New Jersey Legislature: Structure and Apportionment (210th-214th)
The New Jersey Legislature operates as a bicameral body, meaning it consists of two separate houses: the Senate and the General Assembly. Between January 8, 2002, and January 10, 2012, the state was governed by the 210th through the 214th Legislatures, meeting at the New Jersey State House in Trenton.
Key Facts
- Structure: Bicameral (Senate and General Assembly).
- Total Seats: 120.
- District System: 40 electoral districts.
- Representation: Each district elects one senator and two assembly members.
- Major Political Groups: Democratic Party and Republican Party.
- Operational Period: January 8, 2002, to January 10, 2012.
Legislative Organization and Representation
The New Jersey Legislature is organized into 40 distinct electoral districts. A unique feature of this system is the use of nested state legislative districts, where the boundaries for the lower house (the General Assembly) are coextensive with a single state Senate seat. This means that the same geographic area elects both its senator and its assembly representatives.
New Jersey is one of only seven states in the U.S. to utilize this nested approach, alongside Arizona, Idaho, Maryland, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington.
Seat Distribution
With 40 districts each providing one senator and two assembly members, the legislature maintains a total of 120 seats. This balanced distribution ensures that every district has a consistent level of representation in both houses of the state government.
The Apportionment Process
To ensure fair representation as the population shifts, districts are reapportioned every ten years. This process is managed by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission following the completion of each United States census, as mandated by Article IV, Section III of the state Constitution.
The specific district boundaries used by the 210th through 214th Legislatures were established following the 2000 United States census. These boundaries were in effect for regular elections from 2001 through 2009, and for special elections through 2010. The cycle concluded with the November 2011 elections, which transitioned the state to the 2011 apportionment.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 8, 2002 |
| Disbanded | January 10, 2012 |
| Preceded By | 1991 apportionment |
| Succeeded By | 2011 apportionment |
| Meeting Place | New Jersey State House, Trenton |
| Official Website | njleg.state.nj.us |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does bicameral mean in the context of the New Jersey Legislature?
Bicameral refers to a legislative body that is divided into two houses. In New Jersey, these two houses are the Senate and the General Assembly.
How many representatives does each electoral district have?
Each of the 40 electoral districts elects one senator and two members of the General Assembly.
What are nested state legislative districts?
Nested districts occur when the districts for the lower house are the same as, or contained within, the districts for the upper house. In New Jersey, the General Assembly districts are coextensive with the Senate districts.
Who is responsible for redrawing the legislative districts?
The New Jersey Apportionment Commission is responsible for reapportioning the districts every ten years following the United States census.
When were the boundaries for the 210th through 214th Legislatures in effect?
These boundaries were used for regular elections from 2001 through 2009 and for special elections through 2010, following the 2000 census.