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North Dakota Legislative Assembly
| North Dakota Legislative Assembly | |
100px | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2013 session start: | No regular session in 2012 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | David 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: | $148/day during legislative sessions + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 24 seats (Senate) 47 seats (House) |
| Next election: | November 4, 2012 23 seats (Senate) 47 seats (House) |
| 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.
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.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the Legislature will not be 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. [1] A special session has been called by Governor Jack Dalrymple for November 7 through 12 to cover legislative redistricting and disaster relief.[2]
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.[3]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the Legislative Assembly did not meet in regular session.[4]
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.[5] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 13,664.[6]
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.[7] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 6,832.[8]
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 2010, members of the North Dakota Legislature are paid $148/day during legislative sessions. Legislators receive lodging reimbursements up to $1,040/month (vouchered).[9]
The $148/day that North Dakota legislators are paid as of 2010 is an increase over the $125/day they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. The loding reimbursement has increased from $900/month in 2007 to $1,040/month in 2010.[10]
When sworn in
North Dakota legislators assume office December 1st.
External links
References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
