New York State Joint Legislative Committee to Inquire Into and Study Legislative Methods, Practices, Procedures, and…

The series consists of 8 subseries: 1. Completed Questionnaries Pertaining to Legislative Procedures in State Governments in the United States, 1944-1945; 2. Reports Analyzing the Role of Joint Legislative Committees and Temporary State Commissions, 1927-1945; 3. Research Files Pertaining to State Agency Introduction and Promotion of Legislation, 1944; 4. Memoranda Pertaining to Laws Governing Legislative Procedure, 1944-1945; 5. Correspondence, Memoranda and Reports on Legislative Procedure Prepared by Legislative Staff, 1944; 6. Reports Analyzing Bills Introduced in the Legislature, 1940-1945; 7. Research File on Legislative Procedures in Congress, 1944-1945; and 8. Committee Reports and Press Releases, 1944-1945.

The eight subseries are arranged in no apparent order.

This series consists of records gathered or generated by the Committee in its analysis and reporting of legislative procedure and expenditure in New York. The records consist principally of correspondence, memoranda, reports, and completed questionnaires.

The records contain extensive documentation on the workings of the New York State Legislature and the legislative role of New York State agencies, boards, and commissions. The principal topics relating to the Legislature include: the growing volume of bills being introduced each year; the concentration of legislative decisions toward the end of the session and the lack of adequate time for consideration of each bill; the growing trend of late introduction of bills; the role of Assembly and Senate Rules committees; the organization and operation of Standing Committees; the widespread use of joint legislative committees and temporary commissions to assist the legislature in its deliberations; and other topics such as the need for a permanent research agency to assist the legislature, the compensation of legislators, ways to improve roll call procedures, and the effectiveness of companion bills in speeding up the legislative process. The records also contain substantial documentation on the procedures of other state legislatures and some information on procedure in the federal Congress.

The series is divided into the following eight subseries.

Subseries 1: Completed Questionnaires Pertaining to Legislative Procedures in State Governments in the United States, 1944-1945. .5 cubic feet. In 1944, the Committee sent every state legislature in the United States a 16-page questionnaire to obtain information on legislative practices throughout the country. This subseries consists of these completed questionnaires from nearly every state. The questionnaires contained questions in two general areas: Legislative Procedure and Personnel and Fiscal Practices. Questions relating to legislative procedure pertain to such areas as: number of bills introduced; number of bills becoming law; time during sessions when bills are introduced; type of roll call systems used; extent of legislation logjams at the end of sessions; ways to expedite legislative procedures; use of standing and special committees; description of offices performing bill drafting; and the extent of research facilities. In the area of personnel and expenses, the questionnaires contain information such as: number of employees in the legislature; procedures for filling positions; procedures for preparing the legislative budget; examples of budgets for legislature operations; use of office space, equipment, and supplies by staff; and procedures for printing and distributing legislative calendars, journals, bills, and other legislative material.

Subseries 2: Reports Analyzing the Role of Joint Legislative Committees and Temporary State Commissions, 1927-1945. .5 cubic feet. The Committee investigated the role of committees and commissions in aiding the work of the legislature. This subseries consists of approximately 130 reports pertaining to joint legislative committees, temporary state commissions, and Moreland Act commissions. The 4-page reports appear to have been completed by Committee staff using reports issued by the various committees and commissions and cover activity from 1927 to 1945. Information contained in the reports includes: enabling legislation; function; appropriation; make up and staff; use of public hearings to gather information; cooperation with state agencies; issuance of reports; lists of typical recommendations and whether or not they became law; and disposition of files.

Subseries 3: Research Files Pertaining to State Agency Introduction and Promotion of Legislation, 1944. .5 cubic feet. The Committee investigated the manner in which state agencies interacted with the legislature to sponsor and promote legislation. In 1944, the Committee asked each agency to answer questions on how it sponsored and promoted legislation. The subseries consists of correspondence, memoranda and reports prepared by approximately 25 agencies. These records provide information such as: who is the agency liaison with the legislature; who drafts legislation in the agency; use of the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission; list of agency bills introduced, dates introduced, and name of sponsors; list of bills opposed by the agency; and availability of research facilities. For some of the agencies, there are copies of 1944 or 1945 bills introduced on behalf of the agency.

Subseries 4: Memoranda Pertaining to Laws Governing Legislative Procedure, 1944-1945. .5 cubic feet. The subseries consists of memoranda prepared by Committee staff on legislation relating to procedures of the New York State Legislature. This legislation related to such issues as member activity, committees, lobbying, voting, and printing of the legislative calendar and journal. The majority of the memoranda pertain to sections of the Legislative Law. The memoranda include: citation to the law (article, section, and paragraph) and complete language of the law; citations to subsequent court decisions further defining the law; and extensive comment by Committee staff analyzing the law and the evolution of legislative practice and procedure.

Subseries 5: Correspondence, Memoranda and Reports on Legislative Procedure Prepared by Legislative Staff, 1944. .5 cubic feet. The subseries consists of correspondence, memoranda and reports by Assembly and Senate staff containing detailed information on how the legislature goes about its official day to day business. The records document the procedures for handling legislation from introduction to final passage. Included is information on the duties, functions, organization, and operation of most staff positions. The records were prepared by the Assembly/Senate staffs including the Clerk, Financial Clerk, Index Clerk, Journal Clerk, Superintendent of Documents, Engrossing Clerk, and Stenographer. The records also include examples of legislative documents such as bills, journals, and calendars.

Subseries 6: Reports Analyzing Bills Introduced in the Legislature, 1940-1945. 1 cubic foot. The Committee analyzed the efficiency of bill introduction procedures and recommended ways to eliminate duplication of bills. This subseries consists of reports analyzing bills introduced in the legislature from 1940 to 1945. Reports include the number of bills introduced, general subject area of bills, number of bills referred to each standing committee, number of bills amended in committee, and bills eventually passed into law. There are also reports analyzing each bill vetoed by the governor and reason why it was vetoed (e.g., needs further study, duplicates existing law, or poorly drawn).

Subseries 7: Research File on Legislative Procedures in Congress, 1944-1945. .5 cubic feet. The Committee examined Congressional procedures for assistance in recommending changes in New York State legislative procedure. This subseries consists of one folder of reports, correspondence and summaries of discussions with Congressional staff relating to procedures of introducing bills, voting, publishing journals, etc.

Subseries 8: Committee Reports and Press Releases, 1944-1945. .5 cubic feet. This subseries contains copies of press releases issued by the Committee and a copy of its final report issued in February 1945.

A container list is available at the repository.

Collation date: 1944-1946.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.