The Center's report also highlights a trend in how a more competitive, two-party system affects the legislative committee system. The number of retirees is at an all-time high, and the General Assembly is fast becoming the most prestigious retirement community in the state.
Fewer legislators are in less flexible occupations - such as law or farming.
Longer Sessions Change Legislative Demographics North Carolina may have a part-time citizen legislature, but longer sessions place limits on which citizens can successfully juggle legislative duties with their jobs back home. But the 1997 and 1998 sessions set records for length, adjourning on August 28 and October 29, respectively. One group with this much time to devote to legislative duty is retirees. There are now 38 retirees serving in the 1999 General Assembly. In 1975, there were only 7.