Although the state House of Representatives and Senate have been meeting as separate bodies for more than 100 years, Rep. LaMar Lemmons III, D-Detroit, wants a change.
He introduced a House joint resolution this month that would amend the state constitution to create a unicameral legislative body, consisting of 74 members with districts based on population. Joint resolutions do not require the approval of the governor.The House of Representatives is made up of 110 members, who are elected to two-year terms and are limited to three terms. The Senate is made up of 38 senators, who serve four-year terms and are limited to two terms.
Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature.
Lemmons said by creating a body of 74 members instead of 148, the cost of running the Legislature could be reduced by $50 million. Eliminating positions would reduce the wages paid to legislators, as well as the pensions they receive when they retire, Lemmons said.
"It's redundant to have a Senate and a House of Representatives, because they represent the same constituency," Lemmons said.
Lemmons said beside cost, the change could make the government smaller and more streamlined.
Last week, the House and Senate appropriations split their opinions on Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget proposal. Granholm will have to resubmit a new proposal.
Rep. Leon Drolet, R-Clinton Township, chairman of the Government Operations Committee, which the resolution will go to, said the bicameral system offers more checks and balances, since a bill must pass both chambers to become law.
"There are lots of things that you don't want done," Drolet said. "I'm not sure what we need is for it to be easier to pass bills; it should be difficult to pass bills."
Douglas Roberts, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at MSU, said he doesn't support a unicameral system.
"The framers of the U.S and Michigan Constitutions thought one of the most important means of controlling the legislature was through checks and balances," he said, "And you have a greater amount checks of balances in a bicameral system as opposed to a unicameral system.
The House checks the Senate, the Senate checks the House and they both check the judicial and executive branches."
Rep. Robert Gosselin, R-Troy, said having a House and Senate means legislators get "two bites at the apple" to get a bill passed.
"Having a unicameral body means that we get one shot, and if we make a mistake then it doesn't get fixed," Gosselin said.
In addition to changing the constitution to allow for a unicameral body, Lemmons also has introduced a joint resolution to extend the number of terms House of Representatives members can serve, from three to four.
"When the term limits were enacted, it wasn't taken into consideration that the House would have fewer years than the Senate, and that is definitely not what we need," Lemmons said.
Drolet said he understands the arguments for extending term limits but thinks three is enough.
"There are a lot of arguments that 'it took me years to learn my job and become effective,' but you would never hear that in the private sector.
"If it took you six years to learn your job, you'd be fired."