26-475: The 1st Alaska State Legislature served during 1959 and 1960. All of its members were elected on November 26, 1958 , when Alaska was in its last days as a territory . The Alaska Constitution established that legislative terms begin on the fourth Monday in January following an election year, and that the date may be changed by statute. This legislature passed Senate Bill 70 in the first session, which placed
52-411: 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
78-483: A committee has weighed in on a piece of legislation, the bill returns to the floor for second hearing and a third hearing, which happens just before the floor vote on it. Once passed by the Senate, a bill is sent to the opposite legislative house for consideration. If approved, without amendment, it is sent to the governor. If there is amendment, however, the Senate may either reconsider the bill with amendments or ask for
104-409: A consensus of two-thirds of each house. 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. Legislators introduce a bill by giving it to
130-425: A resident of the district from which elected for one year immediately preceding filing for office. 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. Each chamber of the legislature may expel a member with the concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of that house. This has happened only once in the legislature's history. On February 5, 1982,
156-429: A resident of the district from which elected for one year immediately preceding filing for office. A senator must be at least 25 years old at the time the oath of office is taken. Senators may expel a member with the concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of the body. This has happened only once in Senate history. On February 5, 1982, the Senate of the 12th Legislature expelled Bethel senator George Hohman from
182-461: Is made on the floor to adopt any committee substitutes. Amendments can also be offered and voted on. Third Reading is where the motion is made to vote on the bill. 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. When
208-589: Is required if it is an appropriations bill). For gubernatorial nominees requiring confirmation, the Alaska Senate sits in joint session with the Alaska House and the two bodies vote together on confirmation, with each representative and senator having one vote. Current committees include: Past partisan compositions can be found on Political party strength in Alaska . Senators must be a qualified voter and resident of Alaska for no less than three years, and
234-528: Is responsible for making laws and confirming or rejecting gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards. With just twenty members, the Alaska Senate is the smallest state legislative chamber in the United States. Its members serve four-year terms and each represent an equal number of districts with populations of approximately 35,512 people, per 2010 census figures. They are not subject to term limits . The Alaska Senate shares
260-655: 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. 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,
286-745: The Lieutenant Governor of Alaska does not preside over the Senate. Instead, the Lieutenant Governor oversees the Alaska Division of Elections , fulfilling the role of Secretary of State . Only two other states, Hawaii and Utah , have similar constitutional arrangements for their lieutenant governors. The other partisan Senate leadership positions, such as the Majority and Minority leaders, are (usually) elected by their respective party caucuses to head their parties in
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#1732797947440312-440: The 20-member Alaska Senate ( upper house ). There are 40 House Districts (1–40) and 20 Senate Districts (A–T). 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
338-477: 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
364-410: 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. A candidate for legislative office must be a qualified voter and resident of Alaska for no less than three years, and
390-631: The Chief Clerk of the Alaska House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Alaska Senate . 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. 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. Both chambers have
416-426: The Senate and House hash out a final version and send it to a Fourth Reading in both houses. 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. Unlike in many states, the governor does not have the power of the pocket veto. Unlike many other state legislative chambers in
442-485: 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. Members of the minority party caucusing with the majority are treated as members of
468-407: 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 not a consideration during the 2003–2010 Alaska political corruption probe , as Ben Stevens and John Cowdery were the only Senators who were subjects of the probe and neither sought reelection in 2008. Legislative terms begin on
494-442: The date into statute but did not actually change it. Photos of individual and assembled members of the 1st Alaska State Legislature, as hosted at Alaska's Digital Archives Alaska Legislature Non-caucusing members (3) 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
520-435: The establishment of a conference committee to work out differences in the versions of the bill passed by each chamber. Once a piece of legislation approved by both houses is forwarded to the governor, it may either be signed or vetoed. If it is signed, it takes effect on the effective date of the legislation. If it is vetoed, lawmakers in a joint session may override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote (three-fourths majority
546-459: 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. 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. Once bills or substitutes are approved,
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#1732797947440572-533: 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. 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
598-498: 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. Representatives have a two-year term, and senators have a four-year term. One-half of the senators shall be elected every two years. Annual sessions begin in January and are limited by statute to 90 calendar days. Special sessions of 30 calendar days may be convened by
624-516: The majority for purposes of committee assignments and caucus meetings. 58°18′08″N 134°24′38″W / 58.3022°N 134.4105°W / 58.3022; -134.4105 Alaska Senate Non-caucusing members The Alaska State Senate is the upper house in the Alaska State Legislature , the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska . It convenes in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska and
650-480: The responsibility for making laws in the state of Alaska with the Alaska House of Representatives . Bills are developed by staff from bill requests and information from the bill's sponsor. Bills undergo three or four readings during the legislative process. After the first reading, they are assigned to committee. Committees can amend measures or hold legislation and prevent it from reaching the Senate floor. Once
676-457: The second Monday in January following a presidential election year and on the third Tuesday in January following a gubernatorial election. The term of senators is four years and half of the senators are up for election every two years. The President of the Senate presides over the body, appointing members to all of the Senate's committees and joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. Unlike many other states,
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