How the state legislature works and Effective advocacy

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How the state legislature worksand Effective
advocacy

• Hoosier Environmental Council
• October 2008

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Branches of Govt
Legislative Branch (Creates the laws)
Executive Branch (carries out or enforces the
laws)
Judicial Branch (interprets and applies the laws)
Electoral Branch We the people
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Session

• General Assembly 115th 2 years
• Long Session First week in Jan April 29
• Odd numbered years, first regular
• budget year
• Short Session First week in Jan March 14
• Even numbered years, second regular
• Only the Governor can convene special sessions

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Statehouse Official Calendar 2008-09

• Organization Day November 18
• leadership elected
• legislators sworn in
• later -- committee leaders chosen
• Session (Long)
• Convene- January 2009
• Bill introduction  - Early January
• 3rd Reading House/Senate Bills  Early March
• Conference Committee Reports Mid- April
• Adjourned for Session-late April

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Indiana General Assembly

• Citizen/Part-time legislators

2 Chambers
House of Representatives 100 members 2 yr. terms
Senate 50 members 4 year terms
Speaker of the House
President Lieutenant Governor
President Pro Tempore
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Leadership
House
Senate
Speaker
Pro Tem
Min. Floor Leader
Maj. Floor Leader
Maj. Floor Leader
Min. Floor Leader
Min. Caucus Chair
Maj. Caucus Chair
Maj. Caucus Chair
Min. Caucus Chair
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Terms

• Convene opening day or beginning of the days
  session.
• Adjourn for the day
• Sine Die Adjourn for the year
• Caucus (noun or verb) D or R from each
  chamber
• The Floor full membership
• Strip a bill strike everything and insert
  totally new material
• Chamber official hall for meeting of either
  house or synonym for house
• Roll Call - legislators individual vote is
  recorded by name
• Constitutional Majority
• House simple majority is more than half of the
  total members 51 votes
• Senate simple majority is more than half of the
  total members 26 votes
• Simple Majority
• More than half of those people present and voting
  on a question

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How a bill becomes a law
Legislator
Introduction/ 1st Reading Announced for the
first time
Testimony is Taken
LSA (Legislative Services Agency)
Filed Bill is filed Given bill number Cmte.
assigned (deadline Early-January)
Committee Action Pass Amend do Pass Hearing/no
vote No hearing
Bill Author Representative Authors a bill
Co-authors
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Full House Votes/Opposite Chamber
2nd House Amendments
Conference Committee

• 2nd Reading
• Author calls - Floor
• Amend
• No Amendments

Send to the opposite chamber same process
send to House of Origin for concurrence or
dissent
Dissent
Concur
3rd Reading Debate Floor Pass Defeat Return to
Cmte.
Pass To the Governor
Bill Sponsor
2nd House No Amendments
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Conference Committee
Conference Cmte. 2 members/ chamber
Compromise Change language Sign conf cmte.
Report Filed both houses
Agreement in both houses
Disagreement in both houses
If Author doesnt w/d dissent
Sent to the Gov.
Bill Dies
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Governors Role Enrolled Acts
Governor 7 days to act
1. Sign
Bill becomes law
2. File w/o signature
Override
Returns to both Houses For a vote --
3. Veto
Do not override
Bill is dead
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Budget

• Governor- makes recommendation
• House Author discretion - HB 1001
• House Ways and Means
• House Action
• Senate Appropriations
• Senate Action
• Almost always to conference committee

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Bill Info

• Indiana General Assembly Home Page
• http//www.in.gov/legislative
• Bill text, amendments, votes, fiscal statements,
• bill status
• Committee schedules
• Find your Indiana State Legislators
  http//www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/

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Communicating with your legislator

• Meetings
• Face to face in the district
• Meet your legislator events
• Statehouse
• Direct Communications
• Letters, calls, and emails
• Indirect Communications
• Letters to the editor
• Opinion pieces
• Press releases

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Making Your Communications Count

• Personalize Your Communications
• Absolutely no form letters
• Why do you care? What is bills impact on you,
  your interests, your family, your community?
• For emails, write your own subject line
• You dont have to be an expert, but if you are
  let them know
• Keep it Simple and on Message
• Be up front about what you want
• One issue at a time
• Get to Know Your Legislator
• Start where they are, not where you are
• Why should they make this bill/issue a priority?
• Follow-up

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Making Your Communications Count

• Legislators view talking to constituents as part
  of the job.
• Relationships are an important part of politics.
• Communications should be polite, concise, and
  truthful.
• Communications need to be year round.
• Third House, or meet your legislator events
  during session are key opportunities

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Mark your calendar for Indiana Conservation Day
at the Statehouse January 27, 2009
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www.hecweb.org
All politics is local. Former U.S. House
Speaker Tip ONeill