SECOND READING—See READING.

SECRETARY OF THE SENATE—The chief administrative officer of the senate, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the senate and its departments.

SENATE—The upper house of the Texas Legislature, consisting of 31 members elected from districts of roughly equal population, one-half of whom are elected every two years for four-year terms.

SENATE AGENDA—The document prepared daily for the senators and the public that contains the following information: (1) the Intent Calendar; (2) a list of senate bills returned from the house with amendments; (3) the status of bills in conference committee; (4) the Local and Uncontested Calendar; (5) gubernatorial appointments reported favorably from the Committee on Nominations and awaiting confirmation by the senate; (6) committee hearings scheduled, with a list of measures to be considered by the committees; (7) the regular order of business, listing bills that have been reported favorably from committee; (8) miscellaneous announcements; (9) senate floor action from the previous day; (10) senate committee action from the previous day; and (11) morning call items of business.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS—An officer of the house or senate charged with maintaining order and carrying out the directives of the presiding officers and the members.

SESSION—The period during which the legislature meets. There are two types of sessions. The regular session convenes every two years and may last no more than 140 days. A called session, commonly referred to as a special session, is so designated because it must be called by the governor. A called or special session may last no more than 30 days.

SIMPLE RESOLUTION—The type of legislative measure that is considered only within the chamber in which it is filed. It can offer a commendation, a memorial, a statement of congratulations, a welcome, or another statement of legislative sentiment.

SINE DIE—Literally, "without day." The term is used to signify the final adjournment of a session of a legislative body. The body adjourns sine die when it adjourns without appointing a day on which to appear or assemble again.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE—The presiding officer of the house of representatives elected from and by the membership of the house at the beginning of each regular session.

SPECIAL SESSION—See SESSION.

SPONSOR—The legislator who guides the bill through the legislative process after the bill has passed the originating chamber. The sponsor must be a member of the opposite chamber of the one in which the bill was filed.

STANDING COMMITTEE—A committee created in the rules of either house that meets during the legislative session or an interim to consider and report on measures referred or tasks assigned to it by the respective presiding officers.

SUBCOMMITTEE—A group of committee members, appointed by the chair of a committee of the house or the senate, to which proposed legislation is referred or a specific task is assigned.

SUPPLEMENTAL HOUSE CALENDAR—The primary agenda followed by the house during its deliberations. It is prepared by the House Committee on Calendars and is required to be distributed two hours before the house convenes. The Supplemental House Calendar contains: (1) measures passed to third reading on the previous day; (2) measures on the Daily House Calendar for a previous day that were not reached for consideration; (3) measures on the Daily House Calendar for the current day; and (4) postponed business from a previous day.