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Missouri House of Representatives
| Missouri House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | 4 terms (8 years) |
| 2013 session start: | January 9, 2013 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Timothy Jones, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | John Diehl, (R) |
| Minority leader: | Jacob Hummel, (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 163 |
| Democratic Party (53) Republican Party (110) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art III, Missouri Constitution |
| Salary: | $35,915/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 6, 2012 (163 seats) |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 (163 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Missouri House Apportionment Commission and the Missouri Senate Apportionment Commission |
Contents |
Since the passage of Amendment 13 in 1992, members of the House are limited by term limits to a maximum of four two-year terms (eight years).
Sessions
Article III of the Missouri Constitution establishes when the Missouri General Assembly, of which the House is a part is to meet. Section 20 of Article III states that the General Assembly shall convene its regular session on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January of each year. Section 20 requires the General Assembly to adjourn its regular session by May 30th.
Section 20 of Article III also allows for a special session of the General Assembly to be convened by a joint proclamation of three-fourths of the members of both houses.
2013
- See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions
In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from January 9 through May 30.
Major issues
Legislative leaders are looking to focus on the state's business climate - issues include tax credits, capital improvements, an income tax cut, and a major revision to the state's criminal code.[3]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House was in session from January 4 through May 30.
Major issues
The budget was the main focus of the session, as the state faced a $500 million spending gap in January. The agenda at the start of the session also included economic development, Workers Compensation reforms, and overhauling public school funding.[4] Those items joined health care exchanges, birth control, charter schools, and sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine crimes as points of contention and accomplishment over the course of the session.[5]
2011
In 2011, the House was in regular session from January 5 through May 30. [6] Governor Jay Nixon called for a special legislative session for September 6, however, the session was called off when Republicans hesitated on a push to overhaul state tax credits and authorize several new incentive programs, including one for a China freight hub in St. Louis. Assembly members were sent home so that they might read the revised 219-page measure over the weekend. According to Senate President Pro Tem Robert Mayer, the "important" bill "needs the attention of every member of this body."[7]
2010
In 2010, the House was in session from January 6th to May 14th. [8][9]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Missouri House of Representatives were held in Missouri on November 6, 2012. All 163 seats were up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 27, 2012. The primary election day was August 7, 2012.[10]
Missouri state representatives are subject to term limits, and may not serve more than four two-year terms. In 2012, 25 state representatives were termed-out of office.
The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.
| 2012 Margin of Victory, Missouri House of Representatives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Winner | Margin of Victory | Total Votes | Top Opponent |
| District 114 |  T.J. McKenna |
0.5% | 15,460 | Becky Ruth |
| District 150 |  Kent Hampton |
1% | 11,792 | Tom Todd |
| District 20 | John Mayfield |
1.2% | 15,206 | Brent Lasater |
| District 17 | Myron Neth |
1.2% | 17,213 | Mark Ellebracht |
| District 90 | Rick Stream |
1.2% | 22,610 | Deb Lavender |
| District 111 | Michael Frame |
1.4% | 15,888 | Derrick Good |
| District 115 | Elaine Gannon |
1.7% | 13,585 | Rich McCane |
| District 94 | Vicki Englund |
1.9% | 16,823 | Cloria Brown |
| District 44 | Caleb Rowden |
2% | 15,672 | Ken Jacob |
| District 64 | Robert Cornejo |
3.1% | 17,131 | Wayne Henke |
2010
Elections for the office of Missouri House of Representatives were held in Missouri on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 30, 2010 and the primary election day was on August 3, 2010.
In 2010, the candidates for state house raised a total of $11,420,148 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [11]
| 2010 Donors, Missouri House of Representatives | |
|---|---|
| Donor | Amount |
| House Republican Campaign Cmte of Missouri | $170,158 |
| Sinquefield, Rex A | $158,500 |
| Supporters of Health Research & Treatments | $126,725 |
| Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce | $118,475 |
| Missouri Leadership Cmte | $112,000 |
| Missouri Democratic Party | $106,627 |
| Missouri Health & Hospital Association | $98,050 |
| Missouri Freedom | $90,434 |
| Friends of Tilley | $89,780 |
| Missouri Health Care Association | $81,734 |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Missouri House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[12]
- At least 24 years of age
- Qualified Missouri voter for two years before election
- Resident of the district which he is chosen to represent for 1 year before election
- Is not delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence as stated in the declaration of candidacy
- is not a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state.
- Has not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor under the federal laws of the United States of America.
- Has not been convicted of or found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under the laws of Missouri.
- In addition to any other penalties provided by law, no person may file for any office in a subsequent election until he or the treasurer of his existing candidate committee has filed all required campaign disclosure reports for all prior elections.
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
In the event of a vacancy in the House, the Governor must call for a special election without delay[13]. The election mandate is sent to the county that first established the legislative district[14].
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Missouri
Legislative redistricting in Missouri is handled by two bipartisan commissions, one for each chamber, with 10 members in the Senate commission and 18 members in the House commission. The Governor selects these members from lists of nominees submitted by the state committees of the Democratic and Republican parties. Two House commission members must come from each congressional district. This differs from the congressional redistricting method, which involves the Assembly simply passing new maps as routine legislation. If a commission cannot complete the process in six months following appointment, a panel of six appellate judges takes over the process for that particular commission; it cannot interfere with one that has already finished.
2010 census
Missouri received its local census data on February 24, 2011. The state's population increased by seven percent, with most growth coming in the southern half of the state. The five most populous cities showed mixed outcomes: Kansas City grew by 4.1 percent since the 2000 Census. St. Louis decreased by 8.3 percent, Springfield grew by 5.2 percent, Independence grew by 3.1 percent, and Columbia grew by 28.4 percent.[15]
Since 1970, Missouri has had the courts involved in finishing redistricting; despite the commissions' intent, 2011 did not end that streak. Both commissions came to an impasse in mid-August 2011, and the special court panel took over. On November 30, the panel finalized a new plan. The House plan -- which put 34 Republicans and 23 Democrats into incumbent races -- stood for the time being (as a lawsuit was pending), the Missouri Supreme Court rejected the Senate plan. On January 31, 2012, Governor Jay Nixon appointed a new commission for the sake of redrawing the Senate districts. The commission approved a new plan on February 23; the plan -- which weakened Republican districts around St. Louis -- was met with hostility, then a lawsuit. After hearing testimony and tweaking the map, the commission approved the map again on March 12, and the lawsuit was dropped.
Representatives
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2013, members of the Missouri House of Representatives are paid $35,915/year. Per diem is $104/day tied to the federal rate. Roll call is used to verify per diem.[16]
When sworn in
Missouri legislators assume office the first day of the legislative session.
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 53 | |
| Republican Party | 110 | |
| Total | 163 | |
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Missouri State House of Representatives from 1992-2013.
Leadership
The House elects a Speaker of the House and Speaker Pro Tempore. The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. Duties of the speaker include preserving order and decorum, speaking on points of order, and making parliamentary rulings. The Speaker Pro Tempore performs the duties of the Speaker if the Speaker is absent.[17][18]
Current leadership
Current members
Standing committees
Missouri House of Representatives has 42 standing committees:
- Administration and Accounts
- Agri-Business
- Agriculture Policy
- Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Appropriations - Education
- Appropriations - General Administration
- Appropriations - Health, Mental Health and Social Services
- Appropriations - Infrastructure and Job Creation
- Appropriations - Public Safety and Corrections
- Appropriations - Revenue, Transportation and Economic Development
- Budget
- Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities
- Corrections and Public Institutions
- Crime Prevention and Public Safety
- Downsizing State Government
- Economic Development
- Elections
- Elementary and Secondary Education
- Emerging Issues in Agriculture
- Ethics
- Financial Institutions
- Fiscal Review
- General Laws
- Government Oversight and Accountability
- Health Care Policy
- Health Insurance
- Higher Education
- Insurance Policy
- International Trade
- Judiciary
- Local Government
- Professional Registration and Licensing
- Retirement
- Rules
- Small Business
- Tourism and Natural Resources
- Transportation
- Urban Issues
- Utilities
- Veterans
- Ways and Means
- Workforce Development and Workplace Safety
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Missouri State House of Representatives for the first 11 years while the Republicans were the majority for the last 11 years.
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 Missouri, the Missouri State Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives from 1992-2013.
.PNG)
External links
- Official website of the Missouri House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Missouri House of Representatives
- Missouri State House election results
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Business issues at top of Republican legislative leaders' agenda in Missouri," January 5, 2013
- ↑ St. Louis Beacon, "Missouri legislature opens, with last session's issues at top of agenda," January 4, 2012
- ↑ St. Louis Public Radio,"2012 Missouri legislative session ends," May 19, 2012
- ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
- ↑ STLtoday.com, Missouri Senate puts hold on economic development bill, Sept. 9, 2011
- ↑ 2010 session dates for Missouri House
- ↑ 2010 session dates for Missouri Senate
- ↑ Missouri Secretary of State "2012 Elections Calendar"
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Missouri House 2010 Campaign Contributions
- ↑ 2010 Elected Officials Qualifications
- ↑ Missouri General Assembly "Missouri Revised Statutes"(Referenced Statute 21.110)
- ↑ Missouri General Assembly "Missouri Revised Statutes"(Referenced Statute 21.120)
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Missouri's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting, February 24, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ Rules of the Missouri House of Representatives 95th General Assembly
- ↑ Missouri House Leadership
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