Special Sessions
There are two main types of legislative sessions-regular and special or
extraordinary. A regular session is the annual or biennial gathering of
legislators, the starting date (and sometimes, the length) of which is set by
constitution or statute.
A special or extraordinary session is called
either by the governor or the legislature. A special session may be called only
by the governor in the following 18 states:
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Alabama
Arkansas
California
Idaho
Indiana
Kentucky |
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Nevada
North Dakota
Rhode
Island |
South Carolina
South
Dakota
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Wisconsin |
The governor or the legislature may call special session in the following
32 states:
|
Alaska
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas |
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New
Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York |
North
Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Virginia
Washington
West
Virginia
Wyoming |
Usually, the scope of a special session (that is, the topic(s) that may
be taken up) is limited to the issue(s) specified in the notice calling for the
special session.
There are no limits on the number of special session
that may be called. Many factors can influence the number of special legislative
sessions that occur in any year, including:
|
· Court decisions |
|
· Federal government actions |
|
· Length or scope limits on regular legislative session |
|
· Length or scope limits on special sessions |
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· Natural or other disasters |
|
· Party control of the legislature and governor's office |
|
· Political culture of the state |
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· Reapportionment or redistricting |
|
· State economy |
For more information, contact the Legislative Management Program in the
NCSL Denver Office (303) 364-7700.
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