Arizona House of Representatives

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Arizona House of Representatives

Arizonastateseal.jpg
General Information
Type:   Lower house
Term limits:   4 terms (8 years)
2013 session start:   January 14, 2013
Website:   Official House Page
Leadership
House Speaker:  Andy Tobin, (R)
Majority Leader:   David Gowan, (R)
Minority leader:   Chad Campbell, (D)
Structure
Members:  60
   Democratic Party (24)
Republican Party (36)
Length of term:   2 years
Authority:   Art 4, Arizona Constitution
Salary:   $24,000/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 6, 2012 (60 seats)
Next election:  November 4, 2014 (60 seats)
Redistricting:  Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission

Contents

The Arizona House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arizona State Legislature. There are 60 state representatives. Each member represents an average of 106,534 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 85,511 residents.[2] Members are elected to two-year terms and are subject to term limits limiting them to four consecutive terms.

As of June 2013, Arizona is one of 24 Republican state government trifectas.

Sessions

Article IV of the Arizona Constitution establishes when the Arizona State Legislature, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to be in session. Section 3 of the Second Part of the Article contains the relevant provisions. It states that sessions are to convene on the second Monday of January of each year.

Section 3 also allows the Governor of Arizona to call special sessions of the Legislature.

2013

See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions

In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from January 14 through April 19 (estimated).

Major issues

Losing super-majorities in the House and Senate, Republicans no longer wield the same level of power and compromises may be more likely. Gov. Jan Brewer (R) said her legislative priorities include education standards and simplifying the state's transaction privilege tax.[3]

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Legislature was in regular session from January 10 through May 3.[4]

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the House was in regular session from January 10 through April 20. [5] Three special sessions were called in Arizona for 2011. The first special session was convened on January 19, addressing requests for a federal Medicaid exemption. A second special session was called by Governor Jan Brewer on February 14, 2011. The special session will run in tandem with the regular session, and was convened to consider business tax cuts as part of an economic development package proposed to add jobs by encouraging businesses to expand and relocate in Arizona. [6] The third special session was convened on June 10 to extend unemployment benefits. The session lasted two days, and ended on June 13 without a vote on Governor Brewer's proposal. Brewer refuses to call another special session until lawmakers support the unemployment extension. [7]

Session highlights

In the 2011 session, Arizona fixed its $1.5 billion shortfall by eliminating $1.1 billion in spending. There were no new taxes instated to help with the reductions, only tax cuts. The legislature sliced the corporate income tax rate from 6.9 percent to 4.9 percent. [8]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the House was in regular session from January 11th to April 29th. The Legislature was also convened in special session since February 1st.

Transparency

See also: Open States' Legislative Data Report Card

The Sunlight Foundation released an "Open Legislative Data Report Card" in March 2013. Arizona was given a grade of C in the report. The report card evaluated how adequate, complete and accessible legislative data is to the general public. A total of 10 states received an A -- Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.[9]

Elections

2012

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Arizona House of Representatives were held in Arizona on November 6, 2012. All 60 seats were up for election.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was May 30, 2012. The primary election day was August 28, 2012.

Arizona state representatives are subject to term limits, and may serve no more than four two-year terms. In 2012, there were 5 state representatives who were termed-out of office.

This chamber was mentioned in a November 2012 Pew Center on the States article that addressed supermajorities at stake in the 2012 election. Supermajority generally means a party controls two-thirds of all seats. While it varies from state to state, being in this position gives a party much greater power. Going into the election, Republicans in the Arizona House held a supermajority, which Democrats looked to cut into.[10]

In the general election on November 6, 2012 Democrats were able to pick up seven seats, reducing the Republican majority from the supermajority it had prior the election of 40-19 to a majority of 34-26 after the election.[11]

2010

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Arizona State House were held in Arizona on November 2, 2010. Elections were held in all 60 districts in 2010.

The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was May 26, 2010, and the primary election day was August 24, 2010.

Contributions in the 2010 elections for House candidates totaled $5,311,375 for the 166 candidates. The top ten contributors were: [12]

2008

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2008

Elections for the office of Arizona House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 2, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008.

During the 2008 election, the total contributions to House candidates was $5,531,238. The top 10 contributors were:[13]

2006

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2006

Elections for the office of Arizona House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 12, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006.

During the 2006 election, the total contributions to House candidates was $4,354,506. The top 10 contributors were:[14]

2004

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2004

Elections for the office of Arizona House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 7, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004.

During the 2004 election, the total contributions to House candidates was $3,816,633. The top 10 contributors were:[15]

2002

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2002

Elections for the office of Arizona House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 10, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002.

During the 2002 election, the total contributions to House candidates was $4,079,565. The top 10 contributors were:[16]

2000

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2000

Elections for the office of Arizona House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 12, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000.

During the 2000 election, the total contributions to House candidates was $3,918,039. The top 10 contributors were:[17]

Qualifications

Article 4, Part 2, Section 2 of the Arizona Constitution states: No person shall be a member of the Legislature unless he shall be a citizen of the United States at the time of his election, nor unless he shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and shall have been a resident of Arizona at least three years and of the county from which he is elected at least one year before his election.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
NevadaMassachusettsColoradoNew MexicoWyomingArizonaMontanaCaliforniaOregonWashingtonIdahoTexasOklahomaKansasNebraskaSouth DakotaNorth DakotaMinnesotaIowaMissouriArkansasLouisianaMississippiAlabamaGeorgiaFloridaSouth CarolinaIllinoisWisconsinTennesseeNorth CarolinaIndianaOhioKentuckyPennsylvaniaNew JerseyNew YorkVermontVermontNew HampshireMaineWest VirginiaVirginiaMarylandMarylandConnecticutConnecticutDelawareDelawareRhode IslandRhode IslandMassachusettsNew HampshireMichiganMichiganAlaskaVacancy fulfillment map.png

If there is a vacancy in the House, the political party committee or the Board of County Supervisors must select a replacement. The political party committee is responsible for appointing a replacement only if the legislative district has thirty or more elected precinct committeemen[18].

The Secretary of State is required to contact the state party chairperson to give notice of the vacancy. The state chairperson must give notice of an election to fill the seat within three days of receiving notice[18].

Before an election takes place, the state chairperson must submit a list of three recommended candidates to fill the seat. The election involves all the precinct committeemen who represent the vacant seat. If the House is out of session, the election must be held within twenty-one days after the vacancy happened. If the House is in session, the election must be held within five days after the vacancy happened[18].

The Board of County Supervisors fills vacancies in legislative districts that have less than thirty elected precinct committeemen. Also, the Board of Supervisors must select a replacement if the party committee fails to select a replacement within the specified periods. This is only for districts with thirty or more elected committeemen.

The county of residence from where the person last held the seat is responsible for making the selection. The county that is responsible for filling the vacancy must form a citizens panel. The citizens panel is charged with recommending to the Board of Supervisors three candidates to fill the vacant seat. The panel must recommend persons from the political party that last held the vacant seat. The full county board must select a replacement within five days of receiving the list of recommended candidates[19].

The person selected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term[19].

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Arizona

Since the passing of Proposition 106 in 2000, redistricting has been handled by the five-member Independent Redistricting Commission, consisting of two Republicans, two Democrats, and one independent.

2010 census

Arizona received its census data on March 9, 2011.[20] Although the state grew by almost 25 percent -- second in the nation to Nevada's 35 percent -- some population areas did not meet growth expectations.[21]

Overall, the population figures showed large growth in Arizona's Hispanic population. The white population fell from 65.1 percent to 59.4 percent, while the Hispanic population grew from 25 percent to 30 percent.[22] Across the state, the suburbs grew faster than major cities.[23]

On December 20, 2011, the Commission approved new maps along party lines; all of this came after Republicans suggested that the commission be abolished, and its chairwoman was effectively removed by Governor Jan Brewer and subsequently reinstated by the Arizona Supreme Court.

Representatives

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state houses
Party As of June 2013
     Democratic Party 24
     Republican Party 36
Total 60


The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Arizona State House of Representatives from 1992-2013.
Partisan composition of the Arizona State House.PNG

Leadership

The House elects a Speaker who serves as presiding officer of the body. Duties of the Speaker include preserving order and decorum, deciding point of order, appointing a Speaker Pro Tempore, and may vote in all cases except to determine the Speakers own rulings.[24][25]

Current leadership

Current Leadership, Arizona House of Representatives
Office Representative Party
State Speaker of the House Andy Tobin Ends.png Republican
State House Speaker Pro Tempore J.D. Mesnard Ends.png Republican
State House Majority Leader David Gowan Ends.png Republican
State House Majority Whip Rick Gray Ends.png Republican
State House Minority Leader Chad Campbell Electiondot.png Democratic
State House Assistant Minority Leader Ruben Gallego Electiondot.png Democratic
State House Minority Whip Bruce Wheeler Electiondot.png Democratic
April 29, 2011

On April 28, 2011, Kirk Adams resigned from the House. He was replaced as speaker by Andy Tobin. Steve Court then replaced Tobin as Majority Leader.[26]

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

Arizona state senators are paid $24,000/year. They are also paid a per diem of $35/day for the first 120 days of regular session and for special sessions and $10/day thereafter. Senators who live outside of Maricopa County are given an additional $25/day for the 1st 120 days of regular session and for special sessions and an additional $10/day thereafter.[27]

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Arizona legislators assume office on the first day of the session after they are elected. Each regular session begins on the second Monday in January.

Current members

Current members, Arizona House of Representatives
District Representative Party Assumed office
1 Karen Fann Ends.png Republican 2011
1 Andy Tobin Ends.png Republican 2007
2 Andrea Dalessandro Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
2 Rosanna Gabaldon Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
3 Sally Ann Gonzales Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
3 Macario Saldate Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
4 Juan Carlos Escamilla Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
4 Lisa Otondo Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
5 Sonny Borrelli Ends.png Republican 2013
5 Doris Goodale Ends.png Republican 2013
6 Brenda Barton Ends.png Republican 2013
6 Bob Thorpe Ends.png Republican 2013
7 Albert Hale Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
7 Jamescita Peshlakai Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
8 Frank Pratt Ends.png Republican 2013
8 Thomas Shope, Jr. Ends.png Republican 2013
9 Ethan Orr Ends.png Republican 2013
9 Victoria Steele Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
10 Stefanie Mach Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
10 Bruce Wheeler Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
11 Adam Kwasman Ends.png Republican 2013
11 Steve Smith Ends.png Republican 2013
12 Eddie Farnsworth Ends.png Republican 2013
12 Warren Petersen Ends.png Republican 2013
13 Darin Mitchell Ends.png Republican 2013
13 Steve Montenegro Ends.png Republican 2013
14 David Gowan Ends.png Republican 2013
14 David Stevens Ends.png Republican 2013
15 John Allen Ends.png Republican 2013
15 Heather Carter Ends.png Republican 2013
16 Doug Coleman Ends.png Republican 2013
16 Kelly Townsend Ends.png Republican 2013
17 Tom Forese Ends.png Republican 2013
17 J.D. Mesnard Ends.png Republican 2013
18 Jeff Dial Ends.png Republican 2013
18 Bob Robson Ends.png Republican 2013
19 Mark Cardenas Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
19 Lupe Contreras Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
20 Paul Boyer Ends.png Republican 2013
20 Carl Seel Ends.png Republican 2013
21 Rick Gray Ends.png Republican 2013
21 Debbie Lesko Ends.png Republican 2013
22 David Livingston Ends.png Republican 2013
22 Phil Lovas Ends.png Republican 2013
23 John Kavanagh Ends.png Republican 2003
23 Michelle Ugenti Ends.png Republican 2013
24 Lela Alston Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
24 Chad Campbell Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
25 Justin Olson Ends.png Republican 2013
25 Justin Pierce Ends.png Republican 2013
26 Juan Mendez Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
26 Andrew Sherwood Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
27 Ruben Gallego Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
27 Catherine H. Miranda Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
28 Eric Meyer Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
28 Kate Brophy McGee Ends.png Republican 2013
29 Lydia Hernandez Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
29 Martin Quezada Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
30 Jonathan Larkin Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
30 Debbie McCune-Davis Electiondot.png Democratic 2013

Standing committees

The Arizona House of Representatives has 18 standing committees.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Arizona
Partisan breakdown of the Arizona legislature from 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, the Republican Party was the majority in the Arizona State House of Representatives. The Arizona State House is one of nine state Houses that was Republican for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. During the final five years of the study, Arizona was under Republican trifectas.

Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 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 Arizona, the Arizona State Senate and the Arizona House of Representatives from 1992-2013. Partisan composition of Arizona state government(1992-2013).PNG

External links

Wikipedia-logo-en.png

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ Cronkite News, "Brewer, top legislators: Education, businesses priorities for session," January 11, 2013
  4. ↑ StateScape, Session schedules, accessed April 30, 2012
  5. ↑ Timesunion.com, Ariz. Legislature ends session after all-nighter, 20 April 2011
  6. ↑ KTAR.com, Arizona governor calls special session on economy, 14 Feb. 2011
  7. ↑ Bloomberg Businessweek, Ariz. Gov won't seek session without bill backing, June 15, 2011
  8. ↑ Stateline.org, States balance budgets with cuts, not taxes, June 15, 2011
  9. ↑ Sunlight Foundation Ten Principles for Opening Up Government Information, accessed June 16, 2013
  10. ↑ Stateline, "In Legislative Elections, Majorities and Supermajorities at Stake," November 2, 2012
  11. ↑ Modern Times Magazine "Why Are Arizona Democrats Smiling?" Accessed November 14, 2012
  12. ↑ Follow the Money: "Arizona 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  13. ↑ Follow the Money, "Arizona 2008 Candidates," Accessed April 10, 2013
  14. ↑ Follow the Money, "Arizona 2006 Candidates," Accessed April 10, 2013
  15. ↑ Follow the Money, "Arizona 2004 Candidates," Accessed April 10, 2013
  16. ↑ Follow the Money, "Arizona 2002 Candidates," Accessed April 10, 2013
  17. ↑ Follow the Money, "Arizona 2000 Candidates," Accessed April 10, 2013
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Arizona Legislature "Arizona Revised Statutes"(Referenced Statute 41.1202 (A), Arizona Revised Statutes)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Arizona Legislature "Arizona Revised Statutes"(Referenced Statute 41.1202 (B), Arizona Revised Statutes)
  20. ↑ The Republic "First details on Arizona race and population location from 2010 census coming Thursday," March 9, 2011
  21. ↑ USA Today "Arizona grows but at slower rate," March 13, 2011
  22. ↑ Fox News Latino "Arizona's Latino Population Up a Whopping 46%, Says Census," March 10, 2011
  23. ↑ Yuma Sun Arizonans moving to the 'burbs," March 10, 2011
  24. ↑ Arizona House Rules - Rule 4: The Speaker
  25. ↑ Arizona House Leadership
  26. ↑ Arizona Capitol Times "Adams resigns from Legislature to run for Congress, Tobin steps up to House speaker," April 28, 2011
  27. ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
v • d • e
Republican majority Current members of the Arizona House of Representatives
House Speaker: Andy Tobin (R) • House Majority Leader: David Gowan (R) • House Minority Leader: Chad Campbell (D)
   
Democratic (24) • Republican (36) • Arizona State Senate • Arizona House of Representatives
v • d • e
State legislatures
Legislatures
Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S)
SLP badge.jpg
2013
Historical elections
2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2007
Features of
state legislatures
State senates
State houses
Leadership positions
Retrieved from "http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Arizona_House_of_Representatives&oldid=1825683"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Encyclopedia
Calendar
Get Involved
Donate
Toolbox