New York (State). Legislature. Joint Legislative Committee to Inquire Into and Study Legislative Methods, Practices, Procedures, and Expenditures.

Through a Concurrent Resolution of February 8, 1944, the New York State Legislature created the Joint Legislative Committee to Inquire Into and Study Legislative Methods, Practices, Procedures, and Expenditures. The Committee consisted of six members, with Senator Floyd E. Anderson serving as Chairman. The Committee was to function for one year. Two subsequent resolutions extended the Committee until April 1946.

The function of the Committee was to make a comprehensive study of legislative procedure within New York and in other states and to make recommendations for improvements in these procedures in New York. Special topics focused on by the Committee included the congestion of legislative business during certain periods of the year, the organization and operation of standing committees, the availability and use of legislative research facilities, bill drafting and law revision procedures, and the salaries of legislators.

The Committee undertook a complete statistical analysis of the legislative process in the New York State Legislature. Through correspondence, questionnaires and visits, the Committee examined legislative process in many other states and in the federal government. The Committee held public hearings to gather opinion from legislators, academic researchers, legal associations, labor unions, and citizen groups. Most importantly, the Committee did an exhaustive analysis of the procedures of how bills are researched, introduced, examined, and voted upon. Through correspondence, questionnaires and on-site visits, the Committee also examined legislative process in other states and in the federal government.

In February 1946, the Committee completed its work by submitting to the legislature its 175-page final report. This report included a series of findings and recommendations in six main areas: orderly and deliberative disposition of legislative business; organization and operation of standing committees; legislative research facilities; bill drafting and law revision; compensation of legislators; and lobbying law.

From the description of Joint Legislative Committee to Inquire Into and Study Legislative Methods, Practices, Procedures, and Expenditures Sub-agency History Record. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122435058

Through a Concurrent Resolution of February 8, 1944, the New York State Legislature created the Joint Legislative Committee to Inquire Into and Study Legislative Methods, Practices, Procedures, and Expenditures. The Committee consisted of six members, with Senator Floyd E. Anderson serving as Chairman. The Committee was to function for one year. Two subsequent resolutions extended the Committee until April 1946.

The function of the Committee was to make a comprehensive study of legislative procedure within New York and in other states and to make recommendations for improvements in these procedures in New York. Special topics focused on by the Committee included the congestion of legislative business during certain periods of the year, the organization and operation of standing committees, the availability and use of legislative research facilities, bill drafting and law revision procedures, and the salaries of legislators.

The Committee undertook a complete statistical analysis of the legislative process in the New York State Legislature. Through correspondence, questionnaires and visits, the Committee examined legislative process in many other states and in the federal government. The Committee held public hearings to gather opinion from legislators, academic researchers, legal associations, labor unions, and citizen groups. Most importantly, the Committee did an exhaustive analysis of the procedures of how bills are researched, introduced, examined, and voted upon. Through correspondence, questionnaires and on-site visits, the Committee also examined legislative process in other states and in the federal government.

In February 1946, the Committee completed its work by submitting to the legislature its 175-page final report. This report included a series of findings and recommendations in six main areas: orderly and deliberative disposition of legislative business; organization and operation of standing committees; legislative research facilities; bill drafting and law revision; compensation of legislators; and lobbying law.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV89-A62