Austin

=Austin= =[|www.google.]= [|Gas taxation] [|Making Law's]

[|Mass.gov] [|legislative branch]

//House of Legislative- Michael A. Costello, Democrat, State House room 167//

1.why are there taxes- taxation (gas tax) 2.how are state law's made? __How a bill becomes a Law__ Step 1- Introducing the Bill Step 2- The committee stage, bill is studied and voted out Step 3- The debate, bill is debated and changes proposed Step 4- On to the Sentate, bill is passed by majority of members Step 5- Conference committee, bill is sent to senate committee Step 6- Senate Standing Committee, bill is studied and voted out Step 7- Senate floor, bill is debated and changes proposed Step 8- Conference committee, members of both both houses work out differences Step 9- Full Senate- bill is passed by majority of members Step 10- White House, bill goes to president for signature/Law

3.how are state leguislatives organized who are there members-

The State Legislature has two houses, the lower house, and the upper house. It has one house legislature called the state senate. The state legislatures hold sessions once a year. These sessions last three to four months. Like the U.S. Congress, the legislatures have committees that study bills to deal with different problems. The committees either kill the bills or send them to the full legislature for a vote.

The Lower House- A state's lower house is the larger of its legislative houses. It is usually called the house of represenatives or the assembly. A state's lower house is called the "people's house" because they are often the legislators closest to the voters. Most State Representavies serve two-year terms and work part time.

The Upper House- The upper house in every state is called the state senate. The state senate always has fewer members than the lower house. The members usually serve four-year terms. Members of the state senate are called state senators and are elected from senate districts.

4.identify three ways the people of the state made take direct part in lawmaking and government
 * **Initiative**- about half the state's allow initiatives in the making of new law's. suppose the people of a state want a new tougher law against drunk driver's.
 * **Referendums**- referendums force a state legislature to let the voters decide on a bill the legislature is considering.
 * **Recall**-About one forth of the states allow recalls by the people. In a recall the poeple remove an elected state official from office before his or her term is finished

5.how many legislatures are there? There are 40 members of the Massachusetts state senate. 35 democrat and 5 republican There are 169 represenatvies in the House of Representavies.

Local Agawam Senator Stephan J. Buoniconti [] Local Agawam Representative Rosmary Sandlin [] Local Ludlow Senator Gale D. Candaras- [] Local Ludlow Representative Thomas M. Petrolati-[]