Welcome To

1. Welcome To The 76th South Dakota Legislative Session

2. South Dakota Government • Legislative Branch • Makes the laws • Executive Branch • Carries out the laws • Judicial Branch • Interprets the laws

3. South Dakota Legislative Session • The session begins every year on the second Tuesday in January at noon. • In odd numbered years, the session is limited to 40 legislative days. • In even-numbered years, the session is limited to 35 legislative days. • Legislative sessions do not include Sundays, holidays, or days when the legislature is in recess.

4. 76th Legislative Session Issues • Increase teacher pay - lowest paid in the United States • Increase the amount of money that goes to school districts. Governor Janklow wants 3% to be passed this year. Some lawmakers want 5%. We are second to the last in the percentage of our state budget which is spent on education. • Small school districts consolidate • Tobacco settlement money to be used for scholarships for South Dakota students • Seatbelt law • Early pheasant season • Changing the state name to Monument State

5. Quiz Time 1 • In which month does the Legislative Session begin? • January • How many days does the legislative session meet during odd numbered years? • 40 days • How many days is the session during even numbered years? • 35 days • On what day during the second week of January does the session begin? • Tuesday

6. Legislative Branch • State Representative Gerald Lange from District 8. • The Senate and Representative terms are both two years. • Senators and Representatives are elected every even numbered years. • They cannot serve more than four terms in a row or 8 years at one time in the House or Senate.

7. Dale Slaughter • Dale Slaughter is a South Dakota State Representative from District 8. • District 8 is made up of Lake County, Moody County, and a small portion of Minnehaha County. • There are 35 state senators and 70 representatives. • There are 35 districts in South Dakota with one senator from each district and two representatives from each district.

8. District Map • There are 35 districts in South Dakota. • Do you remember how many senators from each district? • Do you remember how many representatives from each district? • Why do you think South Dakota is divided into different districts.

9. How many districts are there in South Dakota?

10. Quiz Time 2 • The number of legislative districts in South Dakota is • 35 • The number of senators from each district • 1 • The number of representatives from each district • 2 • The total number of South Dakota Senators • 35 • The total number of South Dakota Representatives • 70 • The representatives from our District 8 • Dale Slaughter and Gerald Lange • The senator from our District 8 • Dan Sutton

11. District Map Scott Eccarius, Speaker of the House. Representative from District 34. • What towns do you see listed on the picture? • Because of their large populations, these communities are broken down into several districts.

12. How many districts do you see within the three larger communities?

13. Speaker of the House • Scott Eccarius is a Representative from Pennington County, District 34. • He is also the Speaker of the House. • Scott is responsible for delivering passed bills to Governor Janklow.

14. Jean Hunhoff Representative from Yankton County District 18 Larry Rhoden, Representative from Meade & Butte County - District 29

15. Senator Dan Sutton • Senator Dan Sutton was a former Representative from District 8. • He is now serving as one of the 35 South Dakota senators. • Dan continues to serve District 8 which includes Lake, Moody, and a portion of Minnehaha County. • Dan is from Flandreau (Moody County) and is in Insurance Sales.

16. Can you find the counties your legislators are from?

17. 34 Find the districts we have discussed.

18. Lieutenant Governor • Carole Hillard is the Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota. • One of her duties is to be the President of the Senate but shall have no vote unless the senators be equally divided. • The Lieutenant Governor will become Governor if something happens to the acting Governor. • She is responsible for delivering passed bills to Governor Janklow.

19. Quiz Time 3 • The two houses in Pierre are • The Senate and House of Representatives • Who is President of the Senate? • Lieutenant Governor Carole Hillard • Who is Speaker of the House • Representative Scott Eccarius

20. Executive Branch • William J. Janklow was born in Chicago. • His father was a prosecutor at the Nuremberg war criminal trials. • When his father died his family moved to Flandreau, South Dakota. • At 16, Bill Janklow became a dropout and joined the marines. • He enrolled at USD. When it was found he didn’t have a high school diploma, they wanted him to leave. • He talked them into letting him stay. • His grades were good so they let him stay. • He earned a law degree in 1966.

21. The Governor's Job • The governor makes sure the laws are carried out. • He is the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the state. • He will sign,not sign, or veto bills passed by the legislature.

22. Governor's Mansion • This is where Governor Janklow and his family live. • The home was built in 1936. • It has 18 rooms. • It is not open to the public, but visitors are welcomed.

23. Judicial Branch • The South Dakota Judicial Branch of Government is the Supreme Court. • The Supreme Court is the highest court of the state. • It is made up of a Chief Justice and four associate justices. • Upon request by the Supreme Court the Legislature may increase the number of justices to seven. • The Supreme Court interprets the law.

24. Quiz Time 4 • The branch of government that makes the laws • Legislative Branch • The Legislative Branch is the: • Senate and House of Representatives • The branch of government that carries out the laws • Executive Branch • The head of the Executive branch is the: • Governor • The branch of government that interprets the laws • Judicial Branch • The head of the Judicial Branch is the • Supreme Court

25. State Capital • Do you know where our state capital is located? • How would you describe its location? • Why would this be a good location for a state capital? • Pierre became the capital of South Dakota in 1889 when the remains of Dakota Territory were divided into two states • Pierre was famous for years as the smallest capital in the United States.

27. South Dakota Capitol • The original part of the four story Capitol of South Dakota was built in 1907-1910. • It measures 292 feet long and 124 feet wide. • It is 161 feet from the ground to the top of the lantern on the dome. • The annex to the north was added in the 1930’s.

28. Legendary Blue Tiles • According to legend, 66 Italian artists layed the Terrazzo flooring in the Capitol. • Most artists like to leave their signature on their art work. • Instead of 66 people signing their names, each artist was given a special blue stone that would be called their signature stone. • Only 55 of the 66 blue stones have been found.

29. Grand Marble Staircase • The Grand Marble Staircase was constructed of white cloud marble shipped in from Tennessee and Vermont.

30. House Chambers • The House of Representatives is in the shape of a rectangle, patterned after the House chambers in the nation’s Capital. • All the wood in the House chamber is the original oak. • The 1910 roll-top desks are made of oak wood. • 70 representatives from the 35 districts meet in the House chambers. • Members of both houses must be at least 21 years of age, citizens, and residents of the state for two years immediately preceding the election. Scott Eccarius is Speaker of the House.

31. Senate Chamber • The Senate Chamber is horse-shoe shaped and is patterned after the United States Senate. • All woodwork and furniture is mahogany. • There are 35 senators who meet here. They serve two-year terms. • The presiding officer is the Lieutenant Governor. Carole Hillard is the President of the Senate.

32. Senate Roll-Top Desk • The roll-top desk in both the House and the Senate make both chambers unusual. • This desk in the Senate chamber is made of mahogany wood. • Can you tell whose desk it is?

33. How a Bill Become a Law.

34. Start at 1 and go to 1000. The bill starts as a draft (written form). Primary sponsors for Senate bills can be only Senate members. However, Senate members can co-sponsor House Bills. It must be passed through Senate and House committees and through both Houses before going to Governor Janklow. Senate Bills

35. Start at 1001 Legislators make laws they think will help our state. The laws begin with a bill. When the bill has passed through both House and Senate committees and both Houses it goes to Governor Janklow. Governor Janklow can sign, not sign (but it still is law), send it back to the legislature for style and form, or veto it. House Bills

36. Quiz Time 5 • The legislative session takes place in this State Capital • Pierre, South Dakota • The Senate bills begin in a Senate committee. What number do these bills start with? • 1 and go to 1000 • House bills begin in a House committee. What number do these bills start with? • 1001

37. Legislative bills must first pass through one of the following 13 legislative committees. What committees do your district’s legislators serve on? • Agriculture and Natural Resources • Appropriations • Commerce • Education • Government • Operations and Audit • Health and Human Services • Judiciary • Legislative Procedure • Local Government • Retirement Laws • State Affairs • Taxation • Transportation 13 Legislative Committees

38. Why Make Laws? • A legislator whose granddaughter is attacked by a vicious dog may seek to tighten the restrictions on keeping dangerous animals. • Special interests groups like M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) may persuade a legislator to sponsor a bill aimed at reducing the number of drunk drivers. • School districts which do not have enough money to run the schools might ask for more money. • A legislator who thinks school districts would be better off consolidated (or become one school) may write a bill stating that small schools close and join a larger school.

39. Quiz Time 6 • How many legislative committees are there? • 13 • Where does a bill go once it has passed through a Senate committee? • Full Senate • Where does a bill go once it has passed through a House committee? • Full House • Where does a bill go once it has passed through a Senate committee, Full Senate, and a House committee? • Full House

40. Quiz Time 7 • Once a bill has passed through a Senate committee, Full Senate, House committee, and Full House it will go to • The Governor • What can the Governor do once a bill has passed through both Houses? • Sign the bill • Not sign the bill (but it passes anyway) • Veto the bill • Send it back to the legislature for style and form

41. Now Legislators Go Do The Right Thing!