State Legislatures WHO ARE STATE LEGISLATORS?

State Legislators State legislators make most of the laws that affect your day-to-day life. Many state legislators are full-time lawmakers. A typical legislator has studied political science, law, or public administration and has spent time in government service before running for office. Often, state legislators plan on a lifelong career in politics.

Organization of State Legislatures All states (except Nebraska) have a bicameral, or two-house, legislature with an upper house called a senate. The lower-house is usually known as the house of representatives. (In some states this lower house may be called the assembly or general assembly.) Sessions—State governments divide legislative terms into sessions. Most states hold annual sessions, while a few meet every other year. Most states limit the terms of these sessions to a period of 20 days up to 6 months. However, the governor may call special sessions. The Kentucky legislature convenes in regular session on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January for 60 days in even-numbered years and for 30 days in odd-numbered years. It convenes in special sessions at the call of the governor. The Kentucky Constitution mandates that a regular session be completed no later than April 15 in even-numbered years and March 30 in odd-numbered years.

Representation Seats in the state legislatures are apportioned, or divided among districts, on the basis of equal representation. Legislators represent districts with about the same population. In Reynolds v Sims, (1964), the Supreme Court ruled that the apportionment of both houses of state legislatures must be based on population. Today, most states reapportion seats in their legislatures every ten years, based on the results of the U.S. census.

Analyzing Political Cartoons 1.How does the cartoonist show changes in the districts’ shapes and sizes? 2.Why does the cartoonist use puzzle pieces for the different districts?

Making Laws The primary function of a state legislature is to make laws. The process is basically the same as in Congress. Bills are introduced, discussed in committees, and debated on the floor. Both houses must agree on the final bill, which the governor must then approve. A major difference between the two, is that in some states, citizens have a greater voice in the laws that are made. Three ways that citizens can get involved in the lawmaking process are: initiative, referendum, and recall.

Initiative One method of giving lawmaking power to citizens is called the initiative, the process by which citizens can propose laws. In this process, citizens gather signatures on a petition. When enough people have signed the petition (5-10% of the registered voters), the proposed law is put to a vote in a statewide election. If a majority of the voters approve the proposal, it becomes state law.

Referendum Another way that citizens can participate in lawmaking is the referendum, the process by which a law is referred to the voters to approve or reject. Almost every state requires a referendum on constitutional amendments proposed by legislature. Both initiatives and referendums are ways that citizens can take lawmaking into their own hands. Question: Why should citizens want to be more involved in lawmaking?

Recall Citizens in some states also have the power of recall, a process for removing elected officials from office. A recall effort is usually begun by citizens who believe that an official is not doing a good job or is dishonest. Citizens begin a recall by gathering voters’ signatures on a petition. If, in the recall election that follows, a majority of voters agree with the recall, the official must leave office.

Checking the Other Branches State legislatures have the power to check the activities of the executive and the judicial branches. In many states, the legislature must approve officials and judges who are appointed by the governor. State legislatures also must approve the governor’s budget. In this process, the legislature examines how well executive agencies are doing their jobs. State legislatures also review how federal funds are spent in their state. Legislatures in most states also have the power to impeach, or bring charges against, executive and judicial officers and to determine their guilt or innocence.

Financing State Government State governments need money to meet the needs of citizens for important services. This money comes from taxes, bonds and lotteries, and federal funds. Taxes: States raise more than 50% of their revenue, or income, from taxes. Most states have two kinds of sales taxes, or charges made on purchases of goods and services. The general sales tax places a charge on almost all goods sold in a state. A second kind of sales tax is the excise tax, a charge on certain goods, such as alcoholic beverages, gasoline, and tobacco. Most states also have an income tax, a tax on the earnings of individuals and businesses.

Bonds and Lotteries Sometimes states borrow money by selling bonds, certificates that people buy from the government. The government agrees to buy back the cost of the bond, plus interest, after a set period of time. Some states also raise money through lotteries. About 60% of the money from lottery ticket sales goes toward prizes.

Federal Funds Over time, state and local governments have increasingly turned to Congress for money. Federal money comes to the states in several forms. Two of the most widely used forms are categorical grants and block grants. Categorical grants are given for specific purposes, such as a job-training program or highway construction. These grants come with “strings-attached”—certain conditions must be met before the state may use the funds. Block grants are given for more general purposes. The state can decide for which programs to use the block grants funds.

Answer the following questions on your own paper. 1. Go to the following website and answer the following questions. a. Click on Capitol Notes and choose one bill that has recently passed either the Senate or the House, or both. Explain the significance of the bill. If the governor approves this bill, how will this change laws in Kentucky? Do you approve of this bill? Why or why not? b. Who are our legislators for Oldham County? c. What is the LRC and what services do they offer? 2. Using the graph on the next slide, answer these questions: Which two services make up more than 50% of state spending? Which service gets the largest portion of the money? Which service gets the least amount of money? 3. Analyze the Political Cartoon on slide 5 and answer the questions. 4. Answer the question on slide Using the handouts, explain and illustrate the passage of a bill