Citizen legislature

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A citizen legislature is one made up primarily of citizens who have a full-time occupation besides being a legislator. James Madison wrote that legislators should be "called for the most part from pursuits of a private nature and continued in appointment for a short period of office."[1] Legislatures considered to be citizen legislatures include Wyoming,[2] Oregon,[3] and Idaho.[4] Many states, by contrast, have a professional legislature.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Political Vanguard
  2. ^ Citizen's Guide to the Legislature
  3. ^ Oregon State Legislature
  4. ^ Idaho State Legislature - Idaho's Citizen Legislature