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Resolve to be a more informed citizen
Mississippi legislators are arriving in Jackson this month to prepare for the opening of the 176th legislative session, which will convene at noon Jan. 4.
Fifty-two senators and 122 representatives compose Mississippi’s legislative branch of government. Each is elected for a four-year term and may be elected to successive terms.
You know who represents your area’s interests in the House and Senate, but do you know what their responsibilities and powers are?
The Mississippi Constitution gives lawmaking authority to legislators. Not one dime from the state treasury may be spent unless the legislature passes a law authorizing the expenditure.
During each regular session, the legislature sends to the governor more than 600 bills to be signed into law. A bill may originate in either the House or Senate, but it must pass both houses before it can be sent to the governor. Up to that point, the bill has been subjected to committee hearings, debates, revisions and votes.
The bill becomes law if it is signed by the governor, not signed by the governor by the deadline or if the governor’s veto is overridden.
Twenty to 25 percent of all bills introduced in the House or Senate will actually become law, according to the Mississippi Official and Statistical Register.
A great New Year’s resolution for all Mississippians would be to learn more about the lawmaking process, which affects literally every one of us. That’s easier than ever, thanks to the Internet. At the Mississippi State Legislature Web site (www.ls.state.ms.us), you can learn:
• how a bill becomes law;
• the status of current bills and legislative calendar;
• profile of every House and Senate member;
• the duties of the lieutenant governor, who is president and presiding officer of the Senate.
The Electric Power Associations of Mississippi routinely monitors legislation in our ongoing effort to safeguard the interests of more than 680,000 people served by consumer-owned electric cooperatives in Mississippi. We want legislators to keep our consumers in mind when considering bills that could ultimately compromise the quality of electric service, either directly or indirectly.
The legislative process works most effectively when constituents communicate with lawmakers. In our experience, legislators appreciate input on all sides of an issue before voting on its passage. After all, they want to do what’s right for Mississippi.
Let’s help them do just that.
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