MONDAY night’s attempt by the Legislature to override Gov. Eddie Calvo’s veto of Bill 516 fell short, by one vote. That single vote is the difference between majority control of the lawmaking body and a “veto-proof” legislature.

Under our unicameral system, given the very small number of members in the single house, that vote becomes critically important. It is going to keep party members up into the wee hours of Nov. 7 as what is probably going to be a see-saw battle for the final couple of seats finally gets resolved.

If you’re thinking of sitting this one out, believing your vote cannot make much of a difference, you might want to reconsider. Since the reduction in size of the Guam Legislature from 21 to 15, in 1996 by popular initiative, it has taken only eight votes to pass a bill and send it to the governor for his signature. If the governor disagrees and returns a bill to the lawmakers, it takes another couple of votes, two-thirds, to override that veto.

Considering the size and complexity of Guam’s economy and community, it is sobering to comprehend how much mischief, and yes, even real damage, can be perpetrated on our island by this small handful of elected officials. In Nebraska, the only state with a similar unicameral legislature, there are 49 members, the smallest state legislature in the country. They are part-time, meeting for only 60- or 90-day sessions in alternate years, for which they receive a salary of $12,000 a year.

Further, the body is non-partisan. In other words, they do not run as party members. Coalitions tend to be formed around specific issues, but no party primaries are held, nor do the members identify themselves as Democrats or Republicans. They serve four-year terms, with half of them facing election every two years.

Such a larger law-making body would seem to ensure that policy matters are more thoroughly discussed before they are passed. Few measures pass unanimously. In our legislature, by contrast, nearly everything passes by total acclamation, with no dissenting votes. That should be a warning sign that it is much too easy to enact legislation here, with insufficient debate or dissenting opinion.

Given the small legislature and its partisan nature, your vote on Nov. 6 is pretty important. If either party can seat 10 senators, the body will either be veto-proof or, if the same party as the current governor, a friendly group tending to do pretty much what the chief executive wants.

Either way, it’s likely that just a few votes will separate the 115th candidate in our at-large election from number 16 or 17. Whichever way you lean politically, your vote can make a big difference.