2. What is the usual term for State legislators?
3. What are eight of the most important legislative powers of State legislature?
4. Name three nonlegislative functions of State legislature?
5. How does the committee system in State legislatures work?
6. From where do a large number of bills originate
vocabulary: constituent power, police power, referendum
Formal qualifications for most states’ legislature
Age, citizenship, residence
Usual term for State legislators
2 or 4 years
Learn about Ohio click on the link http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/
Ohio House = 4 terms (total 8 years) each term is 2 years
Ohio Senate = 2 terms (total 8 years) each term is 4 years
Ohio has term limits
The 8 most important legislative powers
1. tax
2. spend
3. borrow
4. police
5. establish courts
6. define crimes and provide punishment
7. regulate commercial activities
8. maintain public schools
Non- legislative functions of state legislatures
1. Approve Governor’s appointments
2. Impeachment
3. Constitution-making and amending
Committee System in State legislatures
How does it work?
Laws are referred to committees for recommendation to full houses, similar to Congress
Where do bills originate from?
All kinds of public and private sources
i.e. – MADD, SADD, etc.
Terms
1. Constituent Power
- constitution-making power
2. Police Power
- State’s power to protect and promote public health, safety, morals, and welfare
3. Referendum
- Process by which a legislature sends bills to the electorate for approval