Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i
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Description area
Dates of existence
1959-
History
The 30th and last legislature of the Territory of Hawaii adjourned sine die on May 2, 1959. Hawaii was admitted as the 50th State of the United States on August 21, 1959, and the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, ratified on November 7, 1950, went into effect. On August 31, 1959, in accordance with Article XVI of the State Constitution, the First Legislature of the State of Hawaii convened in Special Session.
Article III of the State Constitution vests legislative power in a Legislature of two houses, a Senate and a House of Representatives. Such power extends to "all rightful subjects of legislation not inconsistent" with the State Constitution or the Constitution of the United States. Article III also enumerates the powers of the Legislature, the qualifications of the legislators and the lengths of legislative sessions. Through 1968, the Legislature of the State of Hawaii met in general session in odd-numbered years and in budget session in even-numbered years. From 1969 it has met annually in regular session. Special sessions of varying length have been convened when necessary throughout the period of statehood.
In these sessions, both the House and the Senate organize themselves into several standing committees, and into such special committees as may appear from time to time to be appropriate. These committees hear testimony on resolutions, bills and other matters pending before them as part of the process of determining what action to take thereon. They investigate such claims, circumstances or situations as may be referred to them, and provide opinions and recommendations to the full House or Senate.
The State Constitution of 1950 provided for multiple representatives and senators from individual districts. The first legislature consisted of 25 senators from six districts and 51 representatives from 18 districts. This scheme remained in effect through the Eleventh Legislature in 1982. By that time, the number of districts had increased to 8 senatorial and 27 representative, the result of a succession of redistricting and reapportionment actions. In 1983, as a result of a federally-approved plan, the legislature converted to single-member districts; however, the number of representatives and senators in the legislature has not changed since statehood.
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Maintenance notes
2021-01-15, Carol Kellett: Entered into AtoM.