Visiting our General Assembly

by Joe Mavretic, former House Speaker and NC SPIN panelist, June 23, 2017.

Several generations of University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill students studied our state’s history under Dr. Hugh Talmage Lefler using his book, " The History of a Southern State North Carolina." I can find no reference in Lefler’s history of our Legislative Building(s) being called, "the peoples’ house." As a member of the NC House of Representatives from 1980 through 1994, I cannot recall a single event in which the building occupied by our General Assembly was referred to as "the peoples' house."

I have been a panelist on NC Spin since July, 1999, and "the peoples house" had not been used in any discussion until the protesters began to assemble in the Legislative Building in 2013. In less than a year "the peoples' house"  was reduced to cliche and was used, in part, to put a positive spin on misdemeanant activity.

Let's be clear: every public building in North Carolina belongs to the people, as an entirety, but to no single individual or group. Access to those public buildings is controlled by the current, lawful occupant. For example, admission to the North Carolina State Supreme Courtroom is controlled by our Justices and you must show an ID and declare your intentions to be admitted. Our state Capitol surely must belong to all the people, but you must show an ID and declare your intentions to be admitted. Currently, the Legislative Building and the Legislative Office Building are the most accessible buildings of our three branches of state government. Access to those two buildings is controlled by the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate through their adopted rules. Each Assembly adopts rules which apply to that assembly until it finally adjourns. These rules are solely the business of the House and Senate; they are not subject to intrusion from the executive or judicial branches and are not open to amendment by anyone other than elected, and sworn, members.

The House and Senate rules have deep historical roots to ensure that legislative business is conducted in accordance with the Constitution and in a fair and objective manner. A reasonable and prudent person should be able to understand these rules and their intent. If or when there is a question about a rule, there is a Chairman of the Rules Committee to provide an explanation. It is the responsibility of the member presiding over a session to enforce the rules.

The physical building housing the United States House of Representatives has been called the "the peoples’ house" for over a century. There are rules that apply to citizens visiting that house. Perhaps it is time for the members of the North Carolina House of Representatives and members of the North Carolina Senate to adopt visitor rules similar to those of the US House and Senate.