N.M. Const. art. IV, § 9
The legislature shall select its own officers and employees and fix their compensation. Each house shall have one chaplain, one chief clerk and one sergeant at arms; and there shall be one assistant chief clerk and one assistant sergeant at arms for each house; and each house may employ such enrolling clerks, reading clerks, stenographers, janitors and such subordinate employees in addition to those enumerated, as they may reasonably require and their compensation shall be fixed by the said legislature at the beginning of each session. (As amended November 2, 1948.)
The 1948 amendment, which was proposed by H.J.R. No. 14 (Laws 1947) and adopted at the general election held on November 2, 1948, with a vote of 31,172 for and 28,633 against, deleted provisions fixing the maximum compensation for legislative employees; prior to amendment this section read: "The legislature shall choose its own officers and employees and fix their compensation, but the number and compensation shall never exceed the following: for each house, one chaplain at three dollars per day; one chief clerk and one sergeant-at-arms, each at six dollars per day; one assistant chief clerk and one assistant sergeant-at-arms, each at five dollars per day; two enrolling clerks and two reading clerks, each at five dollars per day; six stenographers for the senate and eight for the house, each at six dollars per day; and such subordinate employees in addition to the above as they may require, but the aggregate compensation of such additional employees shall not exceed twenty dollars per day for the senate and thirty dollars per day for the house."
Comparable provisions. — Idaho Const., art. III, § 9.
Iowa Const., art. III, § 7.
Montana Const., art. V, § 10.
Utah Const., art. VI, § 12.
Wyoming Const., art. III, § 10.
This section does not constitute continuing appropriation and is not specific enough, without further appropriation, to act as an authorization for the drawing of a warrant against the state treasury, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 30. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 85-02.
Law reviews. — For article, "The Legislature," see 8 Nat. Resources J. 148 (1968).
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 81A C.J.S. States § 61.