Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Maryland General Assembly convened for its 446th session on the 10th of January 2024. This modern body traces its roots to the colonial institution known as the Assembly of Free Marylanders.
Lord Baltimore held absolute authority over his domain under the foundational charter and owned all land granted in that document. In 1639 free men of Maryland passed an act requiring assemblies to be called at least once every three years. The colonial Assembly ceased to exist entirely during the American Revolution.
The current pattern for distribution of seats began with the legislative apportionment plan of 1972. That plan created 47 legislative districts crossing county boundaries where each district elects one senator and three delegates.
Each senator or delegate must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Maryland for at least one year before election. A senator must be at least twenty-five years old at the time of election while a delegate must be at least twenty-one years old when elected.
A legislator sends an idea to the Department of Legislative Services' bill drafting division which drafts the bill into formal form before returning it. An ordinary bill needs a majority vote to pass while emergency bills require three-fifths votes and all passed bills except budget bills and constitutional amendments must reach the Governor within twenty days after adjournment.