Montana State Legislature

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The Montana State Legislature is the state legislature of the state of Montana. It is composed of the 100-member Montana House of Representatives and the 50-member Montana Senate.

The Montana Constitution dictates that the legislature meet only on odd numbered years, and for 90 day periods. However, the Legislature did meet annually briefly from 1973 to 1975. The primary work of the legislature at these times is to pass a bi-annual budget which must then be approved by the Governor.

Montana state legislature and initiative rights

In May 2007, Montana Senate Bill 96 (2007) became law. SB 96 restricts initiative rights by making it illegal for a person who does not live in Montana to ask a Montana voter to sign an initiative petition. The new law also makes it illegal to pay a person anything of value based on how many signatures that person collected.

Party split

Since the beginning of statehood for Montana, the Legislature has been split along party lines fairly consistently and evenly. Since adoption of the new state constitution in 1972, which mandated single-member legislative districts for the first time in the state's history, the Montana Senate has been controlled by Democrats in 10 sessions, and Republicans in 10 sessions. During the same period of time, the Montana House has been controlled by Democrats in 11 sessions and Republicans in 9 sessions. There have been several ties between the parties in each chamber. However, in such an instance, control goes to the party of the sitting Governor according to Montana law.

Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority in Senate, while the Republicans hold a one-seat majority in the House.

Powers

See also: Article XIV, Montana Constitution

The legislature can put a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment on the ballot, according to Section 8 of Article XIV. Any member of the legislature can propose an amendment. The amendment must then be adopted by an affirmative roll call vote of two-thirds of all members of the legislature.

External links

• Official Montana State Legislature Website
• Party Control in the Montana Legislature
• Montana's split-party control statute
• Wikipedia: Montana State Legislature

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