Create and enhance civil groups across Texas concerning the TAKS tests. You will need to strengthen opposition to TAKS by going beyond your legislative districts. Start or contact and help chapters grow across the state that are against TAKS.
Organize campaigns concerning TAKS. Have petitioners collect signatures of those who are against TAKS. Hold meetings and public events, protesting and planning actions against TAKS.
Contact your Texas state senator and representative. You can either communicate with them at their local Texas offices or at their offices in Austin. Have any existing chapters you have formed or are associated with contact them as well. That way, senators and representatives throughout the state will receive messages concerning opinions on TAKS.
Write letters to the governor. While groups are communicating with senators and representatives, they must also challenge the governor to respond to these concerns. The governor can veto bills the senate or representatives pass. If the governor is aware of negative public opinion, he would be less likely to support the bill.
Follow the legislative process in Texas. Make sure that senators and representatives who are receptive to eliminating TAKS introduce bills to do so. Urge lawmakers not change or alter the elimination bill while in committee.
Make sure the bill is introduced properly. According to the Texas Constitution, a bill must be read three times in the senate and the house of representatives before a vote can be taken. If the language does not meet your group's liking, contact your lawmakers immediately.
Allow the chambers to pass the elimination bill. Once it passes both chambers, it is ready to go to the governor's desk.
See what the governor does. If the governor signs or ignores the bill, then you and your civic groups have won. If the governor vetoes the bill, the legislative process starts all over again. Two-thirds of each chamber can re-vote on the measure to overturn the governor's veto. Interestingly, the Texas Constitution states that if a bill is not signed or vetoed by the governor by the tenth day after the governor receives the bill, the bill becomes law.