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Kansas Legislature

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Kansas Legislature
NameKansas Legislature
LegislatureKansas State Legislature
House typeBicameral
HousesKansas Senate, Kansas House of Representatives
Leader1 typeSenate President
Leader1Ty Masterson
Party1(R)
Election1January 11, 2021
Leader2 typeHouse Speaker
Leader2Dan Hawkins
Party2(R)
Election2January 9, 2023
Members165, 40 Senators, 125 Representatives
House1Kansas Senate
House2Kansas House of Representatives
Term lengthSenate: 4 years, House: 2 years
Meeting placeKansas State Capitol, Topeka
Websitehttp://www.kslegislature.org

Kansas Legislature. The legislative branch of the state government of Kansas, it is a bicameral body composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It convenes at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka and is responsible for enacting state laws, approving the budget, and providing oversight of the executive branch. The legislature has been historically and is currently dominated by the Republican Party, shaping significant policy on issues like taxation, education, and healthcare.

History

The Kansas Legislature was first convened in 1855 in the Kansas Territory under the controversial Kansas–Nebraska Act, which led to the violent period known as Bleeding Kansas. Early sessions were contentious, with rival pro-slavery and Free-State factions, including figures like John Brown, vying for control. Following statehood in 1861, the legislature ratified the Wyandotte Constitution, which remains the state's governing document. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a center for Populist and Progressive reforms. Major historical actions include the 1954 response to Brown v. Board of Education and the 1986 passage of the school finance formula that led to ongoing litigation like Gannon v. Kansas.

Structure and composition

The legislature consists of two chambers: the 40-member Kansas Senate and the 125-member Kansas House of Representatives. Senators serve four-year terms, with half the body elected every two years, while Representatives serve two-year terms. Members are elected from single-member districts drawn by the legislature itself following each decennial census. The Republican Party has held a consistent majority in both chambers for decades, though the Democratic Party maintains a significant minority. Leadership includes the Senate President, the House Speaker, and various majority and minority leaders.

Powers and duties

The legislature holds the primary lawmaking power in Kansas, with authority to enact, amend, or repeal statutes on any subject not preempted by the United States Constitution or federal law. Its constitutional duties include passing a balanced annual budget, confirming gubernatorial appointments to agencies like the Kansas Supreme Court, and the power to override a governor's veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. It also has investigative powers through committees and can propose amendments to the Kansas Constitution, which must be ratified by voters.

Legislative process

Bills may be introduced in either chamber, except for revenue bills which must originate in the House. Each bill is assigned to a subject-matter committee for hearing, debate, and potential amendment. If reported favorably, it proceeds to the full chamber for debate and votes on multiple readings. A bill must pass both chambers in identical form before being sent to the governor, who may sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The legislature operates on a 90-day calendar for regular sessions, with the possibility of special sessions called by the governor or legislative leadership.

Current session and leadership

The current legislative session is dominated by Republican supermajorities in both chambers. The Senate President is Ty Masterson, and the House Speaker is Dan Hawkins. Key issues under consideration include further tax reductions, modifications to the social services system, and ongoing responses to rulings from the Kansas Supreme Court on education funding. The Democratic minority is led by Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes and House Minority Leader Vic Miller.

Capitol building

The legislature meets in the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, a building constructed in stages between 1866 and 1903. Designed in the Renaissance Revival style by architects including John G. Haskell, the capitol is famous for its iconic copper dome topped by a Kansas Ad Astra statue. The interior features murals by John Steuart Curry depicting John Brown and the history of Kansas. The building houses the chambers for both the Kansas Senate and the Kansas House of Representatives, as well as offices for the governor, lieutenant governor, and the Kansas Supreme Court.

Category:Kansas Legislature Category:State legislatures of the United States