Alaska State Legislature

Alaska State Legislature
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate House of Representatives
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 17, 2017
Leadership
President of the Senate	Pete Kelly (R) Since January 17, 2017
Speaker of the House	Bryce Edgmon (D) Since January 17, 2017
Structure
Seats	60
Political groups	Republican Party (35) Democratic Party (23) Independent (2)
Authority	Article 2, Alaska Constitution
Salary	$50,400/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 8, 2016
Next election	November 6, 2018
Redistricting	Alaska Redistricting Board
Meeting place
Alaska State Capitol Juneau, Alaska
Website
Alaska State Legislature

The Alaska Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution, consisting of the lower Alaska House of Representatives, with 40 members, and the upper house Alaska Senate, with 20 members. There are 40 House Districts (1-40) and 20 Senate Districts (A-T). With a total of 60 lawmakers, the Alaska Legislature is the smallest bicameral state legislature in the United States and the second-smallest of all state legislatures (only the 49-member unicameral Nebraska Legislature is smaller). There are no term limits for either chamber.

The Alaska Legislature meets in the Alaska State Capitol building in Juneau, Alaska.

Unlike other state legislatures with longer sessions, the comparatively short Alaska Legislature session allows many lawmakers to retain outside employment, especially in the state's many seasonal industries, such as fishing and tourism. In this, the Alaska Legislature retains some of the volunteer nature that characterized most state legislatures until the middle of the 20th century. This has led to recurring but minor controversy around the potential for conflict of interest inherent in legislators' outside employment.

Candidates for legislative office must be a qualified voter and resident of Alaska for no less than three years, and a resident of the district from which elected for one year immediately preceding filing for office. A senator must be at least 25 years old and representative 21 years of age at the time the oath of office is taken.