The Legislature Meets for 60 days (March-May) Required to pass a budget Meets every year Part time $30,000 a year Professional staff

Senate Senate (40 members) – Over 450,000 people per district – Senate President – 4 year term – Term Limits – Republicans 26 – Democrats 14

House of Representatives House (120 members) – About 150,000 people per district – Speaker of the House – 2 year term – Term Limits – Republicans 77 – Democrats 43

Basic Differences Senate – More deliberate – More experienced – Moderate – Larger, thus more constituencies – More bi-partisanship

Differences HOUSE HOUSE – More responsive to public opinion – Less experienced – More combative – More partisan – Leadership has more control

Race for the legislature House – Term limits – Incumbency – Is the seat competitive? – Fundraising – Name I.D. – Press – Grass roots campaign – internet

Race for the Legislature Senate – More voters=more money and organization – Mass media requirements – More competitive – Experience – Leadership races – National impact…because larger area

Leadership President and Speaker – Select leadership team – Creates the legislative structure – Selects committee chairs and members on committees – Sets the committee references for bills – Decides which bills make it to the floor – Can’t make an idea a law, but can kill an idea or law – Most powerful on rise and 1 st year in position

Leadership Relationships Helping others Fundraising Bills Media Ability Timing Term limits

Once Elected Staff, office, committee assignment Leadership ambitions Learning the ways of Tallahassee Lobbyists The pace of the day Balancing the needs of the district v. own opinion Finding an area of experience How one becomes a player on both D and R

The Press Campaign v. in office much different Campaign v. in office much different More selective More selective Pick your issues Pick your issues Good way to help other members Good way to help other members They like good headlines They like good headlines Quick quotes Quick quotes At least get back to them At least get back to them Never lie Never lie Recognize the bias Recognize the bias

Once Elected Back in the district – Keeping in touch with voters – Meetings, meetings, meetings – New relationship with press once elected – Speech opportunities – Easier to raise money – Keeping in the public eye and still having a life – “how are things in Washington?”

Lobbyists What they do – During session – After session

Staff Leadership Staff Committee Staff Majority/Minority Staff Member staff Party staff

Decision to Run Realities of elections Emotional “like a movie” Fundraising Who will run? What is a normal campaign? Family impact job

My race Why I ran…background, experience with other campaigns, frustration Decision to run, meeting with people about money and support Kickoff Consultant How to run the campaign based on strengths and weaknesses Gimmicks to make a point

My election Signs Spending money to contact voters How to personally speak to voters How to raise money beyond old friends and family How to treat other opponents The press Interest groups forums

Polling Mass media – Mail – Radio – TV – Internet

Opponents Attacks GOTV

My election Absentee voters – Phone, mail Primary Election day Victory __________________________________ Do it all over again in the General Election – Opponents strength and weakness – Voter profile of the community – New Money…party support Victory