Montana Resouce Guide
Sam Adams State Resource Guides are designed to help citizens get involved in their home state.
Do you have additional information that you'd like to see on this list? Please email your tips to resources@samadamsalliance.org.
Background
Montana has long been considered a swing state. With the state’s history of being a labor union stronghold, there is a large sector of the population that votes Democrat. However, in recent years, the libertarian philosophy of smaller, responsible government has become increasingly appealing. Montana voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004, but elected a Democratic governor in 2004 and both of the state’s Senators in Washington DC are Democrats.
The Montana State Legislature only meets in odd numbered years. Representation in the legislature is pretty evenly split along party lines. In the House of Representatives there are 50 Republicans, 49 Democrats and 1 member of the Constitution Party. In the State Senate there are 26 Democrats and 24 Republicans. Montana enforces term limits on state legislators. Members of both houses are limited to 8 years in office.
Issues
Initiative and Referendum
Montana citizens have extensive initiative and referendum rights. They are able to bring both a constitutional amendment and a statutory change to the voters through the direct initiative process. The legislature is also able to refer ballot measures to the voters.
Think Tanks
Montana Policy Institute
http://www.montanapolicy.org/
Property and Environment Research Center
http://www.perc.org/
Foundation for Research Economics and Environment
http://www.free-eco.org/about.php
Action Groups
Montana Taxpayers Association
http://montax.org/
Montanans for Tax Reform
http://www.taxreformmontana.org/index.php
Blogs
Pragmatic Revolt
http://www.moorcat.com/pragmatic_revolt/
What’s Right in Montana
http://rightmontana.blogspot.com/
Red Montana
http://redmontana.wordpress.com/
Scoop Montana
http://scoopmontana.blogspot.com/
Montana Main Street Blog
http://montanamainstreetblog.typepad.com/montana_main_street_blog/
Resources
Official State Government Webpage
http://mt.gov/
State Government Agencies in Montana Government
http://mt.gov/govt/agencylisting.asp
Local Government Center
http://www.montana.edu/wwwlgc/
Open Government Guide
http://www.rcfp.org/ogg/index.php?op=browse&state=MT
Montana Business
http://mtbusiness.com/index.php
Political News
Montana Politics
http://www.mtpolitics.net/wp/
New West Politics
http://www.newwest.net/montana-politics/
