Indiana General Assembly

Indiana General Assembly
Name	Indiana General Assembly
Legislature	Indiana General Assembly
House type	Bicameral
Houses	Indiana Senate, Indiana House of Representatives
Foundation	1816
Leader1 type	President of the Senate
Leader1	Suzanne Crouch
Party1	(R)
Election1	2017
Leader2 type	Speaker of the House
Leader2	Todd Huston
Party2	(R)
Election2	2020
Members	150, 50 Senators, 100 Representatives
House1	Senate
House2	House of Representatives
Political groups1	Majority, Republican (40), Minority, Democratic (10)
Political groups2	Majority, Republican (70), Minority, Democratic (30)
Meeting place	Indiana Statehouse, Indianapolis
Website	iga.in.gov

Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. It is a bicameral institution consisting of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate. The General Assembly meets annually at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, with sessions beginning in January and typically concluding by the end of April. It holds the primary lawmaking authority for the state, responsible for enacting laws, approving the state budget, and providing oversight of the executive branch.

History

The first assembly convened in 1816 following Indiana's admission to the Union and the adoption of its first state constitution. Early sessions were held in the original state capital of Corydon before moving permanently to Indianapolis in 1825. The current Indiana Statehouse, designed by architect Edwin May, was completed in 1888 and has served as its permanent home. Significant historical developments include the passage of the Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act of 1836, a major but financially disastrous internal improvements package, and the contentious 1851 constitutional convention which produced the state's current governing document. Throughout the 20th century, the legislature grappled with issues like Prohibition, civil rights, and the restructuring of state government under the administration of Governor Otto Kerner Jr..

Structure and composition

The legislature is composed of 50 members in the Indiana Senate and 100 members in the Indiana House of Representatives. Senators serve four-year terms, with half the chamber elected every two years, while Representatives serve two-year terms. Members are elected from single-member districts drawn by the Indiana General Assembly following each United States Census. The Lieutenant Governor of Indiana serves as the President of the Senate but may only vote to break a tie. Day-to-day leadership in the Senate is provided by the President pro tempore of the Indiana Senate, while the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives presides over the lower chamber. Since the 2010 elections, the Republican Party has held consistent majorities in both chambers.

Legislative process

All legislation must pass both chambers in identical form before being presented to the Governor of Indiana. Bills can be introduced in either chamber, with the exception of revenue bills which must originate in the Indiana House of Representatives. Proposed legislation is assigned to a standing committee, such as the House Ways and Means Committee or the Senate Appropriations Committee, where hearings are held. If approved by committee, a bill proceeds to the full chamber for debate and amendment under rules established by the Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure. A bill passed by one chamber is then transmitted to the other, where the process repeats. The governor may sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature; a gubernatorial veto can be overridden by a constitutional majority in both the Indiana Senate and the Indiana House of Representatives.

Powers and duties

Its constitutional powers include enacting laws for the welfare of the state, levying taxes, and appropriating all public funds for the state government. It holds the sole power to propose amendments to the Constitution of Indiana, which must then be ratified by the state's electorate. The assembly also exercises significant oversight through its audit function, conducted by the State Board of Accounts, and its confirmation authority over certain gubernatorial appointments. Jointly with the Governor of Indiana, it possesses the power to call a special session. Furthermore, it has the authority to impeach and try state officials, including justices of the Indiana Supreme Court.

Current session and leadership

The current session is the 123rd of the Indiana General Assembly. The President of the Senate is Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch. The President pro tempore of the Indiana Senate is Rodric Bray, a Republican from Martinsville. The Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives is Todd Huston, a Republican from Fishers. The minority party in the Indiana Senate is led by Democratic Leader Greg Taylor of Indianapolis, while the Indiana House of Representatives minority is led by Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, also of Indianapolis.

Notable legislation

Throughout its history, the assembly has passed landmark laws that shaped the state. In the 19th century, it authorized the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal and later established the Indiana University system. The influential Indiana eugenics law of 1907 was one of the first of its kind in the United States. In 1949, it passed the Indiana Toll Road act, leading to the construction of a major interstate highway. More recently, it enacted the Indiana school voucher program in 2011, one of the broadest in the nation, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015, which sparked national controversy and was later amended. It also ratified the Equal Rights Amendment in 1977 and passed major tax restructuring under Governor Mitch Daniels.

Category:Indiana General Assembly Category:State legislatures of the United States