Alaska State Legislature

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The Alaska State Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution, consisting of the lower Alaska House of Representatives, with 40 members, and the upper house Alaska Senate, with 20 members. With a total of 60 lawmakers, the Alaska Legislature is the smallest bicameral state legislature in the United States, due to factors including the geographic size of the state, and the state's small population.

The Alaska Legislature meets in the State Capitol building in Juneau.

Meetings

Annual sessions begin in January and are limited by statute to 120 calendar days. Special sessions of 30 calendar days may be convened by a consensus of two-thirds of the each house.

In the 2006 elections, a voter initiative was passed that reduced the statutory length of the session to 90 days. Current legislation would make changes to accommodate a 90 session. However, the fate of a 90 day session in Alaska remains to be determined.

Non-professional Legislature

Unlike other state legislatures with longer sessions, the comparatively short Alaska Legislature session allows many lawmakers to retain outside employment, especially in the state's many seasonal industries, such as fishing and tourism. In this, the Alaska Legislature retains some of the volunteer nature that characterized most state legislatures until the middle of the 20th century. This has led to recurring but minor controversy around the potential for conflict of interest inherent in legislators' outside employment.

Role in State Budget

Main article: Alaska state budget

By December 15th of each year, the Legislature of Alaska receives an annual budget proposal from the Governor. The budget proposal is for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1st. The Legislature then revises the budget proposal over the course of the next couple of months. In April, the Legislature votes on a budget. For a budget to pass, a majority of legislatures must vote in support of it. [1]

In the midst of economic hard times, the Legislature of Alaska has failed to pass a balanced budget. And for the fiscal year 2010, Alaska faces a $1.3 billion budget gap.[2] Alaska’s estimated fiscal 2011 shortfall is reportedly $677 million.[3] The steep decline in oil prices, the state’s dominant source of revenue, ended their historical annual surplus requiring dipping into its special reserve fund of approximately $8 billion.[4]

Senate

The Alaska Senate is the upper house in the Alaska Legislature. The Senate consists of 20 members, each of whom represents a district of about 31,347 people (2000 figures). Senators serve four-year terms, without term limits. Half of the Alaska Senate is up for re-election every two years. With just 20 Senators, the Alaska Senate is the smallest legislative chamber in the United States.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.

House of Representatives

The Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of about 15,673 people (2000 figures). Members serve two-year terms without term limits. With 40 Representatives, the Alaskan House is the smallest state legislative lower house in the United States.

Joint legislative committees

References

  1. ↑ National Association of State Budget Offices, 2008 Budget Processes in the States, Pages 4-5
  2. ↑ Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, “New Fiscal Year Brings No Relief From Unprecedented State Budget Problems,” September 3, 2009
  3. ↑ Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, “New Fiscal Year Brings No Relief From Unprecedented State Budget Problems,” September 3, 2009
  4. ↑ Alaska Journal of Commerce, “Parnell says he'll tackle state budget planning with care,” September 18, 2009

External links

v • d • e
Republican majority Current members of the Alaska House of Representatives
House Majority Leader: Kyle Johansen (R) • House Minority Leader: Beth Kerttula (D)
Republican (22) • Democratic (18) • Alaska Senate • Alaska House of Representatives
v • d • e
Image:Bluedot.png Current members of the Alaska Senate
Senate President: Gary Stevens • Majority Leader: Johnny Ellis • Minority Leader: Gene Therriault
Democratic (10) • Republican (10) • Majority Coalition (13) • Alaska Senate • Alaska House of Representatives
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