Citizen legislature
Definition
A citizen legislature is one where members serve part-time, hold outside jobs, receive low pay, and rely on small staffs. Sessions are typically short. NCSL classifies these as "citizen" or "gray" legislatures, common in smaller, more rural states.
Why it matters
Low pay and short sessions mean legislators often depend on their outside employer or industry connections for income, creating conflicts of interest a full-time salary might reduce. Thin staff also means legislators lean more heavily on lobbyists, trade associations, and model legislation for research and bill drafting, since they lack in-house capacity to vet claims independently.
Seen in the wild
New Hampshire's legislature pays its members $100 per year, among the lowest in the country, making it one of the clearest examples of a citizen legislature where nearly all members must hold other jobs to support themselves.