https://simplecast.com Building Democracy: The Story of State Legislatures NCSL presents a special six-part series, “Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures.” This mini-series covers the history, characters and stories of state legislatures in America, from the beginnings in Jamestown, to the present day and into the future. Each episode in the series contains interviews with experts from inside and outside the legislative world to provide a comprehensive view of historical events and their legacy in today’s legislatures. 2016-2022 National Conference of State Legislatures en Wed, 9 Mar 2022 23:27:51 +0000 Mon, 18 Apr 2022 23:02:09 +0000 https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com Building Democracy: The Story of State Legislatures https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/553b78c5-595c-43c1-8f1b-25d61f5576ef/11725ab7-b546-43ba-bbcd-350e02d672bc/3000x3000/building-democracy-400a.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com episodic NCSL presents a special six-part series, “Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures.” This mini-series covers the history, characters and stories of state legislatures in America, from the beginnings in Jamestown, to the present day and into the future. Each episode in the series contains interviews with experts from inside and outside the legislative world to provide a comprehensive view of historical events and their legacy in today’s legislatures. NCSL no https://feeds.simplecast.com/ba6NBtLE legislatures, legislative history, american government, history of legislatures, state legislatures NCSL press-room@ncsl.org 46b9e1ec-a2db-4fe7-82e7-75e21a3f0181 Building Democracy Episode 4: Bonus Interview - Dr. Lori Ann Lahlum & Dr. Molly P. Rozum Wed, 9 Mar 2022 23:27:51 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (Megan McClure, Martha Saenz, Molly P. Rozum, Lori Ann Lahlum) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-episode-4-bonus-interview-dr-lori-ann-lahlum-dr-molly-p-rozum-MIGGkHMm Building Democracy Episode 4: Bonus Interview - Dr. Lori Ann Lahlum & Dr. Molly P. Rozum Megan McClure, Martha Saenz, Molly P. Rozum, Lori Ann Lahlum 00:50:29 Many states have their own tales of political maneuvering and determined women. Check out our bonus interview to hear more details and what happened in states we weren’t able to cover. Full interview with Lori Ann Lahlum, professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato and Molly P. Rozum, Ron Nelson distinguished professor, University of South Dakota. Many states have their own tales of political maneuvering and determined women. Check out our bonus interview to hear more details and what happened in states we weren’t able to cover. Full interview with Lori Ann Lahlum, professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato and Molly P. Rozum, Ron Nelson distinguished professor, University of South Dakota. national conference of state legislatures, western states, women's history, minnesota, story of legislatures, women's suffrage, building democracy, state legislatures, ncsl, south dakota, women's legislative network no bonus 02f88159-8474-445e-9aac-15a5ec4f7cf8 Building Democracy Episode 3 - Bonus Content - I Claim the Rights of Man Wed, 9 Mar 2022 23:26:37 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (Megan McClure, Billy Mitchell, Nicholas Birdsong) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-episode-3-bonus-content-i-claim-the-rights-of-man-GIcLSNca Building Democracy Episode 3 - Bonus Content - I Claim the Rights of Man Megan McClure, Billy Mitchell, Nicholas Birdsong 00:26:02 Listen to the full speech I Claim the Rights of Man given in 1868 by Henry MacNeal Turner. Read by Georgia State Representative Billy Mitchell. Listen to the full speech I Claim the Rights of Man given in 1868 by Henry MacNeal Turner. Read by Georgia State Representative Billy Mitchell. national conference of state legislatures, original 33, representative billy mitchell, story of legislatures, building democracy, reconstruction, state legislatures, ncsl, georgia legislature, henry macneal turner, georgia house of representatives, i claim the rights of man no bonus d1b85532-a804-4ebc-9294-0490f11463cf Building Democracy Episode 2: Bonus Interview - Richard L. Pearce Wed, 9 Mar 2022 23:26:19 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (Megan McClure, John Mahoney, Nicholas Birdsong, Richard L. Pearce) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-episode-2-bonus-interview-richard-l-pearce-HZRLWHU3 Building Democracy Episode 2: Bonus Interview - Richard L. Pearce Megan McClure, John Mahoney, Nicholas Birdsong, Richard L. Pearce 00:39:33 Listen to the full interview with Richard L. Pearce, legal counsel with the South Carolina House Clerk Listen to the full interview with Richard L. Pearce, legal counsel with the South Carolina House Clerk national conference of state legislatures, revolutionary war, committees of correspondence, the story of legislatures, south carolina legislature, building democracy, the stamps act, state legislatures, ncsl, south carolina house clerk, south carolina no bonus cc25c1c4-885a-4f81-ac89-6df920315a5b Building Democracy Episode 1: Bonus Interview - Mary Elliott Wed, 9 Mar 2022 23:25:42 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (Megan McClure, Mary Elliott, John Mahoney) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-episode-1-bonus-interview-mary-elliott-eGdl3gvo Building Democracy Episode 1: Bonus Interview - Mary Elliott Megan McClure, Mary Elliott, John Mahoney 00:30:44 Listen to the full interview with Mary Elliott, curator of American Slavery at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Listen to the full interview with Mary Elliott, curator of American Slavery at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. national conference of state legislatures, virginia house of delegates, jim horn, house of burgess, 1619, jamestown, building democracy, g. paul nardo, jamestown rediscovery foundation, smithsonian national museum of african american history and culture, legislative history, state legislatures, jamestown settlement, ncsl, virginia: america's first startup, nmaahc, clerk of the house no bonus 990a414a-71e4-4ade-a455-1d6eafa45340 Building Democracy: The Story of State Legislatures | Episode 6 Guests

  • Scott Bedke, speaker, Idaho House of Representatives
  • Nicole Cannizzaro, majority leader, Nevada State Senate
  • Jason Frierson, speaker, Nevada House of Representatives
  • Margaret O’Brien, secretary, Michigan Senate
  • Tim Storey, executive director, NCSL
]]> Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:00:00 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (NCSL) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures-episode-6-m5qRRrAZ Guests

  • Scott Bedke, speaker, Idaho House of Representatives
  • Nicole Cannizzaro, majority leader, Nevada State Senate
  • Jason Frierson, speaker, Nevada House of Representatives
  • Margaret O’Brien, secretary, Michigan Senate
  • Tim Storey, executive director, NCSL
]]> Building Democracy: The Story of State Legislatures | Episode 6 NCSL 00:30:08 Our special podcast miniseries concludes by looking to the future of legislatures and how—in this centuries long relay of representative democracy—those currently serving will pass the baton to those who will lead these institutions into the future. With an exemplary lineup of guests, we examine possible challenges and future successes and explore how legislatures can honor long-held traditions and processes while building stronger, more effective and more representative 21st-century bodies. Our special podcast miniseries concludes by looking to the future of legislatures and how—in this centuries long relay of representative democracy—those currently serving will pass the baton to those who will lead these institutions into the future. With an exemplary lineup of guests, we examine possible challenges and future successes and explore how legislatures can honor long-held traditions and processes while building stronger, more effective and more representative 21st-century bodies. no full 6 91a0e82b-5479-4987-bdde-0a6dd36ca9e8 Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 5 Guests

  • Representative Senfronia Thompson, Texas | Bio
  • Former Senator Fred Risser, Wisconsin | Bio
  • E. Dotson Wilson, former chief clerk, California State Assembly | Bio
  • Speaker Bryan Cutler, Pennsylvania | Bio
  • Bill Pound, former executive director, NCSL | Bio

Additional Resources

]]> Tue, 11 Jan 2022 21:55:00 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (NCSL) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-the-story-of-legislatures-episode-5-LhhIo8Zy Guests

  • Representative Senfronia Thompson, Texas | Bio
  • Former Senator Fred Risser, Wisconsin | Bio
  • E. Dotson Wilson, former chief clerk, California State Assembly | Bio
  • Speaker Bryan Cutler, Pennsylvania | Bio
  • Bill Pound, former executive director, NCSL | Bio

Additional Resources

]]> Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 5 NCSL 00:34:35 The fifth installment of NCSL’s six-episode podcast series takes place in the not-too-distant past. The work of legislating changed dramatically between the 1960s and the 1990s, resulting in more responsive and representative legislatures. By the early 1900s, legislatures had become increasingly dependent upon the executive branch, decreasing their coequal status in state government. Beginning in the late ’50s and early ’60s, demands on legislatures grew and lawmakers and their constituencies became more diverse. In response to 20th-century challenges, lawmakers began to spend more time on the job, with sessions getting longer and more frequent, often including interim work. These changes, along with exponential increases in the number of legislative staff, brought the work of legislators and the mission of legislative institutions into a new age. Delve into the characters, stories and organizations that believed in representative democracy and the legislative institution enough to come together and study, innovate and create stronger legislatures. The fifth installment of NCSL’s six-episode podcast series takes place in the not-too-distant past. The work of legislating changed dramatically between the 1960s and the 1990s, resulting in more responsive and representative legislatures. By the early 1900s, legislatures had become increasingly dependent upon the executive branch, decreasing their coequal status in state government. Beginning in the late ’50s and early ’60s, demands on legislatures grew and lawmakers and their constituencies became more diverse. In response to 20th-century challenges, lawmakers began to spend more time on the job, with sessions getting longer and more frequent, often including interim work. These changes, along with exponential increases in the number of legislative staff, brought the work of legislators and the mission of legislative institutions into a new age. Delve into the characters, stories and organizations that believed in representative democracy and the legislative institution enough to come together and study, innovate and create stronger legislatures. no full 5 03fddbde-74be-42e3-861f-59ec8987d634 Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 4 Guests

  • Senator Affie Ellis, Wyoming│ Bio
  • Representative Meg Froelich, Colorado │ Bio
  • Rebekah Clark, historical research associate, Better Days 2020│ Bio
]]> Tue, 11 Jan 2022 21:50:00 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (NCSL) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-the-story-of-legislatures-episode-4-NkdPIt7Y Guests

  • Senator Affie Ellis, Wyoming│ Bio
  • Representative Meg Froelich, Colorado │ Bio
  • Rebekah Clark, historical research associate, Better Days 2020│ Bio
]]> Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 4 NCSL 00:35:56 In this installment of NCSL’s six-episode podcast series, “Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures,” we travel west to see how women fought and won their right to vote, as well as how they shaped state legislatures and life on the frontier well before the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The story of the 19th Amendment and its dramatic ninth-hour ratification on the floor of the Tennessee House is well known and often told. Yet, momentous events in the history of women in the American West are overlooked. While their sisters fought in the salons, houses of worship and halls of government in the urban “civilized” East, women strode ahead helping to form governments in the rough and yet malleable West. Women in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado (to name only a few) fought against stereotypes and social expectations to win the recognition of their rights as American citizens. Each state’s suffrage movement had unique motivations and avenues to success. One common thread to their strategies? State legislatures. In this installment of NCSL’s six-episode podcast series, “Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures,” we travel west to see how women fought and won their right to vote, as well as how they shaped state legislatures and life on the frontier well before the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The story of the 19th Amendment and its dramatic ninth-hour ratification on the floor of the Tennessee House is well known and often told. Yet, momentous events in the history of women in the American West are overlooked. While their sisters fought in the salons, houses of worship and halls of government in the urban “civilized” East, women strode ahead helping to form governments in the rough and yet malleable West. Women in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado (to name only a few) fought against stereotypes and social expectations to win the recognition of their rights as American citizens. Each state’s suffrage movement had unique motivations and avenues to success. One common thread to their strategies? State legislatures. no full 4 fa6974df-9e74-4cae-8854-5c2f30db9728 Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 3 Guests

  • Bob Davidson, former director, Mississippi Senate Legislative Services Office
  • Mark Hirsch, historian, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian │Bio │Blog
  • Burdett Loomis, professor emeritus, University of Kansas │Bio
  • Kercheik Sims-Alvarado, assistant professor of Africana Studies, Morehouse College │Bio │Book

Special Guest Voice

  • Representative Billy Mitchell, Georgia │Bio

Additional Resources

  • Building Democracy: Episode 3 | Transcript
  • Building Democracy: Episode 3 | Show Notes
  • Building Democracy: Episode 3 | Resources and Reading List
]]> Tue, 11 Jan 2022 21:45:00 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (NCSL) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-the-story-of-legislatures-episode-3-rYUyNZCB Guests

  • Bob Davidson, former director, Mississippi Senate Legislative Services Office
  • Mark Hirsch, historian, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian │Bio │Blog
  • Burdett Loomis, professor emeritus, University of Kansas │Bio
  • Kercheik Sims-Alvarado, assistant professor of Africana Studies, Morehouse College │Bio │Book

Special Guest Voice

  • Representative Billy Mitchell, Georgia │Bio

Additional Resources

  • Building Democracy: Episode 3 | Transcript
  • Building Democracy: Episode 3 | Show Notes
  • Building Democracy: Episode 3 | Resources and Reading List
]]> Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 3 NCSL 00:37:36 n this installment, we explore how the states and their legislatures expanded west, split apart, and came together again. The era of American history between 1803-1877 was one of massive territorial growth, conflict, and social and economic change. The U.S. evolved from a small grouping of former colonies and newly formed states on the East Coast to exponentially expanding territories across the South, Midwest and the wilderness of the West. Legislatures were the main venue for shaping these territories into states of diverse populations and environments. After the Civil War, state legislatures became the main setting for enforcing reconstruction policies and resistance to them. The struggle to integrate a huge population of formerly enslaved people into the citizenry led to incredible victories for the expansion of civil rights, only to see them shrink again, continuing the push and pull we continue to experience as a nation today. n this installment, we explore how the states and their legislatures expanded west, split apart, and came together again. The era of American history between 1803-1877 was one of massive territorial growth, conflict, and social and economic change. The U.S. evolved from a small grouping of former colonies and newly formed states on the East Coast to exponentially expanding territories across the South, Midwest and the wilderness of the West. Legislatures were the main venue for shaping these territories into states of diverse populations and environments. After the Civil War, state legislatures became the main setting for enforcing reconstruction policies and resistance to them. The struggle to integrate a huge population of formerly enslaved people into the citizenry led to incredible victories for the expansion of civil rights, only to see them shrink again, continuing the push and pull we continue to experience as a nation today. no full 3 6acc55cf-d82b-44de-ad23-f1bf93a4b8bf Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 2 Hosts

  • Megan McClure
  • John Mahoney
  • Nicholas Birdsong

General Thanks

  • To the NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee for the idea which led to the creation of Building Democracy and who’s support keeps it going.
  • To Podfly Productions for production and editing
  • To the House of Pod for recording and studio space
]]> Tue, 11 Jan 2022 21:40:00 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (NCSL) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-the-story-of-legislatures-episode-2-v2XVyQII Hosts

  • Megan McClure
  • John Mahoney
  • Nicholas Birdsong

General Thanks

  • To the NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee for the idea which led to the creation of Building Democracy and who’s support keeps it going.
  • To Podfly Productions for production and editing
  • To the House of Pod for recording and studio space
]]> Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 2 NCSL 00:42:02 The second episode tells the story of how a handful of colonial possessions became the first American states. How did deliberative bodies make the transition from colonial assemblies, to provincial congresses during the conflict, and then to democratically elected legislatures in a tumultuous time of uncertainty? It wasn’t easy and conflict arose in the hallowed halls of deliberative bodies, across geographic regions and even within families.  Join expert guests, including legal counsel with the South Carolina House Clerk’s office, Richard Pearce; Professor Peverill Squire; and Professor Alexander Keyssar for an inside look at representative democracy amid the American Revolution. The second episode tells the story of how a handful of colonial possessions became the first American states. How did deliberative bodies make the transition from colonial assemblies, to provincial congresses during the conflict, and then to democratically elected legislatures in a tumultuous time of uncertainty? It wasn’t easy and conflict arose in the hallowed halls of deliberative bodies, across geographic regions and even within families.  Join expert guests, including legal counsel with the South Carolina House Clerk’s office, Richard Pearce; Professor Peverill Squire; and Professor Alexander Keyssar for an inside look at representative democracy amid the American Revolution. no full 2 ec5c5b28-a299-44d1-9827-bb8c3a6b0a83 Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 1 Hosts

  • Megan McClure
  • John Mahoney
  • Nicholas Birdsong

Guests

  • G. Paul Nardo, former clerk of the house and keeper of the roles of the Commonwealth of Virginia
  • Jim Horn, president, Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation
  • Mary Elliott, curator of American Slavery, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

General Thanks

  • To the NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee for the idea which led to the creation of Building Democracy and who’s support keeps it going.
  • To Podfly Productions for production and editing
  • To the House of Pod for recording and studio space

Additional Resources

]]> Tue, 11 Jan 2022 21:35:00 +0000 press-room@ncsl.org (NCSL) https://building-democracy-the-story-of-state-legislatures.simplecast.com/episodes/building-democracy-the-story-of-legislatures-episode-1-Q_sZf4G1 Hosts

  • Megan McClure
  • John Mahoney
  • Nicholas Birdsong

Guests

  • G. Paul Nardo, former clerk of the house and keeper of the roles of the Commonwealth of Virginia
  • Jim Horn, president, Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation
  • Mary Elliott, curator of American Slavery, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

General Thanks

  • To the NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee for the idea which led to the creation of Building Democracy and who’s support keeps it going.
  • To Podfly Productions for production and editing
  • To the House of Pod for recording and studio space

Additional Resources

]]> Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures | Episode 1 NCSL 00:32:52 "First Assembly – Virginia 1619" examines life on the Jamestown colony, which has been called the first American startup, and introduces Sir Edwyn Sandys (pronounced "Sands"), "one of hte most influential characters in the history of the American colonies that no one ever heard of." A businessman charged with establishing a successful colony in America, Sandys' aspiration was to establish a society that was fairer than society in England. He helped write The Great Charter, which called for the election of representatives or “burgesses” to serve alongside appointed officials in a “General Assembly”, a direct DNA ancestor of today's legislatures. Life in the colony was challenging and messy, chock full of scandals, corruption and infighting. Human beings became an early commodity through slave trade from Africa. Join NCSL staffers and "Building Democracy" hosts John Mahoney and Megan McClure along with their expert guests, former Virginia clerk of the House, G. Paul Nardo; curator of American Slavery at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Mary Elliott; and Jim Horn, president of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, as they explore this history—the good and the bad—and how the first meeting of these colonial representatives was the starting point in the story of America’s state legislatures. "First Assembly – Virginia 1619" examines life on the Jamestown colony, which has been called the first American startup, and introduces Sir Edwyn Sandys (pronounced "Sands"), "one of hte most influential characters in the history of the American colonies that no one ever heard of." A businessman charged with establishing a successful colony in America, Sandys' aspiration was to establish a society that was fairer than society in England. He helped write The Great Charter, which called for the election of representatives or “burgesses” to serve alongside appointed officials in a “General Assembly”, a direct DNA ancestor of today's legislatures. Life in the colony was challenging and messy, chock full of scandals, corruption and infighting. Human beings became an early commodity through slave trade from Africa. Join NCSL staffers and "Building Democracy" hosts John Mahoney and Megan McClure along with their expert guests, former Virginia clerk of the House, G. Paul Nardo; curator of American Slavery at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Mary Elliott; and Jim Horn, president of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, as they explore this history—the good and the bad—and how the first meeting of these colonial representatives was the starting point in the story of America’s state legislatures. no full 1