Early in 1934 George Norris promised some Nebraska friends to help in a movement to bring about the adoption of the amendment to establish the single chamber of the Nebraska legislature. Out of these preliminary discussions came plans for a public, state-wide meeting to be held in Lincoln on Washington’s birthday, February 22, 1934. An old-time friend and supporter of Mr. Norris, Colonel John G. Maher, called the conference, which all interested parties were invited to attend, in the auditorium of the Cornhusker Hotel.
Mr. Norris journeyed from Washington to address this meeting-at which eight hundred men and women, from all parts of the state, were present-and proposed an amendment to the Nebraska constitution providing for a unicameral legislature.
In the discussion which followed, Colonel Maher was authorized to appoint a committee, of which he would be chairman, to conduct a campaign and circulate petitions. This campaign would promote the initiative and referendum provisions of the constitution for an amendment to appear upon the official ballot of the following November election.
During discussion of the amendment, Mr. Norris strenuously insisted that the new Unicameral be non-partisan and elections be by secret ballot. The committee knew that both the Democratic and Republican parties would be against a non-partisan legislature. The battle lines were set. Mr. Norris went out to meet with the people of Nebraska and discussed the issue in every town. He spoke from the heart, talking of the individual needs of the particular community and the state of Nebraska. He believed that the Unicameral would be less expensive for the people, yet more work would be accomplished.
Upon the election, the people of Nebraska wholeheartedly agreed with Mr. Norris. The Unicameral was approved. The First Unicameral had 49 members, one for each 35,000 individuals within their district. The following statics showed the results from the first Unicameral legislature in Nebraska:
Last Bi-cameral Session First Unicameral
Number of legislators 133 49
Length of session 110 days 92 days
Number of bills passed 192 bills 214 bills
Cost of the session $200,000 + costs $100,000 + costs
The Unicameral system worked as envisioned by Mr. Norris. It continues to be a unique system for the people of Nebraska and an example of non-partisan politics in the United States.
Written by Laurie Sinner of McCook.