Legislature

Legislature is a branch of government that has the power to make and pass laws. It is divided into two groups; the senate and the house of representative. In Washington State, the senate is consists of 49 members and the house of representatives is consist of 98 members. Senators are elected for four years term and representatives are elected for two years term. Even thought the house of representative have more members than senate, there are more responsibility. However, Senate and House of Representative operate independently, but both branches have to pass the same bill before it can be sign to the law by state governor.
Legislature plays representative role in the government. As representative, legislators can act as the voice of their citizens. Smith states, “The bulk of the work legislators do involves formulating the law and trying to keep on eye on the executive branch, but their primary responsibility is to provide representation for their constituents (191).” It is the obligation of the legislators to ensure the interest of their citizens is well represented at the state government. Legislators invest amount of time to service their constituent. They help in solving problems constituent are facing and they help solving problems between different branches of agencies and constituent. In most cases, legislators are most like to respond to an issue related to their constituent problem that demand change in law. It is the interest of the legislators to ensure that their citizens legitimize their government. Legislators address constituent problems first in order to satisfy constituent.

As matter of fact, legislatures are responsible for passing laws, levy taxes, representation, spend money, and oversee various branches of government agencies. According to Dr. Sell’s lecture, “Budget writing is the legislature’s biggest job.” In addition, legislature is also responsible for writing operation budget, capital budget, and transportation budget. Their primary job as budget writer involves setting up a budget for public school institutions, public assistance, states agencies, transit, and State infrastructure. Budget writing isn’t an easy task, but legislature’s professionalism allows them to pass a reasonable bills. Legislators are professionally train and well equip to carry out their job effectively.

Every year thousand of bills and constituent complaints are presented to legislature to be addressed. Bills are introduced for various reasons. It can range from common problem to individual or group problems. However, the structure of legislature likes congress makes it hard for any bill to pass without being well thought. Each bill must go to different stage of legislature before it could be debated by Senate and the House of Representatives. Since legislatures are divided into two chambers, each chamber must pass identical bill or otherwise the bill will die even thought it is pass by one chamber.

Through the system of check and balances, legislators are entitled to oversee how the governors and executive branch are operating. Executive branch is in charge with the implement of the new laws or bills. Their responsibilities involve putting the bill to the action. In order to avoid the risk of the corruption, legislators call on governor and executive agencies to carry out hearing, investigation, and reviews for how new laws have been implemented. As I mention above, legislature are responsible for write a budget, however, it is significant for legislature to oversight how the money are been used. Legislators carry out supervision for the purpose of maintaining laws and avoid corruption within the government.

Legislators are divided into various committees. Each committee is a sign to a particular job such as education, transportation, and taxes. Every time a new bill is presented to legislators. The bill must make it first to the appropriate committee stage before it can be debated by the House of Representatives or Senate. Most of the bills get killed without hearing. According to Smith, the following procedure will be taken to either prove or kills the bill. Smith states, “A bill goes in one side, gets debated, marked-up, reported out, and then comes out the other side as it get, returned to the legislature for an override, or it gets “killed” (194).” One the other hand, a bill must be passed by both Senate and the House of Representatives.

Work cities
Sell, T.M. “lecture note” Legislature. 2007 < http://blackboard.highline.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_316_1%26url%3D >

Smith, Kevin. “How It Works” State and Local Government. (Washington, D.C.: CQ Press 2007), 194

Smith, Kevin. “Representation” State and Local Government. (Washington, D.C.: CQ Press 2007), 191