Activist Toolbox

City of Houston Legislative Resources

Meet your Houston City Council representatives
- The My City mapping application now can report Jurisidiction information and Solid Waste Schedules for an address using the Locate Address tool.
Houston City Council Agenda (current)
Previous Houston City Council Agendas
City of Houston Campaign Finance Reports) (electronic)
City of Houston Campaign Finance Reports (historical)
City of Houston Council Committees and Subcommittees

Dimensions of Sticks and Poles for Protest Signs - City of Houston

When demonstrating in the City of Houston avoid losing or having to modify a sign into which you have put hours of thought and creation by knowing the dimensions of poles or sticks to mount it. The following is from the City of Houston, Code of Ordinances, Chapter 28 - MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES AND PROVISIONS, ARTICLE I. - IN GENERAL

Sec. 28-33. - Carrying clubs, poles, etc., in demonstrations, picket lines, etc.

(a) No person shall carry or possess while participating in any demonstration, rally, picket line or public assembly, any stick, board, pole, stave, rod, plank, pipe, stud, cane, staff, slat, or similar object unless that object conforms to the following specifications:

(1) All objects which are generally rectangular in shape shall not exceed one-fourth inch in thickness and two inches in width.

(2) All objects which are not generally rectangular in shape shall not exceed three-quarters inch in their thickest dimension.

(3) All objects must be constructed of wood, wood products, or other cellulose materials.

(b) The fact that an object described in subsection (a) forms a component part of a sign or placard does not exempt it from coverage under this section.

(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the object is used as an ambulatory aid and that the actor has a valid medical need for such aid.

Read section 28-33 - Carrying clubs, poles, etc., in demonstrations, picket lines, etc.
For more details, read the entire Chapter 28 Miscellaneous offenses and provisions which includes this City of Houston ordinance.

Federal Legislative Resources

Active Legislation for the 112th Congress (2011-2012)
For detailed information and text of national bills, visit the U.S. Congress online.
For excellent insight into the federal budget and the status of appropriations, especially for human needs programs (health, education, housing, nutrition etc.), visit the Coalition of Human Needs, www.chn.org. View A Better Budget for All: Saving Our Economy and Helping Those in Need.
Also see Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, www.cbpp.org.
To get weekly updates of federal action on foreign and military affairs bills, especially appropriations, visit the Council for a Livable World.
Friends Committee on National Legislation is an excellent source of information on a broad range of issues. Visit www.fcnl.org for Congressional bills falling into the following categories: Civil Liberties, Conventional Weapons, Environment, Federal Budget, Iraq, Native American, Nuclear Disarmament, Torture, other.

Want to see how your representative voted?

Want to learn more about your Senators and House members?

Project Vote Smart (www.vote-smart.org) provides that information and much more on all incumbents and contenders. The site lists PAC money, aggregates it by industry or interest groups, etc. And if you don’t know who your national or state elected officials are, just type in your ZIP+4 and the site will tell you. It will even look up your +4 numbers at a click of the mouse.
GovTrack.us is a tool to help the public research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress, promoting and innovating government transparency and civic education through novel uses of technology. You'll find here the status of U.S. federal legislation, voting records for the Senate and House of Representatives, information on Members of Congress, district maps, as well as congressional committees and the Congressional Record. The site is a research tool (much like the government website THOMAS but better), but also a free tracking service. Pick up Trackers throughout the site to make a personalized feed or get email updates. You can also embed a few widgets on your own webpage to keep your visitors up to date about legislation.

Texas Legislative Resources

For text of state bills, visit Texas Legislature On-line at www.capitol.state.tx.us.
Visit Who Represents Me in Texas (for Texas State Senate and House, Texas U.S. Senate and House Representative, and the School Board of Education)