role of a state legislature in state-level governance

Please answer these two questions. Your response to each answer should be approximately 4-5 paragraphs long.
1. What is the role of a state legislature in state-level governance? What features of the Texas state legislature differentiate it from the US Congress? Do these features make it more or less likely that the Texas state legislature will be able to engage in critical functions such as representation, lawmaking, and balancing the power of the executive branch?
2. What is the role of a Governor in the United States? What features of the Texas state governorship differentiate it from the US presidency?
Where appropriate, please use citations in whatever format you prefer. Good luck!