Arizona State Legislature

The Arizona Legislature, sometimes referred to as the Arizona State Legislature, is the bicameral legislature of the State of Arizona. It is composed of a 30-Member upper house called Senate and a 75-Member lower house styled House of Representatives. Both Houses of the Legislature meet in the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, the state capital: The Senate meet in the Hall of the Senate, located on the north side of the building, while the House of Representatives meet in the Hall of the House, which is located on the south side of the Capitol. Members of both Houses of the Legislature are chosen by direct, popular election; however, the Manner and Method of electing Members of the Legislature varies between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Legislature has 105 Members: 30 Senators and 75 Representatives.

The Members of the Senate serve a Term of six Years (renewable any number of times) representing one of the thirty Senate districts. Elections for the Senate are staggered so that the Seats of one-third of the whole Senate (e.g., 10 seats) are filled every two Years. On the other hand, Members of the House of Representatives serve a Term of two Years (also renewable any number of times) representing the People of Arizona, with five Representatives being chosen in each of the fifteen Representative districts.

Overview
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History
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Legislature in State Government
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Powers of the Legislature
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Overview of legislative power
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Checks and balances
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Structure
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Committees
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Specialization
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Power
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Officers
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Support services
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Arizona State Library
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Arizona Legislative Council
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Joint Legislative Audit Committee
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Joint Legislative Budget Committee
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Joint Legislative Research Committee
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Lobbyists
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Partisanship versus bipartisanship
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Procedures of the Legislature
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Sessions
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Joint sessions
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Bills and resolutions
The Arizona Legislature is responsible for making Laws in the State of Arizona. The first step in the legislative Process is Bill drafting. First, Legislators must submit a Bill request to the Legislative Council staff. Additionally, a Legislator-elect may submit a Bill request or private Citizens can obtain authorization from a Legislator to use the Legislator's name before giving instructions to the Legislative Council staff. The Legislative Council staff delivers a Bill draft to the sponsor or requester and if directed, will prepare the Bill for introduction.

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 advancing. Once Committee action is completed, the Bill undergoes a second Reading, and just before a floor Vote on the Bill, a third Reading. If that House approves the Bill, it is then sent to the opposite House of the Legislature for consideration. If approved, without Amendment, it is then sent to the Governor for his approval or disapproval. If, however, one House of the Legislature amends the Bill, the other House may either reconsider the Bill with Amendments or ask for the establishment of a Conference Committee to work out differences in the different versions of the Bill passed by each House of the Legislature. Once a piece of Legislation approved in identical form by both the Senate and House of Representatives is forwarded to the Governor, the Governor may either approve or disapprove of it &mdash;If he approves, he shall sign it, and it shall become Law on the effective date specified in the Bill; but if not, he shall not sign it and return it, together with his Objections, to the House of the Legislature in which such Bill shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal,  and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration, three-fifths of that House of the Legislature shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by three-fifths of that House, it shall become Law: If, in reconsidering the Bill, the Legislature fail to approve it in each House by three-fifths of the Members thereof, respectively, the Bill shall not become a Law.

The Legislature and the public
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Challenges of re-election
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Citizens and representatives
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Members and constituents
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Legislative style
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Privileges and pay
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Privileges protecting members
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Pay and benefits
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