Chapter 11 Making State Laws

Vocabulary assembly – a branch/part of some state legislatures Maryland General Assembly

Vocabulary district – a part of a state that elects on state representative or state senator

Vocabulary initiative – the process that people in a state use to introduce and vote on proposed laws (bills)

Vocabulary petition – a written paper signed by many people that asks the government to take some action, or do something

Vocabulary referendum – the process that people use to force their state legislature to let the people vote on bills and let the people approve or not approve a bill

Vocabulary recall – a way for the people to remove a state government official from office

State Legislatures Have two houses: The upper house The lower house

State Legislatures Sessions last only a couple of months

State Legislatures Have committees: Study bills Pass along or kill bills

Presiding Officers Leaders for each house: Lower House presiding officer: The Speaker Upper House presiding officer: The President Sub-presiding officer pro tempore

Presiding Officer Duties Appoints (picks) committees and committee chairpersons Runs the sessions Decides who gets to speak on proposed bills

The Lower House Called: The House of Representatives The Assembly The People’s House

The Lower House Members elected from districts Term = 2 years Districts have equal number of people Term = 2 years

The Upper House Called: The Senate

The Upper House Term = 4 years

Powers People Have Initiative Referendum Recall

Initiative Write a Get people to Vote

Referendum When voters __________________ on a bill the legislature is _________________ In the next election voters can ________________________________________________________

Recall People _________________________ an elected state official from ______________________ People must sign a ______________________ then a new ________________ happens