Maine State Legislature

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The Maine State Legislature is the state legislature of Maine. It is a bicameral body composed of the lower Maine House of Representatives and the upper Maine Senate. The Legislature convenes at the State House in Augusta, where it has met since 1832.

Qualifications

In order to be a member of the Legislature, one must be no less than twenty-one years old, have been for five years a citizen of the United States, have been a resident of Maine for one year, and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which elected, continue to be, a resident in the district represented.

Elections

Legislative elections are held in November of every even-numbered year, during the state's general election. The terms for both houses are two years. Since 1996, members of both the House and Senate are limited to four two-year terms; this is a consecutive, rather than lifetime, limit.

Powers

As the legislative branch of the Maine state government, the Legislature has the power to make laws, subject to a veto by the Governor. The Legislature, however, by a vote of two-thirds in each house, may override the veto. The Legislature also has the power to propose constitutional amendments to the Maine Constitution by a vote of two-thirds in each house; the proposal must be approved by a majority of voters in a statewide election in order to be passed.

Senate

The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature. The Senate includes a varying number of members, which may under the Maine Constitution be thirty-one, thirty-three, or thirty-five; the present number is thirty-five.

Unlike a fair share of U.S. states, the Senate's leadership does not stem from the Lieutenant Governor, as Maine has constitutionally abolished the office. The leadership instead falls in the hands of the Senate President.The Maine Senate is one of the few bodies of its kind in the United States where all the major chamber positions are held by women.

The make-up of the Maine Senate for the 124th Legislature, 2008-2010, is 20 Democrats, 15 Republicans.

House of Representatives

The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members (excluding two non-voting Native American representatives; see below) representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state. The make-up of the 124th Legislature (2009-2011) is 96 Democrats, 53 Republicans, and 2 Independents.

Non-voting Members

The two non-voting members within the House represent the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The special Representatives can sponsor legislation relating to Natives and Native land claims, as well as co-sponsor any other legislation brought before the House, but are not allowed to submit an actual legislative vote. The Penobscot and Passamaquoddy representatives are also entitled to sit as non-voting members of joint standing committees during hearings and deliberations.

Independents and Other Parties

Due to the independent political tradition in the state, the Maine House of Representatives has been an entry ground for several of the state's prominent Independent politicians. From 2002 to 2006, the House of Representatives was the legislative home of John Eder, District 118 (Portland), of the Maine Green Independent Party, then the highest elected Green politician in U.S. politics. In the 2006 elections, Eder lost his seat to a Democratic challenger.

State capitol building

Charles Bulfinch, a Boston architect, designed the State Capitol building in Augusta. It was completed in 1832 with funds provided by Augusta citizens and on land (Weston Hill) purchased and given to the state by Augusta citizens.

An early 20th century update to the Capitol included the addition of the statue of a woman representing Wisdom as part of the new cupola.

Prior to 1832, the state legislature met in Portland and other locations.

Joint Legislative Committees

• Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Business, Research and Economic Development Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Health and Human Services Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Insurance and Financial Services Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Judiciary Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Labor Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Marine Resources Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Natural Resources Committee, Maine State Legislature
• State and Local Government Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Taxation Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Transportation Committee, Maine State Legislature
• Utilities and Energy Committee, Maine State Legislature

External links

• Maine Legislature

v • d • e Current members of the Maine Senate Senate Majority Leader: Philip Bartlett • Senate Minority Leader: Kevin Raye     Peter Bowman (D) Richard Nass (R) Jonathan Courtney (R) Nancy Sullivan (D) Barry Hobbins (D) Philip Bartlett (D) Lawrence Bliss (D) Justin Alfond (D) Joseph Brannigan (D) Stan Gerzofsky (D) Gerald Davis (R) Bill Diamond (D) David Hastings (R) Bruce Bryant (D) Deborah Simpson (D) Margaret Craven (D) John Nutting (D) Walter Gooley (R) Seth Goodall (D) David Trahan (R) Earle McCormick (R) Christopher Rector (R) Carol Weston (R) Elizabeth Mitchell (D) Lisa Marrache (D) Peter Mills (R) Douglas Smith (R) Dennis Damon (D) Kevin Raye (R) Elizabeth Schneider (D) Richard Rosen (R) Joseph Perry (D) Debra Plowman (R) Roger Sherman (R) Troy Dale Jackson (D) Democratic (20) • Republican (15) • Maine Senate • Maine House of Representatives

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