On July 31, in an article about the state dismissing a special session lawsuit, ADN’s article said that “State law allows a special session to be held anywhere in the state and for the governor to pick the location ...” This is not so; if it were, there would be no need for a lawsuit. I just read the Alaska Constitution again, and I would refer you to Article II: The Legislature, sections 8 and 9. The Constitution here is actually silent on any meeting place.
Please next refer to Article III, The Executive: Section 17 says that the governor "may convene a special session" but, again, no place is specified. (The Legislature can also call special sessions, of course.)
Article XV, Section 20 says that "The capital of the State of Alaska shall be at Juneau." It is entirely logical to me that the Legislature would meet at Juneau, as it has done for years and years, regular session or otherwise. It is not logical that the governor could abruptly call a special session elsewhere. That would be assuming a power not granted to him in our Constitution (see Article III, Section 17).
It may be that there have been one or two "special sessions" called outside of Juneau, but those have been cases in which the governor and the Legislature agree without conflict on where to meet (Anchorage). Those sessions were more political theater than anything else.
John Jensen
Anchorage
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