Legislative branch of government

 

Alaska

Alaska State Legislature

Alaska Capitol
Alaska's state capitol building in Juneau.

Alaska's legislature is a bicameral legislature comprising the 40-member Alaska House of Representatives and the 20-member Alaska Senate. The Legislature's website includes information about the Alaska State Senate, Alaska State House of Representatives, Legislative Affairs Agency, Ombudsman, Legislative Information Offices, and more.

Legislative process & the work of the legislature

Most of the work of the legislature is conducted from January to May of each year during the legislature's regular session. Each legislature sits for two sessions, each session convening on the second Monday in January (or, after the election of a governor, on the third Tuesday in January) and lasting for no more than 120 days in accordance with the law. However, a session may be extended by 10 days with a two-thirds vote of both houses. Additionally, the legislature or the governor may call a special session which may last for no more than 30 days.

  • During the legislative session, legislative activity is broadcast on Gavel to Gavel Alaska; see Government for further information and links.
  • Publications. Public information on how to read a bill, steps in the passage of a bill, and other layperson's information on following the legislative process, along with numerous other publications on state government in Alaska.
  • Legislative Committees. Information about each legislative committee; includes membership list.
  • Legislative Research Requests. A catalog of Legislative Research Agency memoranda prepared at the request of Alaska legislators, which can be ordered through Legislative Information Offices (LIOs).
  • Legislative Uniform Rules of Procedure. The legislature is required under Alaska's Constitution to operate under uniform rules of procedure.

Legislative resources

  • Bill Action and Status Inquiry System (BASIS). BASIS tracks bills and resolutions through the legislative process, providing a summary of the actions and current status of every bill introduced. Bill text, House and Senate Journal text, committee minutes, committee and teleconference schedules, and other legislative information are also available. The Bill Tracking Management System (BMTF) allows users to create personalized multi-bill tracking displays (requires a fee if not a state employee). Includes online help.
  • Alaska State Legislature Folio Infobase web server. Information from past legislative sessions, going as far back as the 13th Legislature (1983-1984).
  • Alaska Division of Legislative Audit. On behalf of the Alaska State Legislature, the division conducts financial and performance audits of Alaska state agencies and grantees for the purpose of evaluating the administration of state programs and ensuring that agencies are held accountable to the laws enacted by the legislature.

Legislative news

Alaska congressional delegation

Senator Lisa A. Murkowski (R, Alaska)

Sen. Murkowski was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2002 by her father, Governor Frank Murkowski, to complete his term after his election as governor of Alaska, and was reelected in 2004.

Senator Mark Begich (D, Alaska)

Sen. Begich, elected in 2008, is serving his first term as Senator. Prior to his election, he served as mayor of Anchorage from 2003 to 2008.

Congressman Don Young (R, Alaska)

Congressman Young has been Alaska's sole U.S. Representative since 1973. His official website inks to press releases and legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Congressman Young.

National

U.S. Congress

U.S. Capitol
Early view of the U.S. Capitol by
August Kollner (1839). Click on the
picture to learn more.

U.S. House of Representatives

Public access to legislative information and information about members, committees, and organizations of the House and to other U.S. government information resources.

U.S. Senate

Information from and about the members of the Senate, Senate committees, and Senate leadership and support offices, general background information about U.S. Senate legislative procedures, Senate facilities in the Capitol Building, and the history of the Senate.

THOMAS — Legislative Information on the Internet

Complete federal legislative information, including current House and Senate floor activities; bill text, summary, and status; Congressional Record text and index; committee information, historical documents; information about the legislative process; and links to other U.S. government internet resources. A service of the Library of Congress.

General Accounting Office (GAO)

The investigative arm of Congress, the General Accounting Office is charged with examining matters relating to the receipt and disbursement of public funds. GAO performs audits and evaluations of Government programs and activities.

Legislative Process

Enactment of a Law. Revised and updated by Robert B. Dove, Parliamentarian, U.S. Senate, Feb. 1997. Follows the federal lawmaking process from the origin of an idea for a legislative proposal through its publication as a law, with an emphasis on the Senate process (though the House process is also described).

How Our Laws Are Made. Revised and updated by Charles W. Johnson, Parliamentarian, United States House of Representatives, June 30, 2003. Follows the federal lawmaking process from the origin of an idea for a legislative proposal through its publication as a law, with an emphasis on the House process (though the Senate process is also described).

Other congressional information

  • opensecrets.org. The Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan, non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C., tracks money in politics and its effect on elections and public policy, and makes the results of its research available on this site.
  • Project Vote-Smart. Extensive resources on the status of legislation, voting records, text of legislation and the Congressional Record, and Congressional committees, organizations, and agencies.
  • Congress.Org. Congressional directory and committee information.
  • Legislative Branch Internet Resources. Links to resources from the Library of Congress.

U.S. states

Associations

Web directories