State of Arizona, Senate Legislative Journal: title varies, 1912 to date, Phoenix, var. state printers, 1912-. (The lands that became the State of
Arizona were occupied by the native Anasazi, Hohokam and Mogollon Indian tribes. Spanish settlers began arriving in the mid-1500s, and the territory
comprised part of Spain’s New World empire until 1821, when it came under the control of newly independent Mexico. The area became American territory as
the result of the U.S.-Mexican War in 1846 and the Gadsden Purchase in 1854. In 1850 the U.S. government established the large territory of “New
Mexico,” a major portion of which encompassed modern Arizona. Finally, in 1863, due to strategic considerations during the Civil War, western “New Mexico”
was severed off to become the separate Territory of Arizona with its own governor and legislature. Attempts at statehood began as early as 1872, and a
hopeful constitutional convention was even held in 1891, but Congress, troubled by the area’s sparse population, ignored the requests of residents
for statehood status. In fact, the preferred solution in Washington was to reunite Arizona with New Mexico, and in 1904 a formal motion to that effect
passed Congress and was endorsed by President Theodore Roosevelt. However, Arizona’s citizens rejected the option overwhelmingly. Finally, in 1908
Congress relented and endorsed separate admission for New Mexico and Arizona; an enabling act to that effect passing in 1910. After some finagling between
local leaders and Washington, a constitution was finally approved; with Arizona becoming the 48th state in the Union effective 14 January 1912,
ending an unprecedented 62 years as a territory. During the territorial period, 1864-1909, the legislative branch of government was bicameral, with the
upper chamber being styled “the Council.” With statehood the latter name changed to “Senate.” For most of the statehood years, the journals of each
chamber were published separately. In a few cases where publication was partially combined, as with shared indexes, LLMC has duplicated the shared potions
so that complete versions appear in both the House and Senate versions.)
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