North Dakota is one of four states in which the legislature meets biennially in odd-numbered years. The other states are Montana, Nevada, and Texas.
- Legislative Session - In North Dakota, each regular legislative biennium generally begins the second Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years. (fiscal bienniums begin in July of odd-numbered years).
- Crossover - Bills passed by the house of origin are sent to the other house for consideration and final passage.
- 80-day limit - Section 7, Article IV of the Constitution of North Dakota states "No regular session of the legislative assembly may exceed eighty natural days during the biennium."
- Interim preparations - Studies from session bills and resolutions are prioritized and assigned to committees. Legislators also are assigned to interim committees.
- Appropriation and tax measures become effective July 1 of odd-numbered years.
- Nonappropriation and tax measures become effective August 1 of odd-numbered years unless otherwise specified in the bill.
- Primary election - An election held to narrow preferences by party in preparation for the general election. Participants may vote for only one political party during a primary election. Candidates also are nominated for the nonparty offices to be voted upon at the general election.
- General election - An election to choose an individual's choice for legislators and other various elected positions. Voters may cross political parties during a general election.
- Legislative Management meeting - Interim committees submit a final report of study findings and recommended bill drafts to be introduced during the regular legislative session. The Legislative Management reviews and approves reports and bill drafts.
- Terms of legislators elected during the general election take effective December 1 of even-numbered years.
- Organizational Session - Three-day session for organizational and orientation purposes in preparation for the regular legislative session. Organizational days are in addition to the 80 legislative days for regular legislative session.
