20. Ought the merit system in your state to be extended?
21. Advantages and disadvantages of choosing administrative officials by direct vote.
CHAPTER XLVII
THE STATE LEGISLATURE
593. STRUCTURE OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.—The representative branch of state government is known under different names in various states, but the term "state legislature" is in more or less general use.
The state legislature is invariably a two-chambered body; the upper house is the smaller and is called the senate, while the lower and more numerous branch is variously known as the house of representatives, house of delegates, or assembly.
Usually the state senate differs from the lower house in certain important particulars. The senatorial districts from which members of the upper house are elected are always larger than are the districts from which members to the lower house are chosen. Senators are usually chosen for longer terms than are representatives. As in the case of the National Senate, the senate (in most states) is made a continuous body by the provision that its members shall begin their terms at certain periodic intervals. In the lower house of the state legislature, on the other hand, all of the members take their seats at the same time.
594. BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.—For the purpose of electing members of the state legislature, practically all of the states are divided into numerous senatorial and representative election districts. Some states apply the rule that representatives in the state legislature shall be apportioned among districts containing practically an equal number of inhabitants.
Other states, however, provide exceptions to this rule. For example, Alabama, Florida, New York and other states provide that each county shall have at least one member in the house. Often the result of this arrangement is that the smaller or more sparsely populated counties are over-represented in the state legislature, while the more populous counties are under-represented.
Several states, notably Connecticut and Vermont, arrange representation in the state legislature so that with respect to population, cities are under-represented and rural districts are over- represented. [Footnote: For a discussion of the problem of minority representation in state legislatures, see Chapter XXXV.]