Alaska State Legislature Explained

Alaska State Legislature
Coa Pic:Seal of the State of Alaska.svg
Term Limits:None
New Session:January, 17 2023
Session Room:Alaska State Capitol, Juneau.jpg
House Type:Bicameral
Party1:(R-C)
Election1:January 17, 2023
Party2:(R-C)
Election2:January 18, 2023
Salary:$50,400/year + per diem
Members:
  • 20 senators
  • 40 representatives
Structure1:Alaska State Senate 2023-2025.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Political Groups1:Majority caucus (17)

Non-caucusing members (3)

Structure2:Alaska House 2023-2025 new.svg
Structure2 Res:250px
Political Groups2:
Majority caucus (23)
Minority caucus (16)
Other (1)
Last Election1:November 8, 2022
(19 seats)
Next Election1:November 5, 2024
(10 seats)
Redistricting:Alaska Redistricting Board
Website:Alaska State Legislature
Constitution:Constitution of Alaska

The Alaska State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution consisting of the 40-member Alaska House of Representatives (lower house) and the 20-member Alaska Senate (upper house). There are 40 House Districts (1–40) and 20 Senate Districts (A–T).[1] With a total of 60 lawmakers, the Alaska State Legislature is the smallest bicameral state legislature in the United States and the second-smallest of all state legislatures (only the 49-member unicameral Nebraska Legislature is smaller). There are no term limits for either chamber. The Alaska State Legislature meets in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. The current meeting since 2023 is the 33rd Alaska State Legislature. The previous meeting, the 32nd Alaska State Legislature, met from 2021 to 2023.

Organization

Non-professional legislature

Unlike other state legislatures with longer sessions, the Alaska State Legislature's comparatively short 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 State 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.[2]

Terms and qualifications

A candidate for legislative office must be a qualified voter and resident of Alaska for no less than three years, and a resident of the district from which elected for one year immediately preceding filing for office.[3] A senator must be at least 25 years of age and a representative 21 years of age at the time the oath of office is taken.[3]

Each chamber of the legislature may expel a member with the concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of that house.[3] This has happened only once in the legislature's history. On February 5, 1982, the Alaska Senate of the 12th Legislature expelled Bethel senator George Hohman from the body. Hohman was convicted of bribery in conjunction with his legislative duties on December 24, 1981, and had defiantly refused to resign from his seat. Expulsion was unnecessary during the more recent Alaska political corruption probe, as legislators targeted by the probe resigned, lost renomination or re-election, or did not seek re-election.

The Alaska Constitution gives the legislature the authority to set the term start date. Legislative terms begin on the second Monday in January following a presidential election year and on the third Tuesday in January following a gubernatorial election.[4] Representatives have a two-year term, and senators have a four-year term. One-half of the senators shall be elected every two years.[4]

Meetings

Annual sessions begin in January and are limited by statute to 90 calendar days. Special sessions of 30 calendar days may be convened by a consensus of two-thirds of each house.[5]

In the 2006 elections, a voter initiative was passed that reduced the statutory length of the session from 121 days to 90 days. The 2008 session was the first 90-day session. Although the session adjourned on time, opponents of the shorter session claimed that legislation was rushed and public input was jeopardized.[6]

Legislative process

Introduction

Legislators introduce a bill by giving it to the Chief Clerk of the Alaska House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Alaska Senate.[7] Bills submitted by the governor are introduced through a Rules Committee in either chamber. The chief clerk of the house or the senate secretary assigns each bill a number.[7]

During session, a bill is introduced and first read by number, sponsor or sponsors, and title. The bill is then referred to a committee or multiple committees.[7] Both chambers have the following committees: Finance; Health, Education and Social Services; Judiciary; Labor and Commerce; Community and Regional Affairs; Resources; Rules; State Affairs and Transportation; and any subcommittees created by committee chairs.[7]

Committee work

Committee chairs can choose whether or not to hear a bill, and committees can vote to approve a bill in its original form or make modifications through a committee substitute.[7] Once bills or substitutes are approved, the legislation is referred to the next committee of assignment or to the Rules Committee, which can further amend the bill or assign it to the chamber's daily calendar.[7]

Floor action

Once the Rules Committee has scheduled a bill on the chamber floor, it appears on the calendar in Second Reading. The bill is again read by number, sponsor or sponsors, and title, along with the standing committee reports. A motion is made on the floor to adopt any committee substitutes.[7] Amendments can also be offered and voted on.[7] Third Reading is where the motion is made to vote on the bill.[7]

Opposite chamber

After final passage in either the Alaska House of Representatives or Alaska Senate, a bill is engrossed and sent to the opposite house to go through the same process of introduction, committee referral, and three readings.[7]

Enactment

When a bill is not modified in the second house, that house can send it to the governor on Third Reading, through enrollment. If the bill is modified, the house of origin must vote to accept or reject amendments by the opposite house. A Fourth Reading, in the case of acceptance, will send the bill to the governor, through enrollment. If amendments are rejected, the bill can be sent to conference, where members of the Senate and House hash out a final version and send it to a Fourth Reading in both houses.[7]

The governor can choose to sign or veto the legislation. In the case of the veto, a two-thirds majority can override the veto. If signed or approved by a veto override, the legislation becomes law.[7] Unlike in many states, the governor does not have the power of the pocket veto.[8]

Caucuses

Unlike many other state legislative chambers in the United States, both houses of the Alaska State Legislature have a longstanding tradition of majority caucuses encompassing members of both major parties (Republican and Democratic). Democrats caucusing with the majority are colloquially known as "Bush Democrats," a reference to the Alaskan bush country from which they typically hail.[9] [10] Members of the minority party caucusing with the majority are treated as members of the majority for purposes of committee assignments and caucus meetings.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archived copy . August 22, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120135/http://www.akredistricting.org/Files/2013_PROCLAMATION/DistrictDescriptions2013Proclamation.pdf . August 26, 2014 .
  2. Web site: Alaska editorial: Let a commission help decide legislator's pay. January 13, 2006. Juneau Empire. https://web.archive.org/web/20151024235124/https://www.juneauempire.com/stories/011306/opi_20060113001.shtml. October 24, 2015. dead. August 23, 2006.
  3. Web site: Alaska Handbook to State Government. September 2011. State of Alaska Legislative Affairs Agency. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222021438/http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/handbook.pdf. December 22, 2019. dead. April 25, 2013.
  4. Web site: Article 2 of the Alaska Constitution. Lieutenant Governor's Office. https://web.archive.org/web/20101222032055/http://ltgov.alaska.gov/treadwell/services/alaska-constitution/article-ii-96A0the-legislature.html. December 22, 2010. dead. April 26, 2013.
  5. Web site: Alaska State Legislature . 2024-05-18 . akleg.gov.
  6. Web site: Legislature adjourns on time. Anchorage Daily News. April 13, 2008. September 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080920053413/http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/374722.html. September 20, 2008. dead. mdy-all.
  7. Web site: Legislative Process. Alaska Legislature. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222033634/http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/legprocess.pdf. December 22, 2019. dead. April 25, 2013.
  8. Web site: Alaska History and Culture: Legislative Branch . June 19, 2014 . April 8, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160408234606/http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=404 . dead .
  9. News: House Passes Oil Tax Bill. Alaska Public Media. Alexandra. Gutierrez. April 14, 2013. January 20, 2015.
  10. News: Democrat Hoffman joins Republican Alaska Senate majority. Alaska Dispatch. November 6, 2014. January 20, 2015. Rich. Mauer.