Mississippi State Legislature

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The Mississippi State Legislature is the state legislature of the state of Mississippi. The bicameral legislature is comprised of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi State Senate, with 52 members. Both Representatives and Senators serve four-year terms without term limits.

The Legislature convenes at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi.

The rights, responsibilities, privileges and expectations of the state legislature are defined in Article 4 of the Mississippi Constitution.

In 2010, the Legislature was originally scheduled to be in session from January 5th to April 3rd. However, the session was extended to May 3rd. Additionally, a special session was held that convened on April 22nd and adjourned on April 23rd.^[1]

Sessions

In 2010, the Legislature was originally scheduled to be in session from January 5th to April 3rd. However, their regular session was extended to May 3rd. Additionally, a special session was held from April 22nd to April 23rd.

Article IV of the Mississippi Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to meet. Section 36 of Article IV states that the legislature is to convene in regular session on the Tuesday following the first Monday in January of each year. Section 36 limits the length of regular sessions to ninety calendar days, except for once every four years when the regular session can last up to one hundred twenty-five calendar days. The most recent one hundred twenty-five day session was in 2008, and the next session of this kind will be in 2012.

Section 36 also allows the Legislature to extend its sessions for thirty days by a two-thirds vote of both legislative houses. There is no limit on the number of times a session can be extended in this way. In 2010, the Legislature extended its session once, moving the date of adjournment from April 3rd to May 3rd.

Article V of the Mississippi Constitution gives the Governor of Mississippi the power to call the Legislature into extraordinary session. Section 121 of Article V enumerates this power.

Legislators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2010, members of the Mississippi legislature are paid $10,000/year. Per diem is $116/day tied to the federal rate.^[2]

The $10,000/year that Mississippi legislators are paid as of 2010 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $91/day in 2007 to $116/day in 2010.^[3]

When sworn in

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

Mississippi legislators assume office the first day of the regular session of the year following election. The Constitution requires the Legislature to convene yearly on the Tuesday after the first Monday in January.

Senate

The Mississippi Senate is the upper house of the Mississippi Legislature. The Senate is composed of 52 Senators representing an equal amount of constituent districts, with 54,703 people per district (2000 figures).^[4] Senators serve four-year terms with no term limits.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.

According to the current Mississippi Constitution, the Senate is to be composed of no more than 52 members elected for four-year terms. Elections to the Senate are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during the state general elections.

Party		As of July 2010
	Democratic Party	27
	Republican Party	25
Total		52

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi State Legislature. According to the state constitution of 1890, this body is to comprise no more than 122 members elected for four-year terms (Section 34). To qualify as a member of the house candidates must (a) be at least 21 years old, (b) have been a resident of Mississippi for at least four years, and (c) have resided in the district in which he/she is running for at least two years (Sections 41, 44 and 45). Current state law provides for the maximum number of members. Elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Each member represents an average of 23,316 people.^[5]

The Constitution also specifies that the legislature shall meet for 125 days every four years and 90 days in all other years (Section 36 of Article 4).

External links

• Mississippi Legislature
• Mississippi Senate
• Wikipedia: Mississippi Legislature

References

1. ↑ 2010 session dates for Mississippi Legislature
2. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
3. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
4. ↑ Population represented by state legislators
5. ↑ Population represented by state legislators

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