State Legislatures

Question: What are the three principal functions of legislatures?

The three principal functions of state legislatures are:

1) Policymaking, 2) Representation, and 3) Oversight.

Policymaking

State Senators and Representatives are in the business of drafting and enacting laws. Old laws can be revised and new laws can be passed. There are many challenges facing states that legislators hope to solve through the implementation of policies and programs. These policies most often deal with the management of a state's budget and pensions, infrastructure, unemployment, regulation of businesses, public education, safety, and healthcare. There are many more issues that legislatures choose to involve themselves with and their decisions are also affected by the actions of the states executive leadership, judiciary, and administration and ultimately, federal interventions. 

Representation

Legislatures are also in the business of representation. In the U.S. Democracy, citizens vote to choose a politician that represents their interests in the state. Different areas or districts have different problems that usually need different solutions to solve them. This is where it is important for legislators to come to their constituents aid and communicate the citizen's voices that need to be heard in the capitol. Through speaking with the individuals who live in their districts, the legislator can bring the will of the public to the legislative chamber and offer assistance to those who need help navigating through the bureaucratic systems.

Oversight

Legislators are constantly overseeing the functions of government and looking for new and improved ways of running effective state governments. Whether it's evaluating the success of a policy or program that was implemented or in the regulation of a new business that has sprung up in the state, legislators are paying close attention to the state's performance on the whole.