The legislative powers of the State of Maryland
are vested in the General Assembly, which consists
of two distinct branches, the Senate and the House
of Delegates (Const. 1867, Art. Ill, sec. 1). The
General Assembly consists of 188 members, with
47 Senators and 141 members of the House of
Delegates. They are elected from 47 legislative
districts.

Every Senator or Delegate must be a citizen of
the State and a resident of it for at least one year
preceding the date of his election. For six months
prior to his election he must have resided in his
legislative district. A Senator must be at least
twenty-five years of age at the time of his election
and a Delegate at least twenty-one. No member of
Congress or any person holding a civil or military
office under the United States Government is
eligible for election to the General Assembly
(Const. 1867, Art. Ill, secs. 9, 10, 11). The term of
each Senator and Delegate is four years from the
second Wednesday of January following the date
of his election (Const. 1867, Art. Ill, sec. 6). The
Governor is required to appoint to any vacancy
that occurs in either House through death, resigna-
tion, or disqualification a person whose name is
submitted to him in writing by the State Central
Committee of the political party with which the
Delegate or Senator, so vacating, had been affiliat-
ed in the county or district from which he or she
was elected. All persons so appointed serve for the
unexpired portion of the term (Const. 1867, Art.
Ill, sec. 13). Each House elects its own officers, is
judge of the qualifications and election of its own
members, and establishes rules for the conduct of
its business (Const. 1867, Art. Ill, sec. 19).

The General Assembly meets annually. Sessions
begin the second Wednesday in January and last
for a period not longer than ninety consecutive
days. The General Assembly may extend its ses-
sions beyond ninety days, but not to exceed an
additional thirty days, by resolution concurred in
by three-fifths vote of the membership in each
House. The Governor may call special sessions at

any time he deems it necessary (Const. 1867, Art.
Ill, sec. 14), but no single special session may last
longer than thirty days.

The General Assembly must pass at each regular
session a budget bill that contains the budget for
the State government for the next fiscal year. Upon
the passage of the bill by both Houses, it becomes a
law without further action (Const. 1867, Art. Ill,
sec. 52). By Constitutional Amendment adopted
by the people at the General Election held Novem-
ber 7, 1978, the General Assembly is authorized to
enact laws (other than appropriation bills) that
mandate the Governor, in the preparation of the
annual budget, to provide for the funding of
specific programs at specified levels (Const. 1867,
Art. Ill, secs. 52(11) and (12)).

Under the provisions of a Constitutional
Amendment ratified by the voters in 1972 (Chap-
ter 369, Acts of 1972), the Senate and the House of
Delegates may adopt a "consent calendar" proce-
dure permitting bills to be read and voted upon as
a single group on both second and third readings,
affording members of each House reasonable no-
tice of the bills so placed on each consent calendar
(Const. 1867, Art. Ill, secs. 27, 28).

The General Assembly has power to pass such
laws as are necessary for the welfare of the State. It
also has the power to pass public local laws for
counties not having home rule powers and for
special taxing areas. The Home Rule Amendment
of 1954 (Const. 1867, Art. XI-E) virtually prohib-
its the General Assembly from passing local legis-
lation for incorporated cities and towns, although
the Assembly retains its power to pass a general
statewide law that affects them.

The General Assembly may establish such de-
partments of State government as are necessary for
its efficient operation and may establish special
taxing districts or areas within the State for the
purpose of administering a special function or
functions. The General Assembly may establish