Working on New Laws
Watch this month's Dialogue:Denver DA
The Denver District Attorney is sworn to enforce state law, but what role does he have in creating new laws? We’ll explore that issue and look at the current legislative session with Tony Lombard, a retired police officer now lobbying the legislature, on this edition of Dialogue Denver DA.
• The final product of the legislative session is a law. A statute is law after it is organized by topic into the compiled body of laws known as Colorado Revised Statutes.
• Colorado’s legislature is Bicameral – a legislature with two houses known as the Senate and House of Representatives.
• “Legislative Days” are regarded the same as calendar days. Each day after the session starts, until adjournment, is a legislative day including weekend days.
• Bills have different names, or versions, depending on where they are in the legislative process.
• Lawmakers may not introduce any more than five bills in a legislative session.
• The Legislative Council Staff has served as a nonpartisan research arm for lawmakers since 1953.
How is the Speaker of the House selected in Colorado?
A. Voted on in November B. Volunteered C. Elected by lawmakers
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C. The Speaker of the House is elected by a majority vote of the members of the House of Representatives on the first day of the session.