Research Papers

Research Papers

Today is:

                                    The Unicameral – Kearney’s View
Upon reading a Nebraska History past article on formation of the unicameral – wondered about Kearney’s view and action at that timem

Surprised to learn a unicameral legislature – not a new idea
        Georgia had one for a short time in 1777
        Pennsylvania until 1790
        Vermont until 1836

Idea discussed in several different states in late 1800’s and a couple of states got as far as voting on it, but the idea was defeated

What was happening in Nebraska?

Nebraska had a regular two-house legislature – Senate 33 members, House 100 members

Switching to a unicameral legislature is not something Nebraska rushed into.

First Unicameral session began in 1936 but the idea first surfaced 23 years earlier

1913 – John Norton, Representative from Osceola, proposed a joint committee be appointed by legislature to consider legislative reforms
        – Approved and Norton chaired the committee

1915 – Final report included possible proposal for one chamber of 33 to 100 members
        – No action taken

Kearney’s reaction to the report

Reported in a news item but no mention made about the proposal for a one chamber legislature.

What did the Nebraska Legislature do next?

January 1917 [the next session?] – Both houses approved resolution calling for a proposed constitutional convention to be placed on the ballot in the next election [1918] for the voting citizens to decide

Kearney’s reaction to the proposal

Early August 1918 – “The Hub has not been eager for a state constitutional convention and is not now.”

Late August 1918 – Buffalo County voters approved the calling of a constitutional convention.

Statewide – Resolution passed

State Constitutional Convention

Convention met over a two-year period, 1919-1920

Jan. 1920 – Norton proposed a one house legislature called the State Assembly of Nebraska with at least 100 members, no more than 133 to be voted on by the people

Proposal narrowly defeated by convention but picked up an advocate – Sen. George Norris

Next move – since the state legislature would not do anything – Get it on the ballot

Locally, (it’s now September 1923) it was reported petitions were ready to be circulated to collect enough signatures to place the issue on the ballot – apparently failed

1925 and 1933 – attempts by two different state legislatures to get proposal on ballot failed

Locally, in April 1933 – Woman’s Club History & Civics department discussed the unicameral concept as part of their meeting program.

Senator Norris started taking a more active role

Petitions were being circulated to get the unicameral plan on the 1934 ballot
        Possible candidates for governor that year were either for or against the plan
        - seemed to be the main platform issue

Action in Kearney in 1934

January – State Farmers Union came out in opposition to a unicameral

March – Buffalo County Taxpayers association, with about 60 farmer-taxpayers attending in Pleasanton, appeared to be in sympathy with the proposed unicameral system.

Early May – Two-day state League of Women Voters convention was held in Kearney.
        On evening of first day, following dinner at Ft Kearney Hotel, there was a discussion,
        pro and con about unicameral system by head of political science dept at UNL (for) and a state senator (against)
            – Their arguments were featured in a long Hub article

By late May – Petitions were circulating in Kearney to get the unicameral on the ballot

September – Buffalo County Bar Association adopted a resolution opposing the unicameral plan.

October – A representative government defense association against the unicameral plan was organized
        A state-wide organization, a Hooper man was elected president with 5 vice presidents from around the state.
            One VP was Fred Mueller of Kearney.
        An executive committee was also formed to draw up their plans of action was made up of one person from each
        of the 5 congressional districts with J. C. Tye of Kearney representing the 5th district.

October news item – “A survey of Nebraska editorial opinion, expressed during recent weeks, revealed that almost without exception Nebraska editors view the plan with little enthusiasm.”

Sen. Norris opened his campaign for a unicameral in Hastings [evening of Oct. 8]. Then he came to Kearney to speak to the Nebraska State Grange convention.

State-wide Election Results

Initiative petition to amend the state constitution for a Unicameral plan with at least 30 but no more than 50 members, passed

In Buffalo County

Record number of voters.

Official results not published until Jan. 3, 1935

        Unicameral plan - for 4,747 against 3,697

State legislature was now in a unique position

It was to convene in January to work out the details for the new unicameral and then close themselves down.

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Revised: 01/21/2021