Nevada’s representatives in state and local government are known as citizen legislators in that public service is a part time activity that is minimally compensated. As a consequence, most elected officials earn outside income; a condition that often leads to conflicts of interest (people voting on issues that they may directly benefit from such as lawyers whose firms also lobby the legislature or government employees such as teachers who then are able to vote on the education budget). This arrangement has also been criticized for not attracting better qualified candidates.

What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of “citizen legislators”?

Do you think Nevada would be more effectively governed if it is legislature met more often (Nevada is only one of four states where the legislature meets every other year)?

Would politicians be more likely to better represent the people’s interests if they were better compensated and restricted from earning outside income?