| Nebraska Legislature | |||||
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| Type | Unicameral | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker | Mike Flood, since January 3, 2007 |
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| Members | 49 | ||||
| Political groups | Nonpartisan | ||||
| Last elections | November 7, 2006 | ||||
| Meeting place | Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska | ||||
| Web site | http://www.leg.ne.gov/ | ||||
The Nebraska Legislature is the U.S. state of Nebraska's legislative branch. A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation The Legislature meets in the Nebraska State Capitol at Lincoln. The Nebraska State Capitol, located in Lincoln Nebraska, is the capitol and seat of the Nebraska Legislature and houses other offices of the government of the The City of Lincoln ( Umóⁿhoⁿ: Nískithe Tʰóⁿwoⁿgthoⁿ ˈnĩskiˡðe ˌtʰãwãŋgˡðã meaning "Salt Village" for Salt Creek which was the It is unique in that it is the only American state legislature that is unicameral and nonpartisan. In the United States of America, a state legislature is a generic term referring to the legislative body of any of the country's 50 states. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or Parliamentary chamber In Political science, nonpartisan denotes an Election, event or organization in which the participants declare or do not formally have a Political party However, territorial legislatures such as the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Legislature of Guam, and the Council of the District of Columbia are similarly unicameral. The Legislature of the Virgin Islands is the territorial legislature of the United States Virgin Islands. The Legislature of Guam ( Liheslaturan Guåhan in Chamorro) is the territorial legislature of Guam. The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of Washington D
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History
Nebraska originally operated under a bicameral legislature. In Government, bicameralism (bi + Latin la ''camera'' chamber is the practice of having two legislative or Parliamentary chambers Thus a bicameral Over time, defects in the bicameral system became apparent. Bills were lost because the two houses could not agree on a single version, and conference committees that were created to reconcile different versions of bills often met in secret, and were thus unaccountable for their actions. After a trip to Australia in 1931,[1] George Norris campaigned for reform, arguing that the bicameral system was based on the inherently undemocratic British House of Lords, and that it was pointless to have two bodies of people doing the same thing and hence wasting money. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" He specifically pointed to the example of the Parliament for the Australian state of Queensland, which had adopted a unicameral parliament nearly ten years earlier. The Parliament of Queensland is the Legislature of Queensland, Australia. [2] In 1934, a constitutional amendment was passed revoking the House of Representatives and adding all its former duties to the Senate (the amendment was on the same ballot as an amendment that legalized betting on horse races. Some historians speculate that this coincidence may have aided its passage in Omaha, where the unicameral issue was not a pressing one, but horse racing was. It is speculated that gambling interests campaigned for yes votes on both to assure that the horse racing amendment would pass). The new unicameral Legislature met for the first time in 1937. Though the name of the body is formally the "Nebraska Legislature," its members are commonly referred to as "Senators". A senate is a Deliberative body, often the Upper house or chamber of a Legislature or Parliament. In Nebraska, the Legislature is also often simply known as "The Unicameral".
Selection, composition and operation
The Legislature comprises forty-nine members, chosen by a single-member district or constituency. Senators are chosen for four-year terms, with one-half of the seats up for election every second year. No person may be a senator unless he or she is a qualified voter, over the age of twenty-one, and a resident of his or her district for at least one year. Currently, senators are limited by law to two terms. Senators earn $12,000 a year.
Members are selected in nonpartisan elections. Non-partisan democracy (also no-party democracy) is a system of representative government or organization such that universal and periodic Elections Rather than separate primaries held to choose Republican, Democratic, and other partisan contenders for a seat, Nebraska uses a single nonpartisan primary election, in which the top two vote-getters are entitled to run in the general election. A primary election ( nominating primary) also referred to simply as a primary, is an election in which voters in a Jurisdiction select candidates The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral A primary election ( nominating primary) also referred to simply as a primary, is an election in which voters in a Jurisdiction select candidates A general election is an Election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election There are no formal party alignments or groups within the Legislature. Coalitions tend to form issue by issue based on a member's philosophy of government, geographic background, and constituency. However, almost all the members of the legislature are affiliated with the state affiliate of either the Democratic or the Republican party and both parties explicitly endorse candidates for legislative seats. The unofficial partisan makeup of the Nebraska Legislature is 31 Republicans, 15 Democrats, and 3 Independents
Sessions of the Nebraska Legislature last for 90 working days in odd-numbered years and 60 working days in even-numbered years. In Politics, an independent is a Politician who is not Affiliated with any Political party. The Speaker presides over the Legislature in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor, but the day-to-day matters of the body are dealt with by the Executive Board. The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a legislative body The Board includes the Speaker, a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and six other senators. The chairperson and vice-chairperson are chosen for two-year terms by the Legislature as a whole. Senators are classified into three geographically-based "caucuses"; each caucus elects two board members. Finally, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee serves, but cannot vote on any matter, and can only speak on fiscal matters.
General powers
The Legislature is responsible for law-making in the state, but the Governor has the power to veto any bill. The Governor of Nebraska holds the "supreme executive power" of the State of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Nebraska Constitution A veto, Latin for "I forbid" is used to Denote that a certain party has the right to stop unilaterally a certain piece of Legislation. The Legislature may override the governor's veto by a vote of three-fifths (30) of its members. The Legislature also has the power, by a three-fifths vote, to propose constitutional amendments to the voters, who then decide upon it through a referendum. A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita
Membership
Note: The Nebraska Legislature is nonpartisan; members' party affiliations are for informational purposes only.
| Affiliation | Members |
|
| Republican Party | 31 | |
| Democratic Party | 15 | |
| Independent |
3 | |
| Total |
49 | |
| Majority |
16 | |
Each member represents about 35,000 people. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. In Politics, an independent is a Politician who is not Affiliated with any Political party.
| District | Senator | Home | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lavon Heidemann | Elk Creek | |
| 2 | Dave Pankonin | Louisville | |
| 3 | Gail Kopplin | Gretna | |
| 4 | Pete Pirsch | Omaha | |
| 5 | Don Preister | Bellevue | |
| 6 | John E. Nelson | Omaha | |
| 7 | John Synowiecki | Omaha | |
| 8 | Tom White | Omaha | |
| 9 | Gwen Howard | Omaha | |
| 10 | Mike Friend | Omaha | |
| 11 | Ernie Chambers | Omaha | |
| 12 | Steve Lathrop | Omaha | |
| 13 | Lowen Kruse | Omaha | |
| 14 | Tim Gay | Papillion | |
| 15 | Ray Janssen | Nickerson | |
| 16 | Kent Rogert | Tekamah | |
| 17 | L. Patrick Engel | South Sioux City | |
| 18 | Scott Lautenbaugh | Omaha | |
| 19 | Mike Flood* | Norfolk | |
| 20 | Brad Ashford | Omaha | |
| 21 | Carol Hudkins | Malcolm | |
| 22 | Arnie Stuthman | Platte Center | |
| 23 | Chris Langemeier | Schuyler | |
| 24 | Greg L. Adams | York | |
| 25 | Ron Raikes | Lincoln | |
| 26 | Amanda McGill | Lincoln | |
| 27 | DiAnna Schimek | Lincoln | |
| 28 | Bill Avery | Lincoln | |
| 29 | Tony Fulton | Lincoln | |
| 30 | Norm Wallman | Cortland | |
| 31 | Rich Pahls | Omaha | |
| 32 | Russ Karpisek | Wilber | |
| 33 | Carroll Burling | Kenesaw | |
| 34 | Annette M. Dubas | Fullerton | |
| 35 | Ray Aguilar | Grand Island | |
| 36 | John Wightman | Lexington | |
| 37 | Joel T. Johnson | Kearney | |
| 38 | Tom Carlson | Holdrege | |
| 39 | Dwite Pedersen | Omaha | |
| 40 | Cap Dierks | Ewing | |
| 41 | Vickie D. McDonald | St. Paul | |
| 42 | Tom Hansen | North Platte | |
| 43 | Deb Fischer | Valentine | |
| 44 | Mark R. Lavon Lynn Heidemann (born October 24, 1958) is a Non-partisan member of the Nebraska Legislature, representing the 1st District since 2004 Elk Creek is a village in Johnson County, Nebraska, United States. Dave Pankonin (born December 1, 1951) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature. Louisville is a city in Cass County, Nebraska, United States. Gail Kopplin (born 1939 is a Nebraska state senator from Gretna Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and a retired school administrator Gretna is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2355 at the 2000 census. Pete Pirsch (born October 28, 1969) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature. Don Preister (born 1946 is a Democratic Nebraska state senator from Bellevue Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and greeting card manufacturer for Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 44382 at the 2000 census. John E Nelson (born December 29, 1935) is an Attorney and a member of the Nebraska Legislature from Omaha Nebraska. John Synowiecki is a Nebraska state senator from Omaha Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and the program director for governmental relations for Catholic Tom White (born October 26, 1956) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature from Omaha Nebraska. Gwen Howard (born 1945 is a Nebraska state senator from Omaha Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and also a Social worker and Adoption Michael "Mike" Friend is a Nebraska state senator from Omaha Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and a writer/editor for the First National Ernest (Ernie W Chambers (born July 10, 1937) is a former Nebraska State Senator who represented North Omaha 's 11th District in the Steve Lathrop (born April 1, 1957) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature from Omaha Nebraska. Lowen Kruse (born 1929 is a Nebraska state senator from Omaha Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and retired minister for Omaha First United Methodist Tim Gay (born July 9, 1964) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature from Papillion Nebraska. Papillion is a city in Sarpy County in the US state of Nebraska. Ray Janssen (born 1937 is a Nebraska state senator from Nickerson Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and grocer Nickerson is a village in Dodge County, Nebraska, in the United States. Kent Rogert (born September 15, 1972) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature from Tekamah Nebraska, United States. Tekamah is a city in Burt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1892 at the 2000 census. L Patrick Engel (born 1932 is a Nebraska state senator from South Sioux City Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and a retired insurance agent for South Sioux City is a city in Dakota County, Nebraska, in the United States. Scott Lautenbaugh (born November 11, 1964 in Sioux City Iowa) is a Nebraska state senator from Omaha Nebraska, United States MIKE FLOOD is a Computer program that simulates Inundation for rivers Flood plains and urban Drainage systems It dynamically couples 1D ( Norfolk is a City in Madison County, Nebraska, United States, 113 miles northwest of Omaha at the intersection of U John Brad Ashford (born November 10, 1949) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature. Carol Hudkins (born 1945 is a Nebraska state senator from Malcolm Nebraska, United States, in the Nebraska Legislature and also a farmer and Malcolm is a village in Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States. Arnie Stuthman (born 1941 is a Nebraska state senator from Platte Center Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and also farmer and livestock feeder Platte Center is a village in Platte County, Nebraska, United States. Chris Langemeier is a senator in the Nebraska Legislature in the United States. Schuyler is a city in Colfax County, Nebraska, United States. Greg L Adams (born February 6, 1952) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature and Teacher from York, Nebraska. York is a city in York County, Nebraska, in the United States. Ron Raikes (born 1943 is a Nebraska state senator from Lincoln Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and farmer The City of Lincoln ( Umóⁿhoⁿ: Nískithe Tʰóⁿwoⁿgthoⁿ ˈnĩskiˡðe ˌtʰãwãŋgˡðã meaning "Salt Village" for Salt Creek which was the Amanda McGill (born March 21, 1980) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature from Lincoln Nebraska. The City of Lincoln ( Umóⁿhoⁿ: Nískithe Tʰóⁿwoⁿgthoⁿ ˈnĩskiˡðe ˌtʰãwãŋgˡðã meaning "Salt Village" for Salt Creek which was the DiAnna Schimek (born 1940 is a Nebraska state senator from Lincoln Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature. The City of Lincoln ( Umóⁿhoⁿ: Nískithe Tʰóⁿwoⁿgthoⁿ ˈnĩskiˡðe ˌtʰãwãŋgˡðã meaning "Salt Village" for Salt Creek which was the Bill Avery (born February 7, 1942) is an elected member of the Nebraska Legislature and an adjunct Professor of Political science, The City of Lincoln ( Umóⁿhoⁿ: Nískithe Tʰóⁿwoⁿgthoⁿ ˈnĩskiˡðe ˌtʰãwãŋgˡðã meaning "Salt Village" for Salt Creek which was the Tony Fulton (born September 29, 1972) is a member of the Nebraska Legislature from Lincoln Nebraska. The City of Lincoln ( Umóⁿhoⁿ: Nískithe Tʰóⁿwoⁿgthoⁿ ˈnĩskiˡðe ˌtʰãwãŋgˡðã meaning "Salt Village" for Salt Creek which was the Norm Wallman (born February 6, 1938) is a Farmer and member of the Nebraska Legislature from Cortland Nebraska. Cortland is a village in Gage County, Nebraska, United States. Rich Pahls (born 1943 is a Nebraska state senator from Omaha Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature. Russ Karpisek (born July 20 1966 in Friend Nebraska) is a Nebraska state senator from Wilber Nebraska, United States Wilber is a city in Saline County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1761 at the 2000 census. Carroll Burling (born 1934 is a retired farmer and current Nebraska state senator in the Nebraska Legislature from Kenesaw Nebraska. Kenesaw is a village in Adams County, Nebraska, United States. Annette M Dubas (born February 5 1956 in Omaha Nebraska) is a Nebraska state senator from Fullerton Nebraska, United States Fullerton is a city in Nance County, Nebraska, United States. Ray Aguilar (born 1947 is a Nebraska state senator in the Nebraska Legislature and self-employed in the commercial cleaning service business in Grand Grand Island is a city in and the County seat of Hall County, Nebraska, United States. John M Wightman (born October 2 1938 in North Platte Nebraska) is a Nebraska state senator from Lexington Nebraska, United Lexington is a city in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States. Joel T Johnson (born 1936 is a Nebraska state senator from Kearney Nebraska, USA in the Nebraska Legislature and a retired general surgeon Kearney is a city in Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. Tom Carlson (born December 9 1941 in Holdrege Nebraska) is a Nebraska state senator from Holdrege Nebraska, United States Holdrege is a city in Phelps County, Nebraska, United States. Dwite Pedersen (born 1941 is a Nebraska state senator from Elkhorn Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and substance abuse counselor Merton L "Cap" Dierks (born July 2, 1932 in O'Neill Nebraska) is a Nebraska state senator from Ewing Nebraska, Ewing is a village in Holt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 433 at the 2000 census. Vickie D McDonald (born May 26, 1947) is a Nebraska state senator from St St Paul is a city in and the County seat of Howard County, Nebraska, United States. Tom Hansen (born November 8, 1946 in North Platte Nebraska) is a Nebraska state senator from North Platte Nebraska, United North Platte is a city in and the County seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States. Deb Fischer (born 1951 is a Nebraska state senator from Valentine Nebraska in the Nebraska Legislature and a rancher Valentine is a city in Cherry County, Nebraska, United States. Christensen | Imperial | |
| 45 | Abbie Cornett | Bellevue | |
| 46 | Danielle Nantkes | Lincoln | |
| 47 | Philip Erdman | Bayard | |
| 48 | John N. Harms | Scottsbluff | |
| 49 | LeRoy J. Louden | Ellsworth |
*Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature
See also
External links
- The official site of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature
- Project Vote Smart - State Senate of Nebraska
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