In the states, these things can vary widely. Legislative leaders in the House and Senate control the calendar, which is subject to change throughout the year. These lawmakers do their business in a two-year session, which is punctuated by many breaks and recesses. Members of Congress are considered full-time legislators, and they cannot hold other employment. State Versus Federal LegislaturesĪ good starting point to discern the difference between state and federal legislatures is by understanding how they are formed. And some have crossover days, a deadline by which one chamber must have a bill passed in order for it to be considered by the other.

Many states also have legal requirements, such as passing a budget for the year by a certain date. Perhaps the most common is that legislative sessions are often short, meaning the time lawmakers and governors have to get business done is compressed. Legislative action is often faster in the states than it is in Washington, and there are many reasons why. Every state operates under a different set of rules and procedures, some of which you will need to learn in order to track effectively. But the analogy between Congress and state legislatures only goes so far. The system in most states roughly models the federal system, at least in terms of the broad stroke. Unfortunately, we were left to learn the details and complexities on our own, and they change the picture in ways both large and small. They describe a system free of politics and outside influence in which bills are introduced, debated in committee, passed on the floor of both chambers, and then signed by the executive branch. We were taught the basics in school, and they generally hold true, both at the state and federal levels. Does it really work the way most of us were taught in school or by Saturday-morning cartoons? Yes… and no. The first thing to do is to understand how bills become laws. Read on to learn about the legislative process and download our guide to tracking state bills. Then, the search for resources begins with the realization that there’s a heavy learning process ahead. There’s usually some mild panic, as images of grade-school civics class and School House Rock bubble up. Talk to people who have been asked to track bills at the state level and the stories that emerge are similar.

How to keep on track bills