History of the Nebraska Legislature and the NAFP
Since 1983, the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians has played an important part in the Nebraska Legislature through the volunteer Family Doctor of the Day program. Through this program, NAFP family physician members from across the state volunteer to take care of the medical needs of the Senators while they are in session. For the past few years, the Nebraska Academy has been able to have a family physician scheduled almost everyday the Legislature was in session. By providing this service, the NAFP has been able to provide necessary medical services to the Senators and develop relationships with them that allow input from a family physician perspective.
The Nebraska Unicameral is the legislative body for the State of Nebraska. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, NE. Nebraska's Legislature is unique in that it is a single chamber or unicameral and officially nonpartisan. No other state in the United States has a single-chamber legislative body. At 49 members, it is also the smallest state legislature.
From 1866 to 1937, Nebraska had a traditional partisan Bicameral Legislature with a House and Senate. Since 1937 with the influence of Senator George Norris Nebraska has had a nonpartisan one-house, Unicameral Legislature whose members are called Senators. Sessions of the Nebraska Legislature last for 90 working days in odd-numbered years and 60 working days in even-numbered years. The Legislature is responsible for law-making in the state, subject to a veto by the Governor of any legislation. The Legislature may override the governor's veto by a vote of three-fifths of its members. The Legislature also has the power, by a three-fifths vote, to propose constitutional amendments to the voters, who then decide upon any amendment through the referendum process.
Because of the smaller body and the nonpartisan status, there is a sense of openness and availability with the Nebraska Senators that is often missing in other legislative settings. The daily availability of family physicians in this environment benefits the causes of family physicians and their patients.
