Despite the high-minded talk from politicians about the need for citizens to participate in government, they don't make it easy for average people to experience the Legislature firsthand.

The schedules for both floor sessions and committee meetings are unpredictable and get more unpredictable as the session goes on.

This is nobody's fault. If a floor session in the House or Senate goes into overtime, the committees of that body will start later. And if either political party in either chamber decides to meet in caucus to plan strategy, even more delays can be expected.

Many of the committee rooms are tiny, so if you're following a high-profile bill, there's a good chance the room will fill up and you'll be left standing in the hall.

But there have been some improvements in recent years.

If you want to personally visit the Capitol during the session, the best place to park is in the $13 million parking structure just west of the Roundhouse with 580 spaces (entrance on Galisteo Street north of Paseo de Peralta). Some of the spaces are reserved, but there will be about 300 free, first-come, first-served spaces available.

However, unlike past years, there will be no shuttle to the Capitol, a spokeswoman for the state Transportation Department said Tuesday. This is due to a decrease in ridership and the increased availability of parking in the nearby parking garage, Manon Arnett said.

And for those who want to follow the session from the comfort of a home or office, there's the magic of webcasting.

Both Senate and House floor sessions are webcast by the state. And the picture has improved since the early days of webcasting, when one fixed camera in the Senate showed only the back of the heads of those who sit in the middle of the chamber.

Some committee meetings will be distributed over the Internet. You can find the webcasts at http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/webcast/default.aspx.

You can find bills, committee schedules and lists of members at: www.nmlegis.gov. Even before the session starts, you can find pre-filed bills at http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/_locatorcom.aspx?year=12 .

Here are a few basic rules for those who want to try to follow the New Mexico Legislature at close range:

• Just because a bill you're following is fourth on the agenda, don't expect it to be heard after the third item. Bills can be moved up or down at the pleasure of the committee. Sometimes a committee will hear a bill out of order as a courtesy to the sponsor, who might have to rush to another committee meeting. Don't expect them to hear your bill out of order as a courtesy to you.

• At floor sessions and committee meetings, please observe decorum. The public is not allowed to applaud, heckle or perform interpretive dance for the committee.  

But be careful: As the session gets rolling, many committee meetings and floor sessions will go long beyond the last bus out in the early evening, especially in the final days of the session. In past years, the last buses left the Capitol at 7 p.m. Don't get stranded.

Service for people with disabilities is available from Santa Fe Trails. Call 473-4444 at least 24 hours in advance.

• Contact lawmakers by calling the legislative switchboard: 986-4300.

UPDATE: 1-17-12 The above text has been changed to reflect the fact there will be no state shuttle to the Roundhouse during the session.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.