48 hours in Helena

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Elected by their geographic peers, 150 citizen legislators representing every slice of the state gather in Helena every two years to make laws. Each session lasts 90 working days, long enough for the Capitol complex to develop a distinct, if temporary, social ecosystem of its own within the capital city, a self-contained society swirling with veteran and freshman lawmakers, lobbyists, journalists, temporary employees and average citizens with agendas to advocate and bones to pick.

At first glance, the buzz of activity appears random and chaotic. But soon an order becomes apparent, set to a schedule that repeats every day.

In the morning, after Capitol staff fill all the coffee carafes in the building, legislators convene at 8 a.m. for committee meetings. It’s here that the finer points of bills are hashed out, and the public is welcome to contribute to the conversation. Lunch is usually served by various interest groups in the rotunda before the 100 members of the House of Representatives and the 50 members of the Senate meet in their respective chambers to debate and vote on which bills should become law. Then more committee meetings fill out the rest of the day. In between the formal meetings, informal meetings crowd the hallways.

When the workday is over, the energy of democracy spills out into Helena. Most lawmakers rent temporary housing for the session, boarding with other legislators or, less frequently, with their families. On weekends, many drive long roads back to their hometowns.

This year’s session is scheduled to conclude on May 5. By then, the laws of the land will have been codified for the next 21 months. Legislators will return to their normal lives, until their communities once again decide who to send to the Capitol to conduct the people’s business in 2025.