Civics 101
From an idea on a napkin to a signature on a desk. Someone writes it. Someone argues about it. Someone votes. Here is how that works.
This guide covers city, state, and federal lawmaking. Tap any card to see how it works at each level.
Schoolhouse Rock taught a whole generation how a bill becomes a law. Three minutes. Still accurate. Still catchy.
"I'm Just a Bill" -- Schoolhouse Rock, 1975. Source: ABC/Disney.
That cartoon covers the federal process. But most of the laws that affect your daily life -- your streets, your water, your property taxes -- get made at City Hall and the state capitol. Same basic idea. Different buildings.
Tap a step to see how it works at each level of government.
Tap any myth to see the truth.
Bills filed in the 2025 Texas Legislature
8,000+
Most will die in committee. About 20% will become law. The ones that pass shape education, healthcare, criminal justice, and property taxes for the next two years.
Three branches. Separation of powers. Checks and balances. Schoolhouse Rock covers the framework in three minutes.
"Three Ring Government" -- Schoolhouse Rock, 1979. Source: ABC/Disney.
Pick one. Any one. The point is to start.
Go to capitol.texas.gov. Search by topic -- education, housing, water. Pick one bill. Read the summary. Now you know more than 95% of voters.
Find your state rep on the Who Represents Me page. Call their office. Say: I am a constituent in [your city]. I am calling about [bill number]. I support/oppose it because [one sentence]. That is it. Under 60 seconds.
Go to HTV's YouTube channel or houstontx.gov. Watch 30 minutes of a City Council meeting. See how votes happen. See who speaks. See how public comment works. Next time, it could be you at that microphone.