North Dakota's Constitution allows the governor to call a special legislative session on "extraordinary occasions."
The North Dakota Blue Book lists 13 special sessions since 1892. The last two were called by Gov. John Hoeven in 2001 and 2003.
Here is a partial list of sessions and issues:
1918
- Revise the state's county seed bonding law.
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- Consider any other pertinent war-related legislation.
1919
- Ratify Article XIX of the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote.
- Provide aid for farmers in drought-stricken districts.
1944
- Write absentee voting legislation, particularly for members of the armed forces.
1991
- Deal with redistricting of the Legislative Assembly
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2001
- Re-apportion the Legislative Assembly.
2003
- Reconsider funding in three line-item vetoes related to education, information technology and corrections.
Legislative Council Director Jim Smith said a special session in 2010 would cost about $62,000 a day, with about three days minimum needed to process a bill.
