For the purposes of this chapter and chapter 54-03.1: 1. "Organizational session" means the meeting of the legislative assembly for organizational and orientation purposes held during the month of December in the even-numbered years. 2. "Regular session" means the legislative session commencing in January of the odd-numbered years and includes any reconvened legislative session, as provided in section 54-03-02.
54-03-02.2. Virtual session of the legislative management and legislative assembly during emergency or disaster. 1. If the legislative management meets to vote on whether the legislative management should request the governor call a special session of the legislative assembly, the legislative management may use any technology or electronic means available to conduct meetings and transact legislative business. 2. If the governor calls a special session of the legislative assembly to address a state of emergency or disaster or if the legislative assembly reconvenes to address a state of emergency or disaster, the legislative assembly may use any technology or electronic means available to conduct meetings and transact legislative business. 3. For purposes of section 7 of article IV of the Constitution of North Dakota, a meeting of the legislative assembly which occurs under this section is deemed to have occurred at the seat of the government, and all actions taken during the meeting have the same legal effect as if the members of the legislative assembly were physically present at the seat of government.
54-03-03. Secretary of senate and chief clerk of house to receive certifications and to make roll of members - Certificates filed. At the opening of each organizational session, reconvened session, or special session of the legislative assembly, the secretary of state shall certify to the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the house of representatives the respective members to whom certificates of election have been issued or whose appointments have been filed with the secretary of state under applicable provisions of law since the preceding session of the legislative assembly. The secretary of the senate and chief clerk of the house of representatives shall file the certifications and copies of the certificates of election or appointment, and the certifications and copies of the certificates of election or appointment are prima facie evidence of the right to membership in the respective branch of the legislative assembly of the person certified therein. The secretary of state shall also certify to the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the house of representatives the respective members who served in the preceding session of the legislative assembly and whose terms have not expired. After the certifications are received, the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the house of representatives shall call and make a correct roll of the names of those respective members who have been certified by the secretary of
state. The provisions of this section may not be construed to infringe on the right of each house to be the judge of the qualifications of its members.
54-03-04. Organizational session - Calling to order - Officers - Term of office - Officers and chairmen to remain in office during special session. The secretary and officers of the senate and chief clerk and officers of the house serving at the close of a regular session, unless otherwise removed, shall remain in office until the first day of the organizational session. On the first day of the organizational session, at a time scheduled by the legislative management pursuant to section 54-03.1-02, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house from the previous session, if re-elected, or in the speaker's absence a member of the majority party of the house with seniority based upon terms of service in the house, shall call the members of their respective houses so enrolled to order. In the absence of the president of the senate, the president pro tempore shall call the members of the senate to order. In the absence of both the president of the senate and the president pro tempore, then some member or other person selected by the members present shall call the members of the senate to order. If the speaker of the house from the previous session is not re-elected and if no party has a majority in the house, the member of the house with seniority based upon terms of service in the house shall call the house to order. If two or more members of the house are tied for seniority and seniority is a factor in determining who shall call the house to order, the persons so tied for seniority shall draw lots to determine who shall call the house to order. The members of the respective houses then may proceed to the election of the necessary officers. The secretary and officers of the senate and chief clerk and officers of the house of representatives, and the chairmen of all procedural and substantive standing legislative committees shall continue to serve in those positions during any special legislative session which may be called, except in case of the death, resignation, or removal of one of those persons, whereupon the position must be filled, upon the convening of the special session, in the manner provided by law or legislative rule. Members serving on procedural or substantive standing committees of the senate or house during a regular session shall continue to serve on those committees during any special legislative session which may be called following that regular session.
54-03-05. Who to administer oath of office to members and officers of the legislative assembly. The following persons may administer the oath of office to the members and officers of the legislative assembly: 1. The speaker of the house of representatives. 2. The president of the senate. 3. The governor. 4. A judge of the supreme court. 5. A judge of the district court.