North Carolina House of Representatives
| North Carolina House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2013 session start: | January 9, 2013 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Thom Tillis, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Edgar V. Starnes, (R) |
| Minority leader: | Larry Hall, (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 120 |
| Democratic Party (43) Republican Party (78) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art II, North Carolina Constitution |
| Salary: | $13,951/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 6, 2012 (120 seats) |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 (120 seats) |
| Redistricting: | North Carolina Legislature has control |
Contents |
As of May 2013, North Carolina is one of 24 Republican state government trifectas.
Membership
The House of Representatives consists of 120 members who serve a term of two years. Each member represents an average of 79,462 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 67,078 residents.[2] The presiding officer of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House. The Speaker is elected by the members from their membership for a two-year term. The Speaker’s duties include maintaining order in the House and appointing members to the House standing committees. [3]
Sessions
Section 11 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution establishes that the North Carolina General Assembly, which the House is a part of, is to convene a new regular session every two years, and that the dates for these sessions are to be set by law. Sessions in the General Assembly of North Carolina last two years and begin on odd numbered years after elections. Sessions begin at noon on the third Wednesday after the second Monday in January.[4]
2013
- See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions
In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from January 9 through July 1 (estimated).
Major issues
With the GOP assuming a trifecta for the first time since 1898, leaders are looking to focus on tax reform, cutting government regulations and reshaping the state's public schools.[5]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House convened on May 16 and adjourned July 3.
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the House was in regular session from January 26 through mid June. [6] A special session dealing with redistricting began July 13 and ended July 28. The redistricting session covered more than just redistricting, with Republicans overriding five of Governor Perdue's vetoes. Some of the overturned vetoes include the Women's Right to Know Act and state regulatory overhaul. Democratic lawmakers achieved victory in sustaining the veto on the voter I.D. bill. [7]
A second special session was called for September 12 to consider constitutional amendments, including a potential ban on same-sex marriage.[7]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House was in session from May 12 to July 11. [8]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of North Carolina House of Representatives were held in North Carolina on November 6, 2012. All 120 seats were up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was February 29, 2012. The primary election day was May 8, 2012.
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 North Carolina House have a solid majority and are seeking a supermajority.[9]
The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.
| 2012 Margin of Victory, North Carolina House of Representatives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Winner | Margin of Victory | Total Votes | Top Opponent |
| District 6 |  Paul Tine |
1.1% | 41,054 | Mattie Lawson |
| District 35 |  Chris Malone |
1.6% | 40,213 | Lori B. Millberg |
| District 118 | Michele D. Presnell |
2.6% | 36,537 | Ray Rapp |
| District 92 | Charles Jeter |
2.8% | 36,663 | Robin Bradford |
| District 9 | Brian Brown |
3% | 38,424 | Marian McLawhorn |
| District 93 | Jonathan Jordan |
3% | 38,823 | Cullie Tarleton |
| District 119 | Joe Sam Queen |
3.5% | 32,241 | Mike Clampitt |
| District 41 | Thomas Murry |
3.6% | 41,789 | Jim Messina |
| District 51 | Michael Stone |
4.1% | 30,297 | W. P. Tatum |
| District 49 | Jim Fulghum |
7.9% | 52,434 | Keith Karlsson |
2010
Elections for the office of North Carolina's House of Representatives were held in North Carolina on November 2, 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was February 26, 2010. The primary election day was May 4, 2010. The second primary election was held on June 22, 2010.
In 2010, the candidates for state house raised a total of $17,390,203 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [10]
| 2010 Donors, North Carolina House of Representatives | |
|---|---|
| Donor | Amount |
| North Carolina Democratic Party | $1,578,709 |
| North Carolina Republican Party | $801,494 |
| North Carolina Democratic House Cmte | $595,163 |
| North Carolina Democratic Party House Caucus | $329,134 |
| North Carolina Medical Society | $179,000 |
| North Carolina Association of Realtors | $173,000 |
| North Carolina Advocates for Justice | $168,500 |
| Progress Energy | $167,000 |
| North Carolina Hospital Association | $153,750 |
| Bank of America | $152,100 |
Qualifications
Article 2, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution states: Each Representative, at the time of his election, shall be a qualified voter of the State, and shall have resided in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately preceding his election.
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the House, the Governor is responsible for appointing a replacement[11] [12].
When making an appointment, the Governor must make the decision off a list of recommended candidates submitted by the political party committee that last held the vacant seat[13]. The appointment must be made within seven days of receiving a list of recommended candidates[12]. The person selected to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term[12].
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in North Carolina
Redistricting is the responsibility of the State Legislature. The Governor does not hold veto power. North Carolina is one of 16 states whose maps require approval from the U.S. Department of Justice per the Voting Rights Act.
2010 census
North Carolina received its local census data on March 1, 2011, showing concentration of population and political power in cities, particularly Charlotte and Raleigh. The Republican-controlled redistricting process began proper on July 11, 2011, when Republicans released their proposed maps. Each chamber's final map passed through the General Assembly on July 27, 2011. The DOJ pre-cleared the plan on November 1, 2011, but lawsuits followed, as Democrats and community charged that Republicans had illegally packed black voters to weaken their voting power.
Representatives
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 43 | |
| Republican Party | 77 | |
| Total | 120 | |
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the North Carolina State House of Representatives from 1992-2013.
District Map
- North Carolina General Assembly provides a link to a district map covering all 120 districts.
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2013, members of the North Carolina Legislature are paid $13,951/year. Per diem is $104/day set by statute. Legislators are allowed up to $559/month for expenses.[14]
When sworn in
North Carolina legislators assume office the first day of the new General Assembly in January.
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body and is elected from among its membership.[15][16]
Current leadership
Current members
Standing committees
The North Carolina house has 19 standing committees, and an additional 12 standing subcommittees:
- Agriculture Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Appropriations Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
- Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation
- Banking Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Commerce and Job Development Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Education Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Elections Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Environment Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Ethics Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Finance Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Government Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Health and Human Services Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Insurance Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Judiciary Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Public Utilities and Energy Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Redistricting Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Regulatory Reform Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- State Personnel Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Transportation Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the North Carolina State House of Representatives for 15 years while the Republicans were the majority for seven years. The final three years of the study depicted a shift from Democrat to Republican control in the North Carolina House with the final year being 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 North Carolina, the North Carolina State Senate and the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1992-2013.
.PNG)
External links
- Official website of the North Carolina House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ "North Carolina General Assembly" Introduction General Assembly, February 26, 2009
- ↑ N.C. Gen. Stat. 120-11.1
- ↑ WRAL, "Ceremony marks opening of legislative session," January 9, 2013
- ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Newsobserver.com, NC lawmakers leave town after new maps, overrides, July 28, 2011
- ↑ 2010 session dates for North Carolina legislature
- ↑ Stateline, "In Legislative Elections, Majorities and Supermajorities at Stake," November 2, 2012
- ↑ Follow the Money: "North Carolina House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Constitution"(Referenced Section, Article II, Section 10)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina General Statutes(Referenced Statute 163-11(a), NC General Statutes)
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina General Statutes(Referenced Statute 163-11(b-d), NC General Statutes)
- ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ 2009 North Carolina House of Representative Rules
- ↑ North Carolina House Leadership
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