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Article: Legislatures: our dynamic institutions. (progress and challenges) (Cover Story)
- Article from:
- State Legislatures
- Article date:
- January 1, 1993
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 National Conference of State Legislatures. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Each one is unique, yet they are all strikingly similar. Each has diverse responsibilities, yet they all share common problems. State legislatures--"the first branch of government"--are the most revitalized and changed government institutions in America and today they have a vastly increased capacity to govern.
Yet at the same time they find themselves challenged as seldom before. The movement to limit the terms of legislators has succeeded in one-third of the states. Public image of legislative performance has worsened in virtually every state, consistent with a growing negative attitude about government. In those states which allow the initiative, this process ...