Shop SDPB.org  
  PBS NPR Search SDPB.org  
 
House
Senate
Committees
Press Briefings
Summer Studies
SDPB TV
SDPB Radio
SDPB Learning
Search
Help!
Meeting notifier
Contact us
Archives
Corporate Underwriters:
SD Bar Foundation
Missouri River Energy Services
CNA Surety
SDN Communications

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
  • The chief officer of the Senate is called the president. 2008 President: Dennis Daugaard 
  • 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