Legislative Powers in Texas: Case of Abortions

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Table of Contents

Representational Roles
Influence of Legislative Leaders
Influences of Institutional Factors
Explaining
References

Representational Roles

Each bill requires an individual selection of roles to find the most optimal integrated solution. Although the roles of trustee and delegate have quite differentiating characteristics in terms of term size and constituencies, degrees of trust in voters, and belief in the politician’s competence, there is an intermediate role of the politico. It is worth noting that the balance that combines critical thinking with the rational application of laws must always be observed, regardless of the chosen role. This fact means that taking the side of the delegate or trustee must be accompanied by a clear position of the politician, which, as exhaustively as possible, explains the impossibility of making a different decision.

Specifically, in the case of abortions, it is essential to exercise the trustee’s competence and not rely on the overwhelming opinion of the public, even though members of the Texas House have successfully used this approach. This position is connected with the fact that there is an opinion about the extraordinarily harmful impact of abortion on society, where the positive aspects of this action are often leveled due to the low awareness of the context in general (Arey et al., 2022, Cohen et al., 2021). At the same time, when working with a bill, it is necessary to balance the verge of politico and the role of a trustee due to the need to maintain a reputation with voters and stakeholders, especially if there is a majority in the opposite camp. The political role in this situation allows distinguishing between the apparent arrogance of a politician with actual competencies and experience, which allows looking at the problem from more points of view.

However, for the most part, the long-controversial issue of abortion requires clear decisions by decision-makers rather than majority-dictated intuitions built on mere denial of death. However, on issues where I do not feel as confident about a long-awaited change in public thought and attitude, I would instead turn to the role of a delegate to critically make my own decision on the outcome. In fact, given the complex nature of the many issues facing power, the most flexible role of the politico is optimal in the long run.

Influence of Legislative Leaders

The Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor appoint committees for the legislator in the House and Senate, respectively, scheduling sessions partly according to their preferences. They are strong enough in Texas to put the Governor in a weaker position, who nevertheless has a closer relationship with the public. In this particular situation, the Speaker of the House supports my position in the role of trustee, but here the position of the lieutenant governor is much more critical since the bill is heard in the Senate. In this case, the influence of the Governor and the public is an ambitious onslaught that can influence those who choose the role of delegates in the commission. In addition, one should also consider the individual characteristics of these persons, which are often more important than formal forces, which are nominally practically equal.

Speaker Phelan has a well-deserved reputation for a reasonably short term at the head of the House, while Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s track record is more impressive. At the same time, both government officials have opposing views on the issue of abortion, and quite radical ones, especially in the case of Dan Patrick: his statements on this topic continue to this day (Svitek, 2021). The Governor’s support in this case only plays into the hands of the Senate commission nominated by the lieutenant governor, which, on the whole, significantly reduces the chances of stopping lobbying for the bill. The second reading will be decisive in this case since there is no hope for a veto from the Governor. As a winning strategy, one possibility is to involve local experts in these processes, who may have in-depth knowledge of medicine, welfare, and education as it relates to children and demographics. A comprehensive, integrated perspective will be helpful not only in discussions about abortion but also on any bill that has reached the stage of the second reading and floor debates.

Voters in this situation can influence the quantity and strength of the ideology that drives, among other things, the moral foundations of society. The Governor, in this matter, is on the side of the population without resorting to the possibility of revising values. Like many other issues, a critical look at the issue can highlight the rational factors for not lobbying, while the driving force is more emotional. According to statistics, about 50,000 women have abortions each year from 2014 to 2021, which is less than half a percent of the state’s total female population (Cai, 2022). Consequently, the public does not have in-depth knowledge of the problem for the most part and relies on foundations more than on potential change. Therefore, in the case of a critical approach and the choice of the role of the trustee, the voters in this situation do not influence my decision in any way. However, I must always consider their opinion and evaluate them as leverage within debates and readings.

Influences of Institutional Factors

In terms of my voice in this situation, I am ready to rely more on experts’ opinions and my own opinions based on their experience. Once in power, party leaders wield great power at committees and readings; hence further factors, starting with their opinion, will only be assessed by me as potential obstacles or aspects conducive to my point of view. The lieutenant governor, in my opinion, has great power in this situation, which will allow him to lobby the bill to the very end successfully, and here the factor of the governor’s opinion plays into the hands. The voters in this situation have the lowest priority of influence, but the causal relationship can be inverted after certain egregious cases, then everything will show the governor’s flexibility. Consequently, the opposite decision in the role of a trustee is possible only with an appropriate priority of influence factors. Potential change is possible in other areas, where public opinion is in tune with rationality and a critical eye, and the legislative system fails on issues of concern.

Explaining

I will vote against the bill because, in this situation, although I am not a direct expert, the trustee role takes precedence over the delegate role. It is primarily since the lousy attitude toward abortion is outdated and requires rational solutions since the usual ones already lead to more negative consequences. Although the last word in lawmaking belongs to the governor, party leaders who control the decision-making process in more detail, including through their informal qualities, have the most incredible power. Having enlisted the support of one of them, it is possible to incline the vote in our favor at the second readings due to the approximately equal legal force of the parties. The factors of influence of the governor and voters are essential in other individual cases, but my own critical opinion, in my opinion, is formed in any case. At the same time, the professionalism of a politician is transformed into an experience, which gives this advantage over the electorate within the framework of the legislature.

References

Arey, W., Lerma, K., Beasley, A., Harper, L., Moayedi, G., & White, K. (2022). A preview of the dangerous future of abortion bans—Texas Senate Bill 8.New England Journal of Medicine.

Cai, M. (2022). Before Roe v. Wade was overturned, at least 50,000 Texans received abortions in the state each year. Here’s a look behind the numbers.The Texas Tribune.

Cohen, I. G., Adashi, E. Y., & Gostin, L. O. (2021). The Supreme Court, the Texas Abortion Law (SB8), and the beginning of the end of Roe v Wade?. JAMA, 326(15), 1473-1474.

Svitek, P. (2021). Dan Patrick announces 2021 priorities focused on pandemic, power grid and socially conservative issues.The Texas Tribune.

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