Among the many unique aspects of Alaska is the state's Permanent Fund Dividend program, created by Alaska law. Through that law, the state distributes a share of Fund investment earnings to every qualified Alaska resident each year. The Legislature originally passed a version of the program that was later ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, because it proposed to peg the amount of the dividend to an individual's length of residency in Alaska. The dividend program now in effect was enacted in 1982.

• From www.pfd.state.ak.us