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Why did Nebraska choose a unicameral government over a bicameral one?
Quick answer:
Nebraska decided to have a unicameral government instead of a bicameral government largely because of the efforts of Senator George Norris. In the 1930s, Norris was able to convince Nebraskans that a unicameral legislature would be less expensive, more honest, and more efficient than a bicameral system. His amendment to reform the state's legislative branch was adopted in 1937.
U.S senator George William Norris is considered the founder of the Nebraska Unicameral legislature. He and other advocates of the unicameral system believed that it allowed for simpler and more efficient bill to law process, without having each body to pass a given bill separately. That the unicameral system would cost less, and put more scrutiny on the one body and made the legislators more accountable. Unicameral advocates also believed a one body system would make lobbyist less powerful because the process would be more public. In addition, the elimination of the conference-committee, which Norris and others believed was the most secretive and easily corrupted aspect of a bicameral legislature. Because these factors Nebraska voters eliminated their bicameral system in favor of a unicameral one in 1937.
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