AGENCY: Legislature. Senate
SERIES: 409
TITLE: Journals
DATES: i 1882-
ARRANGEMENT: Chronological by session with daily entries thereunder.
DESCRIPTION: These journals serve as a record of the actions of the legislature during session. They constitute the published minutes of the state senate and territorial council. House and Senate journals were kept together from the time of the organization of the territory in 1851. Since 1882, the journals have been kept separately.
Daily entries cover a standard order of business. Place, date, roll, and prayer are noted before proceeding. Citizens' petitions for various actions and monetary claims are the first order. Other communications from agencies, groups, or individuals also are recorded. Committee reports are the next order of business. These recommend passage or rejection of particular legislation. Early reports often include detailed explanations and agency reports, but such detail is generally omitted by the 1920s.
The process of enacting legislation via bills and resolutions is the most frequent business recorded. The title is noted along with its status:__which reading, whether it passed, committee referrals, amendments and motions for rewrites, etc. The contents of the bills are not recorded. Names of individuals motioning for particular actions are noted as are the names on the final vote.
Messages from the opposing chamber are recorded in full. Messages from the governor report passage, veto, or objections to bills. Senate confirmations of gubernatorial appointments also are noted. Memorial tributes, speeches, prayers, invitations to various functions, etc. may also be read into the record.
Joint session minutes are also entered. From 1896 to 1913, these included the election of U.S._Senators. The governor's opening address detailed concerns, and initially included agency reports. Joint memorials to Congress, pleading for federal action (or inaction) were common in the 1880s.
Member lists, either as part of the initial roll, or as a separate table, appear at the start of each volume, with photos by 1975. Committee membership is also noted. Many of the volumes have the senate rules recorded toward the beginning which specify the order of business and clarify procedures.
RETENTION
Permanent. Retain until administrative need ends
DISPOSITION
Transfer to Archives.
RETENTION AND DISPOSITION AUTHORIZATION
Retention and disposition for this series is authorized by Archives general schedule Publications, GRS-1678
AUTHORIZED: 01/02/2018
FORMAT MANAGEMENT
Paper: For records prior to and including 2018. Retain in State Archives until microfilmed and then destroy provided microfilm has passed inspection.
Microfilm master: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfilm duplicate: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfiche master: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Microfiche duplicate: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Computer data files: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
Paper: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.
APPRAISAL
Historical Legal
These journals are the official record of the Senate's activities and provide historical documentation of its actions.
PRIMARY DESIGNATION
Public