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The Nebraska State Capitol
was originally designed to house all offices of state
government. As government has grown through the years, the
service agencies, such as Health, Education and the
Department of Roads were moved to auxiliary sites in
Lincoln. Currently the three branches of government and
their immediate support staff are located within the
Capitol. The Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches
are located within the separate quadrants of the Capitol's
base. The northeast quadrants of 1st and 2nd floor are
occupied by the Executive Branch, the southeast quadrants of
the 1st and 2nd floors are occupied by the Judicial Branch,
and the Legislative branch generally occupies the west half
of the building's base. Various administrative, advocacy and
service agencies which remain in the Capitol are housed in
the tower.
When the Capitol was completed in 1932, Nebraska had a
bicameral legislature with the Senate and House of
Representitives meeting in the newly constructed East and
West Legislative Chambers. In 1934, the citizens, under the
guidance of United State Senator George W. Norris from
Nebraska, voted and changed the constitution, adopting the
one-house unicameral legislative system. Upon adoption of
the Unicameral, the larger West Chamber was chosen to house
the new body. The West Chamber was named the George W.
Norris Legislative Chamber in 1984 in recognition of his
contribution to Nebraska's unique legislative system.
The Capitol was designed with two courtrooms to meet the
needs of the Judicial branch of government. The Supreme
Court of Nebraska has met in the Capitol since its
completition in 1932. However, it was only after the
citizens voted in 1990 to amend the constitution of the
state to allow for an intermediary Court of Appeals that the
second courtroom in the Capitol began to be used. The
Capitol contains the administrative offices of the Court, as
well as judges offices.
Other web link addresses:
Nebraska
Judicial Branch Site
Nebraska
Legislative Branch Site
Executive
Branch-Official State Web Site
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