What do State Legislators do?
- enact laws (introduce legislation)
- consider constitutional amendments and gubernatorial appointments
- approve budgets
- serve constituents
- oversee state agencies
Average legislator introduces _____ bills a year
10-12 bills a year
Why do legislators introduce so many bills a year?
- introduce as favors
- get a headline in the media
- create issue awareness
What is a “constituent”
A resident of a legislators district
“Sunset laws”
Require for their legislators to reenact programs every few years or else see them go out of existence
Status of a state legislature
- “Upwardly mobile” - not the rich of the rich
- middle class
State legislators occupation
Flexible job or retired
State legislators education
Well educated
Stare legislators age
Typically older (56)
State legislators personal wealth
More affluent than the public
State legislators amateurs
Most have other jobs but more state legislators are becoming full time
African Americans in state legislators
9%
Hispanic-American in state legislators
3%
Women in state legislators
24%
“Incumbency advantage”
Those who choose to run for re-election are seldomly defeated (over 90% are successful)
Challengers rarely win over people running for re-election because…
1) Visibility
2) Resources of office
3) Money
4) Professionalism and Careerism
“Logjams”
- most disorderly phase
- voting blindly on bills often resembling a train
A governor’s “Formal Power”
Powers ANY governor has Ex) Appointments Budget Veto powers
Governor’s “informal powers”
A governor’s personal strengths
Governor’s are expected to be….
5 things
1) state’s chief administrator
2) chief legislator
3) leader of their party
4) ceremonial head of their government
5) chief negotiator
Governor’s age
Young, look good for the media, age has been going down
Governor’s race/ethnicity
-Mostly white
How many black governor’s
3
How many Hispanic governor’s
7
