Four decades strong.

• Position: The Pre-Cyber Lawmaker vs. the High-tech lawmaker: 40 YEARS - State legislatures

The essential role of legislator may not have changed much in the 40 years since State Legislatures magazine began, but the citizens they represent and American life in general sure have. Changes in technology, privacy, security, longevity, health care, communications and family structure are just a few of the complex issues that look very different today than they did in 1975, challenging lawmakers in new and different ways.

1975

In 1975 there were 7,565 state lawmakers, 182 more--than today; 2,385 were Republicans and 5,070 were Democrats. Today, GOP lawmakers outnumber Democrats 3, 835 to 3,447.

Like 37 percent of adults in 1975, he might have smoked, but even if he didn't, he definitely negotiated in smoke-filled rooms, since clean-air laws didn't catch on until after 2000.

His main communication device was a land-line--phone, but at some statehouses, he'd have to drop a dime in pay phones in the hall or lobby, often waiting in line for the privilege. The famous pink "While You Were Out" slips filled his pockets. They were to modern voice mail what the Pony Express was to letter delivery.

He likely had no problem accepting a free cup. of coffee, courtesy of a lobbyist, before the era of strict no-gift laws. Today, at least nine states have strict no-cup-of-coffee gift bans.

His shoes were sturdy enough for frequent trips to the statehouse for copies of bills or to watch the proceedings. His modern successors do both from their computers. But maybe all that walking didn't hurt, as the U.S. obesity rate was only 15 percent, compared to 35 percent today.

2014

Although still a minority in statehouses, nearly one in four legislators is a woman, and 61 are in leadership positions. Forty years ago, there were no female leaders and only one in 20 lawmakers was a woman. Today, in all state capitals, the...