Our
Legislature
Legislative Process
Legislative Initiatives
Historical Info
Public Info Assistance
Kids' Page Capitol Complex Parking
Find your Legislator
Legislative Leadership
Legislative Roster
Seating Charts
Districts
by Number
District Map
Municipalities Index
Bills 2010-2011
Bills 2008-2009
Bills 2006-2007
Bills 2004-2005
Bills 2002-2003
Bills 2000-2001
Bills 1998-1999
Bills 1996-1997
Bills Subscription Service
Senate
Committees
-
Committee Aides
Assembly Committees
-Committee Aides
Joint Committees
Committee Groups
Legislative Commissions
Senate Nominations
Statutes
Chapter Laws
Constitution
Senate
General Assembly
Conflicts of Interest Law
Code Of Ethics
Financial Disclosure
Termination or Assumption of Public Employment Form
Formal Advisory Opinions
Contract Awards
Joint Rule 19
Ethics Tutorial
CLE Registration Form Certification for CLE Ethics Credit
CLE Presentation Schedule
Legislative
Calendar
Legislative Digest
Legislative LDOA
Budget and Finance
Audit Reports
Legislative Reports
Public Hearing Transcripts
Glossary
Summary of Enactments
Disclaimer/ Privacy Policy
Submit an OPRA request
|
|
About
the New Jersey Legislature
|
|
What
is the Legislature?
The
legislature is the branch of government that makes new
laws and changes old ones. It is made up of 120 members
in 40 districts in New Jersey. These men and women represent
the views and concerns of the people in their part of
the state.
|
|
|
What
are Houses?
The
New Jersey Legislature is divided into two bodies
called Houses. The Houses of the New Jersey Legislature
are the Senate and the General Assembly. There are
40 Senators and 80 General Assembly members, who are
elected by the voters in their legislative districts.
The members of the two Houses also are divided into
political groups, called parties. The two major parties
are Democrats and Republicans. The group having the
largest number of members is called the majority party.
The other group is the minority party.
|
|
|
What
is the difference between the Legislature and the Congress?
Our
State Legislature makes laws only for New Jersey, just
as Pennsylvania's Legislature makes laws only for its
state. Congress meets in our nation's capital, Washington,
D.C., and creates laws for all fifty states. |
|
|
Who
can be a legislator?
A
State Senator must be at least 30 years old, and must
have lived in New Jersey for at least four years. A
member of the General Assembly must be at least 21 years
old and must have lived in the state for at least two
years. Both must live in their legislative districts
for one year before the election. |
|
|
|
|
What
are legislative districts?
New
Jersey is divided into 40 legislative districts. The
people of each district elect one Senator and two General
Assembly members. Each district has about the same number
of people in it, so each legislator represents about
the same number of people. New boundary lines for the
districts are drawn every ten years after an official
count or census has been taken of the people and where
they live. The shapes of the districts may be changed
to show changes in the population. City districts are
usually small because more people live in a small area.
Suburban and rural legislative districts may be very
large, which shows that the people live farther apart. |
|
When
does the Legislature meet?
The Houses
usually meet on Mondays and Thursdays all year long.
Meetings to vote on proposed laws, called bills, are
voting sessions. The Legislature meets in the State
House in Trenton, New Jersey's capital city. In most
years both Houses take a break, or recess, during July
and August. |
|
|
|
|