Laws of North Carolina, known as statutes, are made by the General Assembly which is elected by the people in even-numbered years at the November general election. Legislators serve for two-year terms.

The North Carolina General Assembly is made up of two bodies or houses; the Senate, which has 50 members; and the House of Representatives, which consists of 120 members. Each legislator represents either a Senatorial District or a House District, and the Legislature is required by the Constitution of North Carolina to change these districts after every ten-year census to assure that all legislators represent approximately equal numbers of people. All legislators must be residents of the district which they represent.

The General Assembly meets in regular session usually beginning on the third Wednesday following the second Monday in January of each odd numbered year. Since 1973 the General Assembly has met for 5 to 7 months in the odd numbered year and has adjourned to reconvene the following even numbered year for a shorter session. This action was taken because many persons feel the State's problems are too complicated to be dealt with effectively by a legislature which meets only every two years.

The Senate and the House of Representatives meet in their respective chambers on Monday evenings; in the middle of the day (usually at 1:30) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; and on Friday mornings. Following the Friday meeting the members return to their homes to take care of their affairs and be available to their constituents during the weekend. During the week, committee meetings are held in the morning and late afternoon. A great deal of the legislative work is done in the committee meetings.

The House of Representatives is presided over by a Speaker, elected from its membership. The presiding officer of the Senate (called the President of the Senate) is the Lieutenant Governor of the State. He has no vote in the Senate except to break a tie. The Senate and House also elect other officers from their respective memberships including a President Pro Tempore in the Senate and a Speaker Pro Tempore in the House.

At the beginning of each session, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoint members to serve on the standing committees of each body. There will be a dozen or more committees for each body, and their work is very important, as every bill introduced will be studied by at least one committee in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. Every legislator serves on several committees.

Each house elects a Principal Clerk who is responsible for keeping the necessary records of the house. Each also elects a Sergeant at Arms, who serves as "police officer" for his house and whose assistants act as doorkeepers while the body and its committees are meeting. A third officer is the Reading Clerk who reads all documents or parts thereof which the rules or the presiding officer require to be read during the daily session.

The Legislative Services Commission, consisting of seven members of each house, is the management authority for the General Assembly. The Commission, through its Legislative Services Officer and staff, provides the following services to the legislature; bill drafting, legal assistance, fiscal analysis, general research and library services, administration of the legislature's budget, clerical assistance, computer services, proofreading, printing, supply, food service, and building maintenance and security.