Montana State Legislature

Infobox Legislature
name = Montana State Legislature
coa_pic = Montanastateseal.jpg
coa-pic =
session_room = Helena_capitol.jpg
house_type = Bicameral
houses = Senate
House of Representatives
leader1_type = President of the Senate
leader1 = Mike Cooney
party1 = (D)
election1 = January 3, 2007
leader2_type = Speaker of the House
leader2 = Scott Sales
party2 = (R)
election2 = January 3, 2007
members = 150
p_groups = Democratic Party
Republican Party
Constitution Party of Montana
election3 = January 3, 2007
meeting_place = Montana State Capitol
website = http://leg.mt.gov/css/default.asp

The Montana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Montana. It is composed of the 100-member Montana House of Representatives and the 50-member Montana Senate.

The Montana Constitution dictates that the legislature meet only on odd numbered years, and for 90 day periods. However, the Legislature did meet annually briefly from 1973 to 1975. The primary work of the legislature at these times is to pass a bi-annual budget which must then be approved by the Governor.

Since the beginning of statehood for Montana, the Legislature has been split along party lines fairly consistently and evenly. Since adoption of the new state constitution in 1972, which mandated single-member legislative districts for the first time in the state's history, the Montana Senate has been controlled by Democrats in 10 sessions, and Republicans in 10 sessions. During the same period of time, the Montana House has been controlled by Democrats in 11 sessions and Republicans in 9 sessions. There have been several ties between the parties in each chamber. However, in such an instance, control goes to the party of the sitting Governor according to Montana law.

The Montana State Legislature meets in the state capital of Helena. Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority in Senate, while the Republicans hold a one-seat majority in the House.

ee also

*Montana State Capitol
*Montana House of Representatives
*Montana Senate
*Montana State Government

External links

* [http://leg.state.mt.us/css/default.asp Official Montana State Legislature Website]
* [http://leg.mt.gov/css/research/faqs/majparty.asp Party Control in the Montana Legislature]
* [http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca/5/2/5-2-216.htm Montana's split-party control statute]