Are Bicameral State Legislatures Needed?

BayCityProgressive

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Wed Jun-28-06 07:54 PM
Original message

Are Bicameral State Legislatures Needed?

I live in Michigan and just do not understand the point of a bicameral state legislature. It seems like a huge waste of tax payer money and bloated bureaucracy. We already have state reps for each district that represent us....so what do we need a state senate for? Maybe I am missing something here so I would really like some other peoples take on this.

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Idioteque

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Wed Jun-28-06 07:57 PM
Response to Original message

1. Not only do I agree with you, I would get rid of the executive branch too.

I would prefer a unicameral state parliament with the Governor being the head of the majority party and a cabinet made up of legislators.

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BayCityProgressive

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Wed Jun-28-06 08:01 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. as would I.

I am a left winger who detests government red tape and bureaucracy. I think it hurts the democratic process.

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Tace

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Wed Jun-28-06 08:01 PM
Response to Original message

2. It Seems That The States All Adopted A System Like The Federal System...

which was set up as a system of checks and balances. I can't speak for Michigan, although I lived in Detroit for 10 years, but I like the bi-cameral system of government.

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BayCityProgressive

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Wed Jun-28-06 08:02 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. Well

if each district is already represented...why would a district need a check and balance on itself?

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Idioteque

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Wed Jun-28-06 08:06 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. In some states, each Senate district is made up of 2 house districts...

...what's the point? I could understand if the Senate was by county or something just like the US Senate is by State but having a Senate seat equal to exactly two house seats is dumb.

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BayCityProgressive

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Wed Jun-28-06 08:07 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. it just seems like more

opportunities for the pigs at the trough to pass through more pet projects and kick backs.

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stevedeshazer

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Wed Jun-28-06 08:21 PM
Response to Original message

7. There is one state that has a unicameral legislature

Nebraska.

It seems to work well. Another progressive success.

http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/learning/history.htm

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dsc

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Wed Jun-28-06 08:24 PM
Response to Original message

8. In many states the Senate used to be by county

but then the one person one vote decisions were handed down and the Senates were changed. In some states it is a little harder to pass things as a majority in the Senate kind of like in the US Congress.

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