Texas senators draw lots to determine how long their terms will be

Senators on Wednesday drew lots for two- and four- year terms, a procedural move done in the chamber after districts are redrawn every 10 years. (Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune)

It was the luck of the draw for Texas senators on Wednesday as they drew lots to decide which half of them would get two-year terms and which would get four-year terms.

The practice is outlined in Article 3, Section 3, of the Texas Constitution, which calls for “Senators elected after each apportionment [redistricting]” to be divided into two classes: one that will serve a four-year term and the other to serve a two-year term. That keeps Senate district elections staggered every two years. After that, senators serve four-year terms for the rest of the decade.