Massachusetts House of Representatives
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2013 session start: | January 4, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Robert DeLeo, (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Ronald Mariano, (D) |
| Minority leader: | Bradley Jones, Jr., (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 160 |
| Democratic Party (127) Republican Party (30) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Chapter 1, Massachusetts Constitution |
| Salary: | $58,237.15/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (160 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (160 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Massachusetts legislature has control |
Contents |
Sessions
The Massachusetts Constitution contains provisions regarding when the Massachusetts General Court, which the House is a part of, is to meet. This subject has been the focus of several amendments to the Constitution. Originally, Chapter 1 of the Massachusetts Constitution called for the General Court to convene on the last Wednesday of May. Then, Amending Article X called for legislative sessions to convene yearly on the first Wednesday of January. Later, Amending Article LXXII called for the General Court to meet once every two years, but Amending Article LXXV repealed that amendment. Therefore, the rules that currently govern when the General Court is to meet are in Amending Article X.
Article X calls for the General Court to convene its regular session on the first Wednesday of January. The session does not dissolve until a new regular session convenes in the next year. Article X specifies that it does not prevent the General Court from meeting at any time that it judges necessary.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House will be in session starting January 4. Formal sessions can occur until July 31, but informal sessions may take place throughout the year.
Major issues
Leading the agenda is a crackdown on abuses at special education collaboratives in the state. Other issues include controlling health costs and a sentencing bill that would bar parole for prisoners convicted of more than two violent crimes.[3]
2011
In 2011, the House will be in session from January 5 through a date not yet decided by the Legislature. [4]
2010
In 2010, the House convened its session on January 6th, and it remained in session throughout the 2010. [5]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Massachusetts House of Representatives will be held in Massachusetts on November 6, 2012. All 160 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections is May 29, 2012. The primary election day will be September 18, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Massachusetts House of Representatives were held in Massachusetts on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was May 4, 2010 for partisan and was August 3 for Independents. The primary election day was on September 14, 2010.
In 2010, the candidates running for state house raised a total of $13,713,787 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [6]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Democratic Party | $181,529 |
| Retired Public Employees | $65,150 |
| Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts | $50,700 |
| Adams, Paul | $50,350 |
| 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East | $44,500 |
| Cutler, Josh S | $43,976 |
| Massachusetts Federation of Teachers | $43,400 |
| Massachusetts Association of Realtors | $37,600 |
| Schmid, Paul | $36,543 |
| Hanlon, John F | $34,258 |
Qualifications
Article LXXI of the Massachusetts Constitution states: Every representative, for one year at least immediately preceding his election, shall have been an inhabitant of the district for which he is chosen and shall cease to represent such district when he shall cease to be an inhabitant of the commonwealth.
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the House, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The election must be held on the next regularly scheduled date on the election calendar[7]. Local governments who conduct special elections receive reimbursement from the State Treasurer's office for all costs incurred[8].
Representatives
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of June 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 127 | |
| Republican Party | 30 | |
| Vacancy | 3 | |
| Total | 160 | |
Leadership
The House elects its Speaker, who then appoints majority floor leaders. The minority party elects its leaders in a party caucus.[9][10]
Current leadership
2010 Leadership
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2011, members of the Massachusetts General Court are paid $61,132.99/year. Legislators receive between $10/day to $100/day per diem, depending on distance from the state house. Compensation is vouchered and set by the legislature.[11]
The $61,132.99/year that Massachusetts legislators are paid as of 2011 is an increase from 2010 salary of $58,237.15/year, which was the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem is also the same as it was in 2007.[12][13]
When sworn in
Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.
Current members
Standing committees
The Massachusetts House has the following nine standing committees:
- Bills in the Third Reading
- Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
- Ethics
- Global Warming and Climate Change
- Personnel and Administration
- Post Audit and Oversight
- Rules
- Steering, Policy and Schedule
- Ways and Means
Decommissioned committee
External links
- Official Website of the Massachusetts State Legislature
- Official list of the current members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart on the Massachusetts House of Representatives
- Massachusetts House of Representatives on Wikipedia
- Project Vote Smart list of candidates for Massachusetts House of Representatives in the November 2, 2010 election
- Boston Globe 2010 election results, House of Representatives
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Washington Examiner, "Mass. lawmakers to weigh bill on special ed groups," January 4, 2012
- ↑ General Court Events
- ↑ 2010 session dates for the Massachusetts legislature
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Massachusetts House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court "Massachusetts Election Law"(Referenced Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court "Massachusetts Election Law"(Referenced Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Massachusetts Facts - Part One:Concise Facts, " retrieved July 2, 2010
- ↑ Leadership of the 186th General Court
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
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