CIVICS Q&A: STATE ASSEMBLY

As part of The Conversation we hope to have with voters, we will answer a short question about a point of confusion on American civics that D2DD trustees and members have encountered in the field.

This week's question is a timely one, as we get ready not just to nominate partisan candidates for governor, but also the folks who will run on the ballot for open seats in the New Jersey State Assembly.

Q: I see that we have candidates running for State Assembly. I didn't even know that such a thing existed. What does the State Assembly actually do?

A: Think of the State Assembly as New Jersey’s House of Representatives. 

It is the lower chamber of the New Jersey State Legislature and works with the governor and the upper chamber of the legislature - the New Jersey State Senate - to create and pass laws and state budgets. 

According to Ballotpedia, the New Jersey General Assembly is responsible for “passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.”

Learn more about the New Jersey State Legislature here.

Find your state legislative district and your state representatives here.