Copyright 2009

Legislative Branch Makes the laws

Executive Branch Carries out the laws

Judicial Branch Interprets the laws

The session begins every year on the second Tuesday in January at noon.

In odd numbered years, the session is limited to 40 legislative days.

In even-numbered years, the session is limited to 35 legislative days.

A bill was passed in 2008 stating the legislature could meet no more than 40 days each year.

Legislative sessions do not include Sundays, holidays, or days when the legislature is in recess.

In which month does the Legislative Session begin? January How many days does the legislative session meet

during odd numbered years? 40 days How many days is the session during even numbered

years? 35 days On what day during the second week of January

does the session begin? Tuesday

There are 35 legislative districts in South Dakota Each District has one Senator and two

Representatives Our Legislative District is District #_____ District #_____ is made up of the following

counties/communities __________ __________ __________

Our State Senator is ________________.

He/She is serving his/her ___ (1st, 2nd, etc.) term as a senator.

Senators are elected every even numbered year.

_______ was elected as a representative in ____.

Senators cannot serve more than four terms in a row or 8 years at one time in the House or Senate.

________________

Insert Photo of your District’s Senator Here

Our State Representative is ________________.

He/She is serving his/her ___ (1st, 2nd, etc.) term as a representative.

Representatives are elected every even numbered year.

_______ was elected as a representative in ____.

Representatives cannot serve more than four terms in a row or 8 years at one time in the House or Senate.

_________________

Insert Photo of your District’s Representative

Here

Our other State Representative is ________________.

He/She is serving his/her ___ (1st, 2nd, etc.) term as a representative.

Representatives are elected every even numbered year.

_______ was elected as a representative in ____.

Representatives cannot serve more than four terms in a row or 8 years at one time in the House or Senate.

_________________

Insert Photo of your District’s Representative

Here

The number of legislative districts in South Dakota is 35

The number of senators from each district 1

The number of representatives from each district 2

The total number of South Dakota Senators 35

The total number of South Dakota Representatives 70

The representatives from our District #___ are _________ and___________

The senator from our District _#__ ________________

There are 35 districts in South Dakota.

Do you remember how many senators from each district?

Do you remember how many representatives from each district?

Why do you think South Dakota is divided into different districts.

How many districts are there in South Dakota?

What towns do you see listed on the picture?How many districts do you see within the two largest communities?Because of their large populations, these communities are broken down into several districts.

Rep. Val Rausch is Speaker of the House

He is elected by the House of Representatives

He appoints House Chairs and members of committees

He refers bills to appropriate committees

Rep. Val Rausch is responsible for delivering passed bills to Governor Dennis Daugaard.

Rep. Val Rausch is from Big Stone City and represents District 4.

Rep. Brian Gosch is the Speaker Pro Tempore and will preside as Speaker of the House if Val Rausch is unable. He lives in Rapid City and represents District 32.

Rep. Val Rausch

Rep. Brian Gosch

Senator Tim RaveSenate Majority Whip

Senator from District 25 Hanson, McCook, Minnehaha

He is a Operations Manager from Baltic

Senator Russell OlsonSenate Majority Leader

Senator from District 08 Lake, Miner, Moody, Sanborn

He is a Community & Economic Development Manager

Senator Jason Frerichs Senate Minority Leader from District 01

Representative Bernie Hunhoff House Minority Leader from District 18

Majority and Minority leaders preside over party caucuses, assemble party members for important votes, serve as liaisons for party caucuses in dealing with the Governor and press. Minority members of committees are appointed on nomination of minority leadership. The leaders are elected by their respective party membership.

**A caucus is the meeting of the members of one political party

It’s Not All Work and No Play! Kids Voting Basketball Game

House of Representatives Basketball Team

Senate Basketball Team

End of another fun game!

Can you find the counties your legislators are from?

Matt Michels is the new Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota.

One of his duties is to be the President of the Senate but shall have no vote unless the senators be equally divided.

The Lieutenant Governor will become Governor if something happens to the acting Governor.

He is responsible for delivering passed bills to Governor Dennis Daugaard.

He announces Senate Chairs and members of committees

He refers bills to appropriate committees

Lt. Gov. Matt Michels

Senator Bob Gray is the President Pro Tempore

He is elected by the Senate

He presides over the Senate in absence of President Matt Michels

President Pro Tempore appoints Senate committee chairs and members

He lives in Pierre and represents District 24

District 24 Counties include Hughes, Stanley and Sully

Senator Bob Gray

The two chambers of the Legislature are The Senate and House of Representatives

Who is President of the Senate? The Lieutenant Governor (Matt Michels)

Who is Speaker of the House Representative Val Rausch

•Dennis Daugaard is our Governor and took the oath of office on January 8, 2011.•He is a Republican •Dennis was a South Dakota State Senator for 6 years (1996-2002). •He was the Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate for eight years. (2002-2010)•He has a wife named Linda, and three kids. Their names are Laura, Sara and Christopher.

http://www.state.sd.us/governor/

The governor makes sure the laws are carried out.

He is the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the state.

He will sign, not sign, or veto bills passed by the legislature. The Governor uses a

different pen each time he signs a new bill.

Governor Dennis Daugaard

First Governor - Arthur C. MelletteArthur C. Mellette was born in Indiana. He served in the state legislature of Indiana. When his wife got sick with tuberculosis, they moved to Dakota Territory. They hoped the drier climate would make her better. Mellette lived in Watertown. He joined the fight for statehood. He helped write the state constitution. Then Benjamin Harrison became president of the United States. He was Mellette’s friend from Indiana. He chose Mellette to be governor of Dakota Territory. The year was 1889. That was also the year South Dakota became a state. The citizens liked Mellette. They voted to keep him as governor of the new state. His years as governor were hard. There was drought and other problems. He died in 1896. His house in Watertown is now a museum.

Governor Arthur C. Mellette

This is the original Governor’s home. It was across the lake from the State Capitol.

The home was commissioned by Gov. Tom Berry & built in 1936.

It had 18 rooms. This home was moved in the

fall of 2003 and then moved to it’s current location in Rapid City in 2006.

A new mansion is built at the same location.

The mansion was purchased for $36,500 by the owner of the Buffalo Chip Campground for use at the Sturgis Rally. The Mansion is now open to the public and serves as a venue for historic and educational tours, as well as an event and conference center.

New Governor’s Mansion

Here is where Governor Daugaard and his family live now! The mansion has 73 rooms, is 200 feet long and 60 feet wide at its widest point. It is 14,000 square feet and cost $3,000,000.00.

The South Dakota Judicial Branch of Government is the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is the highest court of the state.

It is made up of a Chief Justice and four associate justices.

Upon request by the Supreme Court the Legislature may increase the number of justices to seven.

The Supreme Court interprets the law. Chief Justice David Gilbertson

Judith Meierhenry, First Woman to South Dakota Supreme Court

Judith Meierhenry is the first woman on the South Dakota Supreme Court. She was sworn in on Friday, November 22, 2002.

Her term ends in 2014.

Other Supreme Court Justices

Justice Glen A. Severson Justice John K. Konenkamp Justice Steven L. Zinter

.

The branch of government that makes the laws Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch is the: Senate and House of

Representatives The branch of government that

carries out the laws Executive Branch

The head of the Executive branch is the: Governor

The branch of government that interprets the laws Judicial Branch

The head of the Judicial Branch is the Supreme Court

Do you know where our state capital is located?

How would you describe its location?

Why would this be a good location for a state capital?

Pierre became the capital of South Dakota in 1889 when the remains of Dakota Territory were divided into two states

Pierre was famous for years as the smallest capital in the United States.

The original part of the four story Capitol of South Dakota was built in 1907-1910.

It measures 292 feet long and 124 feet wide.

It is 161 feet from the ground to the top of the lantern on the dome.

The annex to the north was added in the 1930’s.

State Capitol in 1900

According to legend, 66 Italian artists laid the Terrazzo flooring in the Capitol.

Most artists like to leave their signature on their art work.

Instead of 66 people signing their names, each artist was given a special blue stone that would be called their signature stone.

Only 55 of the 66 blue stones have been found.

Here is one of the 66 blue tiles or stones.

There is also a black broken heart.

The Marble Grand Staircase was constructed of white cloud marble shipped in from Tennessee and Vermont.

Upside Down Spindle!

As you take the marble grand stairway to the third floor it is fun to try and locate the one marble spindle on the right side of the staircase that was installed upside down.

The House of Representatives is in the shape of a rectangle, patterned after the House chambers in the nation’s Capital.

All the wood in the House chamber is the original oak.

The 1910 roll-top desks are made of oak wood.

70 representatives from the 35 districts meet in the House chambers.

Members of both houses must be at least 21 years of age, citizens, and residents of the state for two years immediately preceding the election.

The Senate Chamber is horse-shoe shaped and is patterned after the United States Senate.

All woodwork and furniture is mahogany.

There are 35 senators who meet here. They serve two-year terms.

The presiding officer is the Lieutenant Governor

On-line Walking Tour of the State Capitol

http://www.state.sd.us/boa/CapitolTour/index.htm

The roll-top desks in the House and the Senate make both chambers unusual.

This desk in the Senate chamber is made of mahogany.

Can you tell whose desk this was?

Laws begin with a bill. The bill starts as a draft (written form). Senate bills are numbered from #1 to1000. House bills start at #1,001 Primary sponsors for Senate bills must be Senate

members. However, Senate members can co-sponsor House Bills (and vice-versa).

The bill must pass through the Senate and House committees and through both Houses before going to the Governor.

The Governor can sign it, not sign it (but it still becomes law), send it back to the legislature for style and form, or veto it.

         FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to  revise certain provisions related to free access to state parks and recreation areas to include certain persons with disabilities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:      Section 1.  That § 41-17-13.4 be amended to read as follows:     41-17-13.4.   Any South Dakota resident who receives a veteran allotment for a total disability which is deemed a service-connected injury or has received the United States Veterans' Administration K Award or ; any resident who was held as a prisoner of war ; any resident who has served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or has served as a member of the armed forces reserve or the national guard who is classified as totally disabled for the purposes of receiving social security benefits may obtain free admission to any South Dakota state park or recreation area, and any such person may receive a fifty percent discount on any camping fee or associated electrical service fee established pursuant to § 41-17- 1.1 or 41-17-14.1. Any person who applies for and qualifies for free admission under the provisions of this section shall be issued a lifetime pass by the Department of Game, Fish and Parks to be known as the "South Dakota Park Access Pass". The Game, Fish and Parks Commission shall promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 establishing criteria and procedures for obtaining free admission and reduced fees pursuant to this section and for the issuance of the South Dakota Park Access Pass .

273Q0017   HOUSE BILL   NO.   1001  

Introduced by:     Representatives Nygaard, Brunner, Juhnke, Olson (Betty), and Vanneman and Senators Hansen (Tom), Howie, and Maher at the request of the Department of Game, Fish and Parks Agency Review Committee  

State of South Dakota  

EIGHTY-FOURTH SESSIONLEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2009  

         FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to  provide for the killing of mountain lions under certain circumstances and to provide for the disposition of such mountain lions. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:      Section 1.  Any person, licensed or unlicensed, may kill a mountain lion if reasonably necessary to protect the life of that person or some other person. Any person, licensed or unlicensed, who owns or cares for livestock or pets, may kill any mountain lion posing an imminent or perceived threat to such person's livestock or pets.     Section 2.  If any mountain lion is killed pursuant to section 1 of this Act, the person who killed the mountain lion shall notify a conservation officer. If the person desires to possess the mountain lion, the person shall also so notify the conservation officer prior to taking possession of the mountain lion. The conservation officer shall give a dated and written authorization allowing possession of the mountain lion. The conservation officer shall also give verbal authorization to take immediate possession of the mountain lion prior to receipt of the written authorization. The written authorization allows the possession and disposal of the mountain lion. The written authorization shall remain with the carcass while in processing, storage, or display. No part of a mountain lion so obtained may be sold, bartered, or traded. There is no fee for the issuance of such authorization.

House Bill 1004

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to  authorize certain vehicle parking privileges for persons with disabilities who display Purple Heart special license plates. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:      Section 1.  That § 32-30-11.1 be amended to read as follows:     32-30-11.1.   Any person with a physical disability, who displays special license plates issued under § 32-5-76 or , §  32-5-108, or §  32-5-109.2; a serially numbered certificate issued under § 32-5-76.1 or 32-5-76.2 , ; or a similar license plate or certificate issued in another state on an automobile used in transporting that person, shall be entitled to may park without limitation in areas where parking is normally restricted by time factors and to may park in any space reserved for a person with a disability. However, a municipality may, by ordinance, prohibit parking on any street or highway for the purpose of creating a fire lane, or to provide for the accommodation of heavy traffic during morning and afternoon rush hours. The privileges extended to persons with disabilities do not apply on streets or highways where and during any time parking is prohibited.

813Q0035   SENATE BILL   NO.   9  

Introduced by: Senator Hunstad

 

This is a joint resolution bill to make the English language the official language of the state of South Dakota.

If a joint resolution bill passes, it does not automatically become a law. It must go to the vote of the citizens of South Dakota.

A sponsor signature sheet is to obtain the signatures of legislative members sponsoring a bill. The name of the prime sponsor is circled.

Senators’ names are on the front and representative’s names are on the back.

The legislative session takes place in this State Capital Pierre, South Dakota

The Senate bills begin in a Senate committee. What number do these bills start with? 1 and go to 1000

House bills begin in a House committee. What number do these bills start with? 1001

Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Commerce Education Government Operations and Audit Health and Human Services Judiciary Legislative Procedure Local Government Retirement Laws State Affairs Taxation Transportation

Legislative bills must pass through one of 13 legislative committees. On which committees do your district’s legislators serve?

A legislator whose constituent is attacked by a vicious dog may seek to tighten the restrictions on keeping dangerous animals.

Special interests groups like M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) may ask a legislator to sponsor a bill aimed at reducing the number of drunk drivers.

School districts which do not have enough money to run the schools might ask for more money.

A legislator who thinks school districts would be better off consolidated (becoming one school) may write a bill stating that small schools close and join a larger school.

How many legislative committees are there? 13

Where does a bill go once it has passed through a Senate committee? Full Senate

Where does a bill go once it has passed through a House committee? Full House

Where does a bill go once it has passed through a Senate committee, Full Senate, and a House committee? Full House

Once a bill has passed through a Senate committee, Full Senate, House committee, and Full House it will go to The Governor

What can the Governor do once a bill has passed through both Houses? Sign the bill, Not sign the bill (but it passes anyway), Veto the bill,

Send it back to the legislature for style and form