After previous attempts were rejected, Nebraskans voted to back an effort at creating a unicameral led by U.S. Senator George W. Norris. Norris Norris, who lived in McCook, wore out two sets of automobile tires while he drove throughout the state campaigning for a unicameral legislature. He said having two legislative houses was outdated, inefficient and unnecessary. Norris said having one legislative house would be more efficient, less costly, and would make government more open to the people. The Unicameral differs little from most city, county and school district governing bodies.
Most Canadian provinces operate with single-house systems.
Immediate results Eliminating one legislative house in 1937 cut government costs. Critics said that with a unicameral legislature, there would greater potential for abuse of power. Norris argued that the state Supreme Court could still issue rulings on laws passed by the Legislature, and the governor would still be able to veto bills he or she did not believe would make good law. More importantly, Norris said, citizens would have the right to vote for members of the legislature and to place issues on the ballot. Two house legislatures use a conference committee, a committee of members from both houses, to work out differences between two different versions of the same bill passed in both houses.