FAST FACTS

• The 2008 legislative session is the 83rd session.

• The South Dakota Legislature meets for a 40-day session in odd-numbered years and for a 35-day session in even-numbered years. Each legislative session begins on the second Tuesday in January at noon Central Time.
• There are 35 members in the Senate and 70 members in the House of Representatives.

• The 83rd legislative session begins on Tuesday, January 8, 2008.

• Each house of the legislature has officers and other staff who make sure the legislative business gets done.
• The presiding officer of the House of Representatives is called the speaker. 2008 Speaker: Thomas J. Deadrick

• LRC: 2008 House Directory 83^rd Legislative Session
• Representatives also elect a speaker pro tempore to preside if the speaker is absent or unable to do the job. 2008: Tim Rave
• The chief officer of the Senate is called the president. 2008 President: Dennis Daugaard 
  • LRC: 2008 Senate Directory 83^rd Legislative Session
  • The President of the Senate is always the Lieutenant Governor 
  • The Senate also elects an alternate leader, the president pro tempore. 2008: Bob Gray
• High school seniors can serve as pages in the legislature.
  • Pages distribute bills, answer phones, run errands for legislators.
  • To apply to be a page, submit an application to the Legislative Research Council several months before the beginning of the legislative session.
  • LRC: Page Program

·         The State of South Dakota has an internship program.
         (The South Dakota Legislative Internship Program)

·         A typical day in the legislature would begin at 7:45 a.m. with committee meetings.

o        The daily general session then starts at 2:00 p.m.

o        Sessions are generally open to the public and all committee meetings are also open.

·         In a typical legislative session, 500-600 bills might be introduced in the House and Senate.

o        Because of the large number of bills which must be studied, much of the work of the legislature is done by committees. There are 13 House committees that have 13-15 members each. The Senate also has 13 committees that have 7-9 members each.

§         Committees study proposed bills and make recommendations on them which are passed along to their respective full body. They can recommend: Do Pass; Do Pass Amended; Do Not Pass; Without Recommendation.

·         Legislative Research Council 2008 Legislative Session Brochure

·         Legislative Research Council Fun Facts and Trivia