Routine business, such as the introduction of bills, is conducted at skeleton sessions. A bill must be passed in the same version by both houses in order to be enacted and sent to the governor for his consideration. A simple majority vote in each chamber is required, although certain bills require greater margins for passage. Proposed constitutional amendments are contained in joint resolutions that require a three-fifths vote for adoption in each house. Bills become effective 90 days after being signed by the governor or having been allowed to become law without the governor's signature.
Bills making an appropriation of money also become effective immediately.
It is only in appropriation acts where the governor can exercise his line-item veto authority. All bill and line item vetoes can be overridden by an extraordinary vote of both houses. All acts of the legislature, with the exception of appropriation and emergency acts, are subject to referendum by the citizens if sufficient support is demonstrated through the collection of signatures on petitions. The Gongwer home page provides access to a number of directories of state and federal officials, as well as telephone numbers and other information. General Assembly members welcome your comments and, if necessary, will assist you in addressing matters in which they can provide assistance in their official capacity.