| STATE | BEGINS | ENDS | WEBSITE | GENERIC DATE INFO | ALLOWS INITIATIVES? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 03/04/03 | 06/16/03 ? | http://www.legislature.state.al.us/ | A Regular Session can consist of no more than 30 Legislative (meeting) days within a 105-calendar day period. | No | |
| Alaska | 01/21/03 | 05/21/03 | http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/home.htm | A Legislature consists of two regular sessions which ordinarily convene annually on the second Monday in January. Following the election of the governor, the Legislature convenes on the third Tuesday in January. A Legislature must adjourn from a regular session no later than 120 consecutive calendar days from the day it convenes, except the session may be extended once for up to 10 days by a 2/3 vote of each house. Special sessions are called by the Governor or by the Legislature and are limited to 30 calendar days. The procedures for convening and organizing the first and second sessions of a Legislature are provided for by law and rule. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda |
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| Arizona | 01/13/03 | 04/26/03 ? | http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ | House Rule 2A/Senate Rule 27A: Except as provided herein, regular sessions shall be adjourned sine die no later than Saturday of the week in which the one hundredth day from the beginning of each regular session falls. The Speaker may by declaration authorize the extension of the session for a period not to exceed seven additional days. Thereafter the session can be extended only by a majority vote of the House. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda |
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| Arkansas | 01/13/03 | 03/20/03 ? | http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ | The Arkansas General Assembly convenes on the second Monday of every other year. A session lasts for 60 days unless the legislature votes to extend it. The governor can issue a "call" for a special session during the interims between regular sessions. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda |
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| California | 12/02/02 | 11/30/04 | http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/ | CA Constitution Article 4, Sec. 3(a) The Legislature shall convene in regular session at noon on the first Monday in December of each even-numbered year and each house shall immediately organize. Each session of the Legislature shall adjourn sine die by operation of the Constitution at midnight on November 30 of the following even-numbered year. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda |
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| Colorado | 01/08/03 | 05/07/03 | http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/stateleg.html | Article V, Section 7. The general assembly shall meet in regular session at 10 a.m. no later than the second Wednesday of January of each year…. Regular sessions of the general assembly shall not exceed one hundred twenty calendar days. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. Odd years. |
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| Connecticut | 01/08/03 | 06/04/03 | http://www.cga.state.ct.us/ | Constitution Section 2, Article Fourth. (Sec. 2 amended in 1970. See Art. III of Amendments to the Constitution of the State of Connecticut.) There shall be a regular session of the general assembly on the Wednesday following the first Monday of January in the odd-numbered years and on the Wednesday following the first Monday of February in the even-numbered years, and at such other times as the general assembly shall judge necessary…. The general assembly shall adjourn each regular session in the odd-numbered years not later than the first Wednesday after the first Monday in June and in the even-numbered years not later than the first Wednesday after the first Monday in May and shall adjourn each special session upon completion of its business. | No. | |
| Delaware | 01/14/03 | 06/30/03 | http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/?Opendatabase | The legislature convenes on the second Tuesday of January and meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until June 30 of each year. | No. | |
| Florida | 03/04/03 | 05/02/03 | http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ | The regular legislative session starts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March for a period not to exceed 60 days. | Initiative constitutional amendments only. | |
| Georgia | 01/13/03 | 03/26/03 ? | http://www2.state.ga.us/Legis/ | The General Assembly is required by law to convene on the second Monday of January each year and meet for 40 legislative days. | No. | |
| Hawaii | 01/15/03 | 05/01/03 | http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/ | Regular Session - The Legislature convenes each year on the third Wednesday in January for 60 legislative days. Each legislature has a duration of two years. | No. | |
| Idaho | 01/06/03 | http://www2.state.id.us/legislat/legislat.html | Article III, Section 8. The sessions of the legislature shall be held annually at the capital of the state, commencing on the second Monday of January of each year, unless a different day shall have been appointed by law, and at other times when convened by the governor. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. Article III, Section 1 |
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| Illinois | 01/08/03 | 05/23/03 | http://www.legis.state.il.us/ | Article IV, Sec 5(a). The General Assembly shall convene each year on the second Wednesday of January. The General Assembly shall be a continuous body during the term for which members of the House of Representatives are elected. Sec 15(a) When the General Assembly is in session, neither house without the consent of the other shall adjourn for more than three days or to a place other than where the two houses are sitting. 15(b). If either house certifies that a disagreement exists between the houses as to the time for adjourning a session,the Governor may adjourn the General Assembly to a time not later than the first day of the next annual session. | Initiative constitutional amendments and initiative statutes (advisory only). | |
| Indiana | 01/07/03 | 04/29/03 | http://www.in.gov/legislative/ | The sessions of the General Assembly shall be held at the capitol of the State, commencing on the Tuesday next after the second Monday in January of each year in which the General Assembly meets unless a different day or place shall have been appointed by law. But if, in the opinion of the Governor, the public welfare shall require it, he may, at any time by proclamation, call a special session. The length and frequency of the sessions of the General Assembly shall be fixed by law" Art.4, Sec. 9 | No. | |
| Iowa | 01/13/03 | 05/02/03 | http://www.legis.state.ia.us/ | 110 days? Article III, Sec 2. The general assembly shall meet in session
on the second Monday of January of each year. Upon written request to the
presiding officer of each house of the general assembly by two-thirds of the
members of each house, the general assembly shall convene in special session.
The governor of the state may convene the general assembly by proclamation in
the interim. Sec. 14. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which they may be sitting. Referred to in § 2.1 of the Code |
No. | |
| Kansas | 01/13/03 | http://www.kslegislature.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi | Article 2, Sec 8. The legislature shall meet in regular session annually commencing on the second Monday in January, and all sessions shall be held at the state capital. The duration of regular sessions held in even-numbered years shall not exceed ninety calendar days. Such sessions may be extended beyond ninety calendar days by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house. Bills and concurrent resolutions under consideration by the legislature upon adjournment of a regular session held in an odd-numbered year may be considered at the next succeeding regular session held in an even-numbered year, as if there had been no such adjournment.…. Neither house, without the consent of the other, shall adjourn for more than two days, Sundays excepted. | No. | ||
| Kentucky | 01/07/03 | 03/25/03 | http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/home.htm | The Kentucky Legislature convenes in Regular Session for 60 days on the first Tuesday in January of even numbered years, and for 30 days on the first Tuesday in January in odd-numbered years. It convenes in Special Sessions at the call of the Governor. | No. | |
| Louisiana | 03/31/03 | 06/23/03 | http://www.legis.state.la.us/ | The legislature is required to convene in the state capitol in Baton Rouge for regular annual sessions. In odd-numbered years, a general session convenes at noon on the last Monday in March to extend for no longer than 60 legislative days during a period of 85 days. In even-numbered years, a fiscal session convenes at noon on the last Monday in April for no longer than 30 legislative days during a period of 45 days. The legislature also may convene for extraordinary sessions and for veto sessions. The legislature is required to meet in an organizational session, which cannot exceed three days, on the date its members take office. A special session may be called by the governor or may be convened by the presiding officers of both houses upon a written petition of a majority of the elected members of each house. A special session is limited to the number of days stated in the proclamation, not to exceed 30 days. The power to legislate in a special session is limited to the objects specifically enumerated in the proclamation (La. Const. Art. III, Sec. 2). | No. | |
| Maine | 12/04/02 | 06/18/03 | http://janus.state.me.us/legis/ | The Legislature shall convene on the first Wednesday of December following the general election in what shall be designated the first regular session of the Legislature; and shall further convene on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January in the subsequent even-numbered year in what shall be designated the second regular session of the Legislature.... The Legislature shall enact appropriate statutory limits on the length of the first regular session and of the second regular session. The Legislature may convene at such other times on the call of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, with the consent of a majority of the Members of the Legislature of each political party, all Members of the Legislature having been first polled. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. Odd years. |
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| Maryland | 01/08/03 | 04/07/03 | http://mlis.state.md.us/ | The Maryland General Assembly meets in Annapolis each year for 90 days to act on more than 2300 bills including the State's annual budget. | No. | |
| Massachusetts | 01/01/03 | 01/06/04 ? | http://www.state.ma.us/legis/legis.htm | Article X. [Amendment to Part the Second, Chapter 1, Section 1, Article 1] The political year shall begin on the first Wednesday of January instead of the last Wednesday of May, and the general court shall assemble every year on the said first Wednesday of January, and shall proceed at that session to make all the elections, and do all the other acts which are by the constitution required to be made and done at the session which has heretofore commenced on the last Wednesday of May. And the general court shall be dissolved on the next day preceding the first Wednesday of January, without any proclamation or other act of the governor. But nothing herein contained shall prevent the general court from assembling at such other times as they shall judge necessary, or when called together by the governor. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Michigan | 01/08/03 | **06/27/03 ? | http://www.michiganlegislature.org/ | The legislature shall meet at the seat of government on the second Wednesday in January of each year at twelve o'clock noon. Each regular session shall adjourn without day, on a day determined by concurrent resolution, at twelve o'clock noon. Any business, bill or joint resolution pending at the final adjournment of a regular session held in an odd numbered year shall carry over with the same status to the next regular session. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Minnesota | 01/07/03 | 05/18/03 ? | http://www.leg.state.mn.us/ | Biennial. Regular session each odd numbered year on
the 1st Tues after the 1st Monday in Jan. In the even numbered years, it
convenes on a date set by joint agreement of both bodies. The state
constitution limits the Legislature to meeting 120 legislative days during
each biennium. In addition, the Legislature may not meet in regular session
after the first Monday following the third Saturday in May of any year (for
constitutional provisions concerning the length of session and special
sessions, see Minnesota Constitution, Article IV - Legislative
Department). During this time, the House or the Senate may not adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other body. |
No. | |
| Mississippi | 01/07/03 | 04/06/03 | http://www.ls.state.ms.us/ | Article 4, Section 36. The Legislature shall meet at the seat of government in regular session on the Tuesday after the first Monday of January of the year A.D., 1970, and annually thereafter, unless sooner convened by the Governor; provided, however, that such sessions shall be limited to a period of one hundred twenty-five (125) calendar days for regular 1972 session and every fourth year thereafter, but ninety (90) calendar days for every other regular session thereafter. Provided further that the House of Representatives, by resolution with the Senate concurring therein, and by a two-thirds (%) vote of those present and voting in each house, may extend such limited session for a period of thirty (30) days with no limit on the number of extensions to each session. | Initiative constitutional
amendments only. Odd years. |
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| Missouri | 01/08/03 | 05/30/03 | http://www.moga.state.mo.us/ | Article III, Section 20. The general assembly shall meet on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January following each general election. The general assembly may provide by law for the introduction of bills during the period between the first day of December and the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January. The general assembly shall reconvene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January after adjournment at midnight on May thirtieth of the preceding year…. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than ten days at any one time, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses may be sitting. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Montana | 01/06/03 | 04/29/03 | http://leg.state.mt.us/css/default.asp | (Meets M-F for 90 days with Holidays & breaks.) Article V, Part 6. The legislature shall meet each odd-numbered year in regular session of not more than 90 legislative days. Any legislature may increase the limit on the length of any subsequent session. The legislature may be convened in special sessions by the governor or at the written request of a majority of the members. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Nebraska | 01/08/03 | 06/02/03 | http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/ | (Meets M-F for 90 days with Holidays & Recesses) Article III, Section 10. Beginning with the year 1975, regular sessions of the Legislature shall be held annually, commencing at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January of each year. The duration of regular sessions held shall not exceed ninety legislative days in odd-numbered years unless extended by a vote of four-fifths of all members elected to the Legislature, and shall not exceed sixty legislative days in even-numbered years unless extended by a vote of four-fifths of all members elected to the Legislature. Bills and resolutions under consideration by the Legislature upon adjournment of a regular session held in an odd-numbered year may be considered at the next regular session, as if there had been no such adjournment. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Nevada | 02/03/03 | 06/02/03 | http://www.leg.state.nv.us/ | The Nevada Legislature meets once every two years for 120 days. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| New Hampshire | 01/08/03 | 12/01/04 ? | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ns/ | Part Second, Article 3. The senate and house shall assemble biennially on the first Wednesday of December for organizational purposes in even numbered years, and shall assemble annually on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday in January, and at such other times as they may judge necessary; and shall dissolve and be dissolved at l2:0l A.M. on the first Wednesday of December in even numbered years and shall be styled THE GENERAL COURT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. | No | |
| New Jersey | 01/09/02 | 12/31/03 ? | http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ | The two-year legislative term begins at noon on the 2nd Tuesday in January of each even-numbered year. At the end of the second year, all unfinished business expires. | No. | |
| New Mexico | 01/21/03 | 03/22/03 | http://legis.state.nm.us/ | Article IV, Section 5A. Each regular session of the legislature shall begin annually at 12:00 noon on the third Tuesday of January. Every regular session of the legislature convening during an odd-numbered year shall remain in session not to exceed sixty days, and every regular session of the legislature convening during an even-numbered year shall remain in session not to exceed thirty days. No special session of the legislature shall exceed thirty days. | No. | |
| New York | 01/08/03 | 06/19/03 | http://assembly.state.ny.us/ | Article XIII, Section 4 - The political year and legislative term shall begin on the first day of January; and the legislature shall, every year, assemble on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January. | No. | |
| North Carolina | 01/29/03 | no end requirment | http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/homePage.pl | The regular session of the Senate and House of Representatives shall be held biennially beginning at 12:00 noon on the third Wednesday after the second Monday in January next after their election. Adjourning Date: To Be Determined (There is no statutory or constitutional requirement for when Session must end.) Article II, Section 11 (1) Regular Sessions. The General Assembly shall meet in regular session in 1973 and every two years thereafter on the day prescribed by law. Neither house shall proceed upon public business unless a majority of all of its members are actually present. | No. | |
| North Dakota | 01/07/03 | 04/30/03 | http://www.state.nd.us/lr// | The North Dakota Legislative Assembly meets biennially, from approximately the second week in January to mid-April in each odd-numbered year. Days in regular session are "legislative days," which generally include Monday-Friday of each week. Article IV, Section 7, of the Constitution of North Dakota, limits regular sessions to 80 natural days during a biennium and defines a "natural day" as a period of 24 consecutive hours. House and Senate Rules 104 provide that a legislative day begins at 7:00 a.m., so each legislative day ends at 7:00 a.m. the following day. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Ohio | 01/06/03 | 12/2003? | http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/ | Article II, Section 8. Each general assembly shall convene in first regular session on the first Monday of January in the odd-numbered year, or on the succeeding day if the first Monday of January is a legal holiday, and in second regular session on the same date of the following year. Section 14. Neither House shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than five days, Sundays excluded; nor to any other place than that, in which the two Houses are in session. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. Odd years. |
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| Oklahoma | 02/03/03 | 05/30/03 | http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/ | Regular sessions of the Legislature convene annually at noon on the first Monday in February. Regular sessions must be adjourned by 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May every year. In odd-numbered years, the regular session will also include one day in January. The Legislature will meet at noon on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January and will recess no later than five p.m. on the same day to declare elections. Normally, the Legislature is in session Monday through Thursday. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Oregon | 01/13/03 | mid-July 03 ? | http://www.leg.state.or.us/ | The assembly convenes every two years in regular session on the second Monday in January during odd-numbered years, a date set by statute. Oregon Constitution does not specify a limitation on session length, however most sessions last approximately six months. | Hell YES! Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Pennsylvania | 01/07/03 | 11/04 | http://www.legis.state.pa.us/ | Article II, Section 4. The
General Assembly shall be a continuing body during the term for which its
Representatives are elected. It shall meet at twelve o'clock noon on the
first Tuesday of January each year. Special sessions shall be called by the
Governor on petition of a majority of the members elected to each House or
may be called by the Governor whenever in his opinion the public interest
requires. January 7, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29 February 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, and 26 March 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12 April 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 28, 29, and 30 May 5, 6, 7, 12, and 13 June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 30 |
No. | |
| Rhode Island | 01/07/03 | 03/07/03 ? | http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/ | runs for 60 days? Article VI, Section 3. There shall be a session of the general assembly at Providence commencing on the first Tuesday of January in each year. | No. | |
| South Carolina | 01/14/03 | http://www.lpitr.state.sc.us/ | Article 3, Section 9. …The first session of the General Assembly elected under this Constitution shall convene in Columbia on the second Tuesday in January, in the 1897, and thereafter annually at the same time and place. Provided, That the House of Representatives shall meet on the first Tuesday following the certification of the election of its members for not more than three days following the general election in even-numbered years for the purpose of organizing. | No. | ||
| South Dakota | 01/14/03 | 03/24/03 | http://legis.state.sd.us/index.cfm | Article 3, Section 6. … A regular session of the Legislature shall be held in each odd-numbered year and shall not exceed forty legislative days, excluding Sundays, holidays, and legislative recess, except in cases of impeachment, ... A regular session of the Legislature shall be held in each even-numbered year beginning with the year 1964 and shall not exceed thirty-five legislative days, excluding Sundays, holidays, and legislative recess, except in cases of impeachment... Section 7. The Legislature shall meet at the seat of government on the second Tuesday of January at 12 o'clock m. and at no other time except as provided by this Constitution. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Tennessee | 01/14/03 | late April or May | www.legislature.state.tn.us/ | The Tennessee General Assembly meets in Nashville each year beginning at noon on the second Tuesday of January. Each General Assembly meets 90 session days over a two-year period. Generally, legislative sessions last from mid-January through late April or May of each year. | No. | |
| Texas | 01/14/03 | 06/02/03 | http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ | Article 3, Section 5 (a) The Legislature shall meet every two years at such time as may be provided by law and at other times when convened by the Governor. (b) When convened in regular Session, the first thirty days thereof shall be devoted to the introduction of bills and resolutions, acting upon emergency appropriations, passing upon the confirmation of the recess appointees of the Governor and such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in special messages to the Legislature. During the succeeding thirty days of the regular session of the Legislature the various committees of each House shall hold hearings to consider all bills and resolutions and other matters then pending; and such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor. During the remainder of the session the Legislature shall act upon such bills and resolutions as may be then pending and upon such emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in special messages to the Legislature. | No. | |
| Utah | 01/20/03 | 03/05/03 ? | http://www.le.state.ut.us/ | In Utah, we have a citizen legislature rather than a full-time legislature.... Our annual session lasts 45 days beginning on the third Monday in January. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| Vermont | 01/08/03 | 04/30/03 ? | http://www.leg.state.vt.us/ | The Vermont Legislature meets each Tuesday through Friday during the legislative session, which runs from early January through late April. The adjournment date varies from year to year, but in general the Legislature tries to complete its work in sixteen or seventeen weeks. | No. | |
| Virginia | 01/08/2003 Reconvened Session 04/2/03 |
02/22/03 | http://legis.state.va.us/ | The General Assembly meets annually, beginning on the second Wednesday in January, for 60 days in even-numbered years and for 30 days in odd-numbered years, with an option to extend annual sessions for a maximum of 30 days. Odd-year sessions are usually extended for sixteen days. In either case, the session may be extended for no longer than thirty days. [Article IV, Section 6.] | No. | |
| Washington | 01/13/03 | 04/28/03 ? | http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/default.htm | The citizen legislature meets annually on the second Monday in January. In even numbered years, the legislature meets for 60 days and in the odd numbered year - the budget year - they meet for 105 days. If necessary, the Governor can call legislators in for a special session for a 30 day period. Legislators can call themselves into special session with a two-thirds vote of the two bodies. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. Odd years. |
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| West Virginia | 01/08/03 | 03/08/03 | http://www.legis.state.wv.us/ | Article VI, Section 18. ...Regular sessions of the Legislature shall commence on the second Wednesday of January of each year…. Section 22. The regular session of the Legislature held in the year 1973 and every fourth year thereafter shall, in addition to the meeting days preceding the adjournment provided for in section 18 of this article, not exceed sixty calendar days computed from and including the second Wednesday of February, and the regular session held in all other years shall not exceed sixty calendar days computed from and including the second Wednesday of January. | No. | |
| Wisconsin | 01/06/03 | early Jan. 2004 | http://www.legis.state.wi.us/ | The Wisconsin Legislature operates in a biennial session that lasts from early January of the odd numbered year to early January of the even numbered year. The session is referred to by the odd-numbered year, for example, acts from the 2001-2002 Legislative Session are called 2001 Wisconsin Acts. | No. | |
| Wyoming | 01/14/03 | 03/06/03 ? | http://legisweb.state.wy.us/ | Wyoming's citizen Legislature meets in general session in odd numbered years, beginning on the second Tuesday of January. The general session is limited to 40 legislative days, but generally lasts around 38 days. The Legislature meets in budget session in even numbered years, beginning on the second Monday of February. A typical budget session lasts 20 legislative days. Special sessions of the Legislature may be called at any time by the governor. | Yes. Initiative & Referrenda. |
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| D.C. | 01/02/03 | http://www.dchomepage.net | ||||
| American Samoa | 01/13/03 | http://www.samoanet.com/asg/asglb97.html | ||||
| Guam | 01/13/03 | http://www.guam.net/gov/senate/ | ||||
| Puerto Rico | 01/13/03 | http://welcome.topuertorico.org/government.shtml | ||||
| Virgin Islands | 01/13/03 | http://www.senate.gov.vi/ | ||||
Information compiled for Bastard Nation by Marlena Villers, 2003. Please send corrections and updates to webmaster@bastards.org