(a) The appointee shall meet the qualifications of a member of the legislature as prescribed in art. II, sec. 2, Constitution of the State of Alaska, and, if the predecessor in office was a member of a political party or political group at the time of the vacancy, (1) shall be a member of the same political party or political group as the predecessor in office; and (2) shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature who are members of the same political party or political group as the predecessor in office and of the same house as was the predecessor in office. If the predecessor in office was not a member of a political party or political group at the time of the vacancy, or, if no other member of the predecessor’s political party or political group is a member of the predecessor’s house of the legislature, the governor may appoint any qualified person. If the appointee is not a member of a political party or political group, as provided in (b) of this section, the appointment is not subject to confirmation. If the appointee is a member of a political party or political group, the appointment is subject to confirmation as provided by (b) of this section for the confirmation of political party or political group appointees.
Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 15.40.330
ballot: means any document provided by the director on which votes may be cast for candidates, propositions, or questions. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
Caucus: From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the legislature that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.
Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
member of a political party: means a person who supports the political program of a party. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, organization, business trust, or society, as well as a natural person. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
political group: means a group of organized voters which represents a political program and which does not qualify as a political party. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
political party: means an organized group of voters that represents a political program and has at least 5,000 registered voters in the state. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
(b) A member of a political party or political group is a person who supports the political program of a political party or political group. The absence of a political party or political group designation after a candidate’s name on an election ballot does not preclude a candidate from being a member of a political party or political group. Recognition of a candidate as a member of a political party or political group caucus of members of the legislature at the legislative session following the election of the candidate is recognition of that person’s political party or political group membership for the purposes of confirmation under this section.
