parents and educators regarding special education services in Texas. (Texas American Federation of Teachers, December 16, 2016)

 

This entry was posted on January 5, 2017 at 3:15 PM and has received 798 views. Print this entry.

Sunset Commission Meeting, January 11, 2017

Jan 3

posted by TexasLRL in Sunset review

Sunset Commission Meeting, January 11  

January 11

Commission decisions:

Final vote on Commission recommendations to the 85th Legislature

Status report on implementation of 2015 Sunset recommendations

State Board of Dental Examiners (information on dental anesthesia) - Invited testimony only

Cover image by Pixabay user gsbarber.

This entry was posted on January 3, 2017 at 9:30 AM and has received 1382 views. Print this entry.

The Texas Capitol Ornament Program

Dec 20

posted by TexasLRL in Christmas

 

 

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Texas Capitol ornament program. In 1996, Nelda Laney (pictured left), wife of then-House Speaker Pete Laney, began this program as a way to raise money for restoration projects and education programs at the Capitol. Nadine Craddick, wife of former Speaker Tom Craddick, and Julie Straus, wife of current Speaker Joe Straus, have carried on this tradition. So far, the money raised from ornament sales has helped pay for several projects, including the restoration of the historic paintings within the Capitol as well as installation of historically accurate floor coverings in the House and the Senate chambers.

 

Typically, the official ornament highlights an architectural detail of the Texas State Capitol building. For example, designs from previous years include the rotunda ceiling, the rotunda floor, the Capitol's front gate, and the Goddess of Liberty statue, to name a few. This year, however, the Official Capitol Ornament depicts a Christmas tree decorated with the official ornaments from previous years.

 

Official Capitol ornaments are available for purchase at the Capitol Gift Shop or the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum Gift Shop.

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Nelda Laney was inspired to create this program after receiving a fundraising ornament sold by the White House historical society.
  • Since 1997, the Texas Bar Journal has featured the Official State Capitol Ornament on the cover of their December Issue.
  • Of the 20 ornament designs, 18 feature at least one star.
  • In 2014, a collector bought the one millionth ornament on eBay for $5,176.
  • The Capitol Visitors Center has two display cases that feature information regarding the design and assembly of the Official State Capitol Ornament.

 

 Below are photos of the Official Capitol Ornaments from 1996 - 2016.

 

An advertisement for the first Official
Capitol Ornament, featured in the October 1996 issue ofTexas Monthly.
The Official Capitol Ornaments from 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.

 

The Official Capitol Ornaments from 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.
The Official Capitol Ornaments from 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.

 

The Official Capitol Ornaments from 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
The Official Capitol Ornaments from 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

 Sources:

Photos of the Official State Capitol Ornaments from 1998, 2001, and 2002 are from the covers of the Texas Bar Journal.

 

This entry was posted on December 20, 2016 at 8:45 AM and has received 5175 views. Print this entry.

District Ornament Project at the Texas State Capitol

Dec 16

posted by TexasLRL in Christmas

What makes your community special? Since 2009, Texas artists have captured the spirit of their House Districts on glass ornaments used to decorate the House Chamber's 25-foot Christmas tree. The District Ornament Project tradition started when Julie Straus, wife of Speaker Joe Straus, was contemplating how to decorate such a large tree. Fortunately, Texas is a large state, with 150 districts, and has plenty of talented artists to help out.

 
"We bought hundreds of these clear glass ornaments and invited members to identify something special about their district, something about the way their community celebrated Christmas, and illustrate that on one of these ornaments," Straus said. "What came back was just beyond anything we ever could have imagined."
 

Some districts' ornaments are painted by Representatives' family members, some by professional artists, some by school children. Ornaments may represent superlatives—such as a rose-themed ornament for District 6, in honor of Tyler's nickname "The Rose Capital of America." They may depict local heroes, such as the portrait of Waco-born WWII hero Doris Miller on the District 56 ornament for 2015. Many are just full of holiday cheer! The tree will be on display at the State Capitol through January 3, but to get a closer look at the ornaments, an album is compiled each year and posted online. You also can see some of this year's ornaments in this photo set from the San Antonio Express-News.

 
1) From birds to grapefruits and much more, the District Ornament Project showcases the diversity of Texas' natural and human resources.
2) The Senate Christmas tree is a new tradition and also features ornaments celebrating Texas and its citizens.
3) In recent years, the Senate's holiday tradition was to decorate with poinsettias on the desks. In 2015, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick decided to add a tree "to make the Christmas spirit in the Capitol even bigger."

 

This entry was posted on December 16, 2016 at 4:20 PM and has received 2158 views. Print this entry.

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