North Dakota Legislative Assembly
| North Dakota Legislative Assembly | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2013 session start: | January 8, 2013 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Drew Wrigley (R) |
| House Speaker: | David Drovdal (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Rich Wardner (R) (Senate), Al Carlson (R) (House) |
| Minority leader: | Ryan Taylor (D) (Senate), Jerome Kelsh (D) (House) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 47 (Senate), 94 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 4 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art IV, North Dakota Constitution |
| Salary: | $152/day + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 6, 2012 23 seats (Senate) 47 seats (House) |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 |
| Redistricting: | North Dakota Legislature has control |
Contents |
The Legislative Assembly convenes within the 19-story Art Deco state capitol building in Bismarck.
Because the House and Senate sit for only 80 days in odd-numbered years, the Legislative Council oversees legislative affairs in the interim periods, doing longer-term studies of issues, and drafting legislation for consideration of both houses at the next session.
As of May 2013, North Dakota is one of 24 Republican state government trifectas.
Sessions
Article IV of the North Dakota Constitution establishes when the Assembly is to be in session. Section 7 of Article IV states that the Assembly is to convene in regular session every January after a legislative election. This means that the Assembly convenes in January of every odd-numbered year. Section 7 specifies that the convening date is to be the first Tuesday after the third day in January, unless this date is changed by law. Section 7 limits the length of regular sessions to no more than eighty days every two years.
2013
- See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions
In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from January 8 through May 1.
Major issues
Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R) and GOP leaders expect issues related to the state's oil boom to dominate the agenda.[1]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the Legislature was not in regular session.
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the Legislative Assembly was in regular session from January 4 through April 28. [2] A special session has been called by Governor Jack Dalrymple for November 7 through 12 to cover legislative redistricting and disaster relief.[3]
Interim Committees
On May 25, 2011 the Legislative Management Committee appointed members to the state's interim committees. Historically, majority and minority members of the Legislative Management Committee are appointed as chairs of the interim committees. However in 2011, only Republican legislators were appointed to chair interim committees. House Minority Leader Jerome Kelsh (D) called the move partisan and a "break with tradition." House Majority Leader Al Carlson (D) argued that the appointments reflected wishes of voters in electing Republican candidates. Regardless of the particular committee chair, Republicans will be a majority on all committees. Only a few states permit minority committee chairs.[4]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the Legislative Assembly did not meet in regular session.[5]
Senate
The North Dakota State Senate is the upper house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly.
North Dakota is divided into between 40 and 54 legislative districts apportioned by population as determined by the decennial census. The 2000 redistricting plan provided for 47 districts. As each district elects 1 representative to the Senate, there are 47 Senators. Each member represents an average of 14,310 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[6] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 13,664.[7]
Senators serve 4-year terms. Elections are staggered such that half the districts have elections every 2 years.
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 14 | |
| Republican Party | 33 | |
| Total | 47 | |
House of Representatives
The North Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Each of North Dakota's 47 districts elects 2 Representatives to the House, for a total of 94 Representatives. Each member represents an average of 7,155 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[8] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 6,832.[9]
Representatives serve 4-year terms. Elections are staggered such that half the districts have elections every 2 years.
Committees
There no permanent joint committees in the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. However, the state does appoint joint interim committees.
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2013, members of the North Dakota Legislature are paid $152/day during legislative sessions and for attending interim committee meetings. Legislators receive lodging reimbursements up to $1,351/month (vouchered).[10]
Pension
North Dakota does not provide pensions for legislators.[11]
When sworn in
North Dakota legislators assume office December 1st.
External links
References
- ↑ NewsOK, "Oil issues to dominate ND legislative session," January 6, 2013
- ↑ North Dakota Legislative Assembly information
- ↑ The Bismarck Tribune, N.D. House leader: Special session starts Nov. 7, Sept.15, 2011
- ↑ PlainsDaily, "ND Dems Disappointed With No Chairmanship Assignments," May 25, 2011
- ↑ Session information for North Dakota legislature
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ USA Today, "State-by-state: Benefits available to state legislators," September 23, 2011
