1. I. State Government Chapters 23 & 24

5. A. Legislative Branch Bicameral – Legislature made up of two houses
Every state except Nebraska is bicameral
Unicameral – One-house legislature

7. B. Equal Representation
Until 1964, voting districts were based on area rather than population
Result: Unequal representation of power by people from low populated areas
Reynolds v. Sims (1964) – Legislative districts had to contain roughly the same number of people
Each House Member – Represents around 700,000 people

8. C. Nebraska’s Unicameral
– Nebraska was bicameral like every other state
Unicameral – Product of the Great Depression and George Norris
George Norris – Claimed that the 2 house system was “outdated, inefficient, and unnecessary”

11. Said that checks and balances did not require a two house legislature
State supreme court and the governor would be able to rule against improper laws
Two-houses wasted both time and money according to Norris

13. January 5, 1937 – First official meeting of the unicameral
Reduced the price of running the legislator by over 50%
Still the cheapest legislature to operate in the country
Have discovered that the checks and balance system works well with only one-house

14. Legislative Districts in Nebraska

15. D. More Unique Nebraskan Ways
Nebraska has 49 state senators
Nonpartisanship – The political party of candidates are not listed on the ballots
Nebraska is the only state to elect its state representatives this way

16. Here's a map showing the current control of state legislative chambers: Red: Both chambers controlled by Republicans Blue: Both controlled by Democrats Purple: One party controls one chamber and the other party controls the other Nebraska has a unicameral, non-partisan legislature

17. E. Executive Branch Governors head the executive branch in every state
Seen as the leader of their political party within their state
4 out of the last 6 presidents were former governors

18. 1986

21. Item Veto – Governor’s power in many states to turn down a particular section or item in a bill without vetoing the entire bill
Can save both time and money
Problems?