North Carolina Constitution Article II, Legislative
North Carolina Constitution – Article II: Legislative (Summary)
Purpose:
Article II of the North Carolina Constitution establishes the Legislative Branch, known as the General Assembly, and outlines its structure, powers, and responsibilities.
🔹 Section-by-Section Summary
Section 1 – Legislative Power
Legislative authority is vested in the General Assembly, which consists of:
Senate
House of Representatives
Section 2 – Number of Senators
Senate has 50 members.
Section 3 – Senate Districts
Senators are elected from single-member districts.
Districts must be nearly equal in population.
Section 4 – Number of Representatives
House has 120 members.
Section 5 – House Districts
Like the Senate, members are elected from single-member districts of equal population.
Section 6 – Qualifications for Legislators
Must be:
A qualified voter in the district.
Senators: At least 25 years old.
Representatives: At least 21 years old.
A North Carolina resident for at least 1 year.
Section 7 – Elections
Members are elected every two years in even-numbered years.
Section 8 – Sessions
The General Assembly meets in regular session annually, starting in January.
The Governor may call extra (special) sessions.
Section 9 – Rules and Discipline
Each house sets its own rules, judges the qualifications of its members, and can punish or expel members (with a two-thirds vote).
Section 10 – Officers
Each house elects its own presiding officers:
Senate: Presided over by the Lieutenant Governor (President of the Senate).
House: Elects a Speaker.
Section 11 – Quorum
A majority of the members in each house constitutes a quorum.
Section 12 – Journals
Each house must keep and publish a journal of its proceedings.
Section 13 – Open Sessions
Legislative sessions are open to the public, except in limited cases requiring secrecy.
Section 14 – Legislative Process
Bills must be read three times in each house before becoming law.
Laws must address only one subject, which must be clearly expressed in the title.
Section 15 – Revenue Bills
Bills related to taxes or raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives.
Section 16 – Impeachment
The House has the power to impeach.
The Senate tries impeachments.
A two-thirds vote is required to convict.
Section 17 – Legislative Terms and Vacancies
Vacancies are filled as prescribed by law.
Section 18 – Enactment Clause
All laws must begin with:
“The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:”
✅ Key Takeaways:
Bicameral legislature with 50 Senators and 120 Representatives.
Strong rules for districting, legislative process, and transparency.
Checks and balances through impeachment and internal discipline.
Emphasis on local representation and public access.
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