North Carolina North Carolina Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

Chapter 13 Section 1Chapter 13 Section 1

General AssemblyGeneral Assembly General Assembly- NC’s General Assembly- NC’s

legislative bodylegislative body General Assembly General Assembly

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities• Passes statewide and Passes statewide and

local lawslocal laws• Elects members to the Elects members to the

University of North University of North Carolina Board of Carolina Board of Governors and Governors and community college community college systemsystem

• Impeaches state level Impeaches state level political officialspolitical officials

MembershipMembership• House- 120 membersHouse- 120 members• Senate- 50 membersSenate- 50 members

ElectionsElections The state is divided into equal districts based The state is divided into equal districts based

on population with every national censuson population with every national census• For House: 120 equal districtsFor House: 120 equal districts• For Senate: 50 equal districtsFor Senate: 50 equal districts

Elected for 2 year termsElected for 2 year terms No limit to the number of terms servedNo limit to the number of terms served

QualificationsQualifications• HouseHouse

21 years old21 years old Live in the district before electionLive in the district before election

• SenateSenate 25 years old25 years old NC citizen at least 2 yearsNC citizen at least 2 years Live in the district before electionLive in the district before election

LeadershipLeadership House of House of

RepresentativesRepresentatives• Speaker of the House Speaker of the House

presides as leader of the presides as leader of the House of RepsHouse of Reps

SenateSenate• Lt. Governor is President Lt. Governor is President

of the Senate and only of the Senate and only votes in case of a tievotes in case of a tie

• President Pro Tempore President Pro Tempore presides as leader of the presides as leader of the SenateSenate

Joe Hackney

Speaker of the House

Marc Basnight

President Pro Tempore

Legislative SessionsLegislative Sessions

Starts in January and is 2 years longStarts in January and is 2 years long Odd Numbered YearsOdd Numbered Years

• Long Session- Jan-JuneLong Session- Jan-June Even Numbered YearsEven Numbered Years

• Short Session- May-? (about 6 weeks)Short Session- May-? (about 6 weeks)• Finish up business from last yearFinish up business from last year

May meet for special sessions May meet for special sessions ordered by the Governorordered by the Governor

Only make about 14,000Only make about 14,000