SUBJECT: Mystery of the 100th Legislature Explained
National politics in 2000 brought the phrase "fuzzy math" into public usage, but the assembly of the 100th Nebraska state legislature in January 2007 has some confusing, if not downright fuzzy, numbers associated with it. Since Nebraska became a state in 1867, you might think this would be the 140th legislature. But Jim Potter, Senior Research Historian at the Nebraska State Historical Society, points out that legislatures in Nebraska's early years only met every other year, unless there was a need for a special session. When special sessions did convene, each was given a unique number, even though they were attended by the same representatives as a regular session. So for example, the 37th, 38th, and 39th legislatures all met in 1919, in one regular and two special sessions.
To add to the muddle, the first state legislature convened in 1866, before Nebraska became a state, to select two U.S. Senators to send to Washington once Nebraska joined the Union. Once statehood was achieved, the state legislature continued to meet in the territorial capitol building in Omaha, holding three special sessions over the next two years, while the new state capitol was being built. In 1869 the fifth legislature became the first to occupy the new capitol in Lincoln. It was also the first to convene on the date specified by the state constitution. By the time Nebraska built its third state capitol in the 1930s, voters became convinced that one house was better than two, so the 52nd legislature was another first--the first unicameral.
In 1970 the constitution was amended to provide for annual legislative sessions, beginning in 1971. Each new legislature now convenes for a 90-day session in the odd-numbered year and for a 60-day session in the even-numbered year. If special sessions are required, they are still considered part of the same legislative assembly. So the 92nd legislature, for example, convened six times-in two regular sessions and four different special sessions in 1991 and 92.
Fast-forward fifteen years, and the legislative counter reads "100." But it's not the centennial of the first state legislature, Potter explains. It's the convening of the 100th state legislature, which is also the first elected after term limits went into effect. Twenty-two new senators and the rest will be sworn in 70 years after the first unicameral legislature took its oath and 140 years after Nebraska became a state. All these fuzzy numbers add up to a significant milestone, no matter how you count it.
For more info:
Jim Potter, Senior Research Historian, NSHS
jpotter@bbc.net or 308-432-0588Lynne Ireland
lireland@nebraskahistory.org or 402-471-4758