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Colorado General Assembly

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Colorado General Assembly

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General Information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   8 years in the Senate, 4 terms (8 years) in the House
2013 session start:   January 9, 2013
Website:   Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Brandon Shaffer (D)
House Speaker:  Frank McNulty (R)
Majority Leader:   John Morse (D) (Senate),
Amy Stephens (R) (House)
Minority leader:   Bill Cadman (R) (Senate),
Mark Ferrandino (D) (House)
Structure
Members:  35 (Senate), 65 (House)
Length of term:   4 years (Senate), 2 years (House)
Authority:   Art V, Colorado Constitution
Salary:   $30,000/year + per diem
Last Election:  November 6, 2012
18 seats (Senate)
65 seats (House)
Next election:  November 4, 2014
Redistricting:  Colorado Reapportionment Commission has control

Contents

The Colorado State Legislature is known as the Colorado General Assembly. It is a bicameral legislature, composed of the Colorado House of Representatives and the Colorado State Senate.

General legislative elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year. The entire House is elected in each general election. Senators are elected in two classes such that, as nearly as possible, one-half of the senators are elected in each general election.

As of May 2013, Colorado is one of 12 Democratic state government trifectas.

Sessions

Article V of the Colorado Constitution establishes when the General Assembly is to be in session. Section 7 of Article V states that the Assembly is to convene its regular session no later than the second Wednesday of January of each year. Regular sessions are not to exceed one hundred twenty calendar days.

Section 7 also states that the Governor of Colorado can convene special sessions of the General Assembly. Special sessions can also be convened by a two-thirds vote of the members of both legislative houses.

2013

See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions

In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from January 9 through May 8.

Major issues

With Democrats gaining control of both legislative chambers and the governorship, major issues might be addressed at a fast pace. Democrats are expected to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples and lower the tuition rate for illegal immigrants who graduate from state high schools. Lawmakers will also address gun control, marijuana, education funding, and health care.[1]

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the General Assembly was in session from January 11 to May 9. A special session began May 14.[2]

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the General Assembly was in session from January 12 through May 11.

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the General Assembly was in session from January 13th to May 12th.

Role in the State Budget

Main article: Colorado state budget

By November 1st of every year, the General Assembly of Colorado receives an annual budget proposal from the Governor. The annual budget proposal is for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1st. The General Assembly then revises this budget over the course of the next couple of months. In May, the General Assembly votes on a budget.[3]

The General Assembly of Colorado has struggled to pass balanced budgets amidst one bad economic forecast after another. The Colorado Generally Assembly had just ended its session on May 6, 2009 having addressed a $1.454 billion, two-year shortfall[4] when a subsequent economic forecast on June 22, 2009 showed a new state deficit well over $300 million.[5] Bill Ritter announced on August 18, 2009 his plan to close the latest $320 million budget gap for the current FY 2010 (July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010).[6]

Legislators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2013, members of the Colorado legislature are paid $30,000 per year. They are also given per diem of $183 for members who live more than 50 miles from capitol and $45 for members who live 50 or fewer miles from capitol.[7]

When sworn in

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

Colorado legislators assume office on the first day of the first legislative session following the election (example January 12 of next year for the upcoming elections.)

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Colorado

Although the state legislature is responsible for drawing Congressional districts, the Colorado Reapportionment Commission is responsible for drawing state legislative districts. The Commission is comprised of four members appointed by the General Assembly, three appointed by the governor, and four appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice.[8]

2010

Colorado's population increased from 4.30 million to 5.03 million between 2000 and 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.[9] Much of the state's 16.9 percent growth occurred in the I-25 corridor, on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Roughly half of the state's population increase was a result of Hispanic population growth. The Colorado Springs area and the southern Denver suburbs experienced the highest rates of population increase. Despite the fast rate of growth, Colorado did not gain another Congressional seat as a result of the new U.S. Census numbers.[10]

The Colorado Reapportionment Commission, which review plans drafted by both Republicans and Democrats, selected a Democratic plan for the new state legislative districts. Both parties filed lawsuits, and the Colorado Supreme Court rejected the plan. Subsequently, the Commission submitted a new reapportionment plan, also drawn by Democrats. This plan received the Supreme Court's approval.[11][12]

Senate

The Colorado Senate is the upper house of the Colorado General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Colorado. It is composed of 35 members elected from single-member districts. Each member represents an average of 143,691 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[13] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 122,893.[14] Senators are elected to 4-year terms, and are limited to 2 consecutive terms in office.

Party As of May 2013
     Democratic Party 20
     Republican Party 15
Total 35


House of Representatives

The Colorado House of Representatives is the lower house of the Colorado General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Colorado. The House is composed of 65 members. Each member represents an average of 77,372 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[15] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 66,173.[16] Representatives are elected to 2-year terms, and are limited to 4 consecutive terms in office.

Party As of May 2013
     Democratic Party 37
     Republican Party 28
Total 65


Joint standing committees

The Colorado General Assembly has six joint standing committees.

External links

References

  1. ↑ Daily Camera, "Controversial issues will keep Colorado legislature busy for 2013 session," January 6, 2013
  2. ↑ Pueblo Chieftain, "Civil Union supporters rally prior to special session," May 14, 2012
  3. ↑ National Association of State Budget Offices, 2008 Budget Processes in the States, Pages 4-5
  4. ↑ The Capstone Group, “2009 Session Summary,” May 6, 2009
  5. ↑ University of Denver, Center for Colorado’s Economic Future, “Colorado’s State Budget Tsunami,” July 2009
  6. ↑ Gov. Ritter’s Office, “Press Release: $320 M Budget-Balancing Plan,” August 18, 2009
  7. ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
  8. ↑ Clear the Bench Colorado, "Redistricting versus Reapportionment - the confusion continues", April 20, 2011
  9. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Colorado Profile," 2011
  10. ↑ National Journal, "Census Quick Cuts: Colorado, Washington, Oregon," February 24, 2011
  11. ↑ The Huffington Post, "Colorado Redistricting: Supreme Court Rejects New House, Senate District Maps (UPDATE)," November 29, 2011
  12. ↑ The Denver Post, "Colorado Supreme Court sides with Democrats, picks their maps for new legislative districts," December 12, 2011
  13. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  14. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  15. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  16. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
v • d • e
Democratic majority Current members of the Colorado House of Representatives
Majority Speaker: Mark Ferrandino (D) • Majority Leader: Dickey Hullinghorst (D) • Minority Leader: Mark Waller (R)
   
Democratic (37) • Republican (28) • Colorado State Senate • Colorado House of Representatives
v • d • e
Democrat majority Current members of the Colorado State Senate
Senate President: Brandon Shaffer (D) • Majority Leader: John Morse (D) • Minority Leader: Bill Cadman (R)
Democratic (20) • Republican (15) • Colorado State Senate • Colorado House of Representatives
v • d • e
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