Election Day November 8, 2022: Nevada Legislature
Election Day: November 8, 2022
As election day approaches, it is important to keep in mind the functions our elected leaders are charged to undertake. In addition to the more visible races for the offices of Nevada Governor and United States Senator, numerous campaigns for office in the Nevada State Senate and Nevada Assembly are quietly slated to reach their conclusion on election day, November 8, 2022. These elected officials will meet at the 82nd (2023) Session of the Nevada Legislature, scheduled to begin on February 6, 2023.
The Nevada State Legislature was established by Article 4 of the Nevada State Constitution. The Legislature is a bicameral body, and consists of the 42 members of the Nevada State Assembly, and 21 members of the Nevada State Senate. Typically, the Nevada Legislature meets at the Nevada State Capital in Carson City every two years for a period of 120 days. However, special sessions of the Nevada Legislature may be called under specific circumstances. At its most basic, our three-branch system of government charges the elected members of the Nevada Legislature with creating and modifying the laws of the State of Nevada. Any laws passed by the legislative branch, are carried out and enforced by the executive branch (i.e. Governor), and interpreted by the judicial branch (i.e. Courts).
While these campaigns for office in the Nevada State Assembly and Nevada State Senate can be under-advertised in comparison to contemporaneous higher profile elections, they are no less deserving of attention by the candidates’ constituencies. At the upcoming 82nd Session, the Nevada Legislature will consider Bills relating to all aspects of Nevada law. These very Bills may become enforceable as law in the State of Nevada if passed by both houses of the Legislature and ratified by the Governor. Therefore, it is important for all citizens of the State of Nevada to be informed, carefully consider the candidates before them for all offices, and exercise their constitutional right of self-governance.