Alabama House of Representatives
| Alabama House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2013 session start: | February 5, 2013 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Mike Hubbard, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Micky Hammon, (R) |
| Minority leader: | Craig Ford, (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 105 |
| Democratic Party (38) Republican Party (65) Vacant (2) | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Art IV, Alabama Constitution |
| Salary: | $10/day + $4,308/month |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (105 seats) |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 (105 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Alabama Legislature has control |
Meeting place: | |
Contents |
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama State Legislature. There are 105 members to the Assembly, representing a relatively equal amount of constituencies. Each member represents an average of 45,521 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 census, each member represented about 42,353 residents.[2]
Elected officials are not subjected to term limits and Alabama House members are one of only five lower house officials in the United States that are elected every four years. The majority of state legislatures abide by the model set in place by the U.S. House of Representatives, which are two-year terms.
As of May 2013, Alabama is one of 24 Republican state government trifectas.
Sessions
Section 48 of Article IV of the Alabama Constitution initially set the rules for the timing and length of sessions for the Alabama State Legislature, which the House is a part of. However, these rules have been changed by state statute.
The Alabama Legislature convenes in regular annual sessions on the first Tuesday in February, except during the first year of the four-year term, when the session begins on the first Tuesday in March. In the last year of a four-year term, the legislative session begins on the second Tuesday in January. The length of the regular session is limited to 30 meeting days within a period of 105 calendar days. There are usually two meeting or "legislative" days per week, with other days devoted to committee meetings.
The Governor of Alabama can call, by proclamation, special sessions of the Alabama legislature. The governor must list the subjects on which legislation will be debated upon. These sessions are limited to 12 legislative days within a 30 calendar day span. In a regular session, bills may be enacted on any subject. In a special session, legislation must be enacted only on those subjects which the governor announces on their proclamation or "call." Anything not in the "call" requires a two-thirds vote of each house to be enacted.[3]
Bills can be prefiled before sessions, starting at the end of the previous session and ending at the beginning of the session for which they are being filed. The exception to this is for sessions beginning in March every 4 years. [4]
The Alabama Legislature has a constitutional session length limit of 105 calendar days.
2013
- See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions
In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from February 5 through May 20.
Major issues
Heading into the 2013 session, a major issue will be the general fund, which is estimated to be $200 million short of requests. Other main issues include maintaining Medicaid, raises for teachers, giving schools more flexibility over state policies, and gun laws.[5]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the legislature was in regular session from February 7 to May 16. It held a special session from May 17-24 to address redistricting.[6]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the Legislature was in session from March 1-June 9.[7]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House of Representatives was in session from January 12th to April 12th.
Elections
2010
Elections for the office of Alabama State Representative were held in Alabama on November 2, 2010. State house seats in all 105 districts were on the ballot in 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was April 2, 2010, and the primary election day was June 1, 2010.
During the 2010 election, the total contributions to House candidates was $19,627,913. The top 10 contributors were:[8]
| 2010 Donors, Alabama House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Donor | Amount | |
| Alabama Republican Party | $1,449,611 | |
| Alabama Education Association | $1,097,446 | |
| Business Council of Alabama | $705,500 | |
| Alabama Farmers Federation | $578,009 | |
| Charles Bishop | $502,000 | |
| Alabama Association of Realtors | $335,503 | |
| Alabama State Employees Association | $271,600 | |
| Friends of Mike Hubbard | $243,300 | |
| Alabama Trial Lawyers Association | $234,000 | |
| NETPAC | $215,500 | |
2006
Elections for the office of Alabama House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2006 and a general election on November 7, 2006.
During the 2006 election, the total contributions to House candidates was $17,109,524. The top 10 contributors were:[9]
| 2006 Donors, Alabama House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Donor | Amount | |
| Alabama Education Association | $1,163,411 | |
| Seth Hammett Campaign | $762,762 | |
| Alabama Farmers Federation | $640,139 | |
| Business Council of Alabama | $557,250 | |
| Alabama Republican Party | $415,841 | |
| Alabama Democratic Party | $332,857 | |
| Alabama Association Of Realtors | $321,000 | |
| Alabama State Employees Association | $293,428 | |
| Medical Association Of The State of Alabama | $248,000 | |
| FGA PAC | $217,073 | |
2002
Elections for the office of Alabama House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 4, 2002 and a general election on November 5, 2002.
During the 2002 election, the total contributions to House candidates was $12,397,003. The top 10 contributors were:[10]
| 2002 Donors, Alabama House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Donor | Amount | |
| Alabama Education Association | $1,233,289 | |
| Business Council of Alabama | $530,004 | |
| Alabama State Employees Association | $302,275 | |
| Medical Association of The State of Alabama | $297,500 | |
| Alabama Power Co | $202,250 | |
| Alabama Trial Lawyers Association | $199,500 | |
| Bellsouth | $161,227 | |
| Alabama Association of Realtors | $146,000 | |
| Alabama Farmers Federation | $143,102 | |
| Compass Bank | $135,250 | |
Qualifications
Members of the House must be 21 at the time of their election, and must have been citizens of Alabama for three years, having lived in their respective districts for at least one year immediately preceding their election.[11]
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the House, a special election must be conducted in order to fill the vacant seat. The Governor must call for a special election if the vacancy happened before next scheduled general election and the House is in session[12] [13]. The Governor has all discretion in setting the date of the election along with nominating deadlines[13].
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Alabama
The Alabama Legislative Committee on Reapportionment is responsible for drafting plans for redistricting in the state House and Senate.
2010 census
Census date was shipped to Alabama on February 23, 2011. The state population increased by over 300,000 residents (~7.5%).[14] 2011 was the first year in which the state's redistricting process was done using a GIS online platform.[15] The legislative maps, however, were not worked on until May 2012, and Republicans were in charge of the process for the first time since Reconstruction. Maps for both chambers were passed in a controversial special session, in which a final vote was taken in the Senate without a reading of the bill originated in the House. It next went to Gov. Robert Bentley (R) for his signature, and then had to be approved by the U.S. Justice Department.[16]
Representatives
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 37 | |
| Republican Party | 66 | |
| Independent | 1 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | |
| Total | 105 | |
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. Duties of the Speaker include preserving order and decorum and appointing all committee and subcommittee members.[17]
Current leadership
| Current Leadership, Alabama House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Representative | Party |
| Speaker of the House | Mike Hubbard |  Republican
|
| State House Majority Leader | Micky Hammon | Republican
|
| State House Minority Leader | Craig Ford |  Democratic
|
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2013, members of the Alabama legislature are paid $10/day plus $4,308/month plus $50/day for three days during each week that the legislature actually meets during any session.[18]
Pension
Alabama does not provide pensions for legislators.[19]
When sworn in
Alabama's state representatives assume office on midnight of the day that they are elected.
Current members
Standing committees
- Agriculture and Forestry Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Baldwin County Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Children and Senior Advocacy Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Commerce and Small Business Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- County and Municipal Government Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Economic Development and Tourism Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Education Policy Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Financial Services Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Health Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Insurance Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Internal Affairs Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Jefferson County Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Judiciary Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Lee County Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Local Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Madison County Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Mobile County Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Montgomery County Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Rules Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Shelby County Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- State Government Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Technology and Research Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Tuscaloosa County Legislation Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Ways and Means Education Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
- Ways and Means General Fund Committee, Alabama House of Representatives
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Alabama State House of Representatives for 19 years while the Republicans were the majority for three years. The Alabama State House is one of 18 state Houses that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. Since Alabamans have elected Republican governors since November 2002, the state as of the November 2010 and 2012 elections has had a Republican trifecta.
Across the country, there were 579 Democratic and 482 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992-2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states have divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Alabama, the Alabama State Senate and the Alabama House of Representatives from 1992-2013.
.PNG)
External links
- Official website of the Alabama House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Alabama House of Representatives
- Alabama House of Representatives on Wikipedia
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Alabama Legislature web page
- ↑ Senate Rule 36
- ↑ AL.com, "Alabama Legislature 2013: 10 hot issues to watch in the upcoming session," February 2, 2013
- ↑ WAAY, "Alabama Legislature passes redistricting plans," May 24, 2012
- ↑ South Carolina Policy Council "50 State Legislative Session Interactive Map," February 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money "Alabama House of Representatives 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Alabama 2006 Candidates," Accessed April 9, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Alabama 2002 Candidates," Accessed April 9, 2013
- ↑ Alabama State House
- ↑ Alabama Legislature "Code of Alabama"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Alabama Legislature "Code of Alabama"
- ↑ News Courier "Census: Alabama won't gain, lose House seats," December 21, 2010
- ↑ Geo Community "Alabama moves its redistricting process to the web," January 20, 2011
- ↑ WAAY, "Alabama Legislature passes redistricting plans," May 24, 2012
- ↑ Alabama House Leaders
- ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ USA Today, "State-by-state: Benefits available to state legislators," September 23, 2011
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State of Alabama Montgomery (capital) |
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