The Legislative Branch makes laws for North Carolina. It is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which together are known as the General Assembly. The Legislature meets biennially and all members are elected for two-year terms.
The House of Representatives consists of 120 members who serve a term of two years. The presiding officer is the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the members for a two-year term. The Speaker's duties include maintaining order in the House and appointing members to committees.
The Senate consists of 50 members who serve a term of two years. The Lieutenant Governor is President of the Senate and presides over the daily session. The Lieutenant Governor is elected by the citizens of North Carolina for a four-year term and has no vote in the Senate except to break a tie. The Senate elects officers from their membership, including the President Pro Tempore.