Missouri House of Representatives
| Missouri House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | 4 terms (8 years) |
| 2013 session start: | January 4, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Steven Tilley, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Timothy Jones, (R) |
| Minority leader: | Mike Talboy, (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 163 |
| Democratic Party (53) Republican Party (110) Vacancy (4) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art III, Missouri Constitution |
| Salary: | $35,915/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (163 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (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.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House will be in session from January 4 through May 30.
Major issues
The budget is expected to be the main focus of the session as the state faces a $500 million spending gap. The agenda also includes economic development, Workers Compensation reforms, and overhauling public school funding.[3]
2011
In 2011, the House was in regular session from January 5 through May 30. [4] 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."[5]
2010
In 2010, the House was in session from January 6th to May 14th. [6][7]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Missouri House of Representatives will be held in Missouri on November 6, 2012. All 163 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 27, 2012. The primary election day will be August 7, 2012.[8]
Missouri state representatives are subject to term limits, and may not serve more than four two-year terms. In 2012, 25 state representatives will be termed-out of office.
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: [9]
| 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:[10]
- 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[11]. The election mandate is sent to the county that first established the legislative district[12].
Representatives
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2011, members of the Missouri House of Representatives are paid $35,915/year. Per diem is $98.40/day tied to the federal rate. Roll call is used to verify per diem.[13]
The $35,915/year that Missouri representatives are paid as of 2011 is an increase over the $31,351 they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $79.20/day in 2007 to $103.20/day in 2010 and decreased to $98.40/day in 2011.[14][15]
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 | |
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.[16][17]
Current leadership
2010 Leadership
Current members
Standing committees
Missouri House of Representatives has 43 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 - Public Safety and Corrections
- Appropriations - Transportation and Economic Development
- Budget
- Children and Families
- Corrections and Public Institutions
- Crime Prevention
- Downsizing State Government
- Economic Development
- Elections
- Elementary and Secondary Education
- Emerging Issues in Animal Agriculture
- Ethics
- Financial Institutions
- Fiscal Review
- General Laws
- Health Care Policy
- Health Insurance
- Higher Education
- Insurance Policy
- International Trade and Job Creation
- Judiciary
- Local Government
- Professional Registration and Licensing
- Retirement
- Rules
- Rural Community Development
- Small Business
- Tax Reform
- Tourism and Natural Resources
- Transportation
- Transportation Funding and Public Institutions
- Urban Issues
- Utilities
- Veterans
- Ways and Means
- Workforce Development and Workplace Safety
External links
- Official website of the Missouri House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Missouri House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart on 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 Beacon, "Missouri legislature opens, with last session's issues at top of agenda," January 4, 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)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
- ↑ Rules of the Missouri House of Representatives 95th General Assembly
- ↑ Missouri House Leadership
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
State of Missouri Jefferson City (capital) |
|---|---|
| Ballot Measures |
List of Missouri ballot measures | Local measures | School bond issues | Ballot measure laws | Initiative laws | History of I&R | Campaign Finance Requirements | Recall process | |
| Government |
Missouri State Constitution | House of Representatives | Senate | Joint Committee on Legislative Research | Ethics Commission | |
| State executive officers |
Governor | Lieutenant Governor | Attorney General | Secretary of State | Treasurer | State Auditor | Commissioner of Education | Director of Insurance | Director of Agriculture | Director of Natural Resources | Director of Labor & Industrial Relations | Chairman of Public Service Commission | |
| Judiciary |
Missouri Supreme Court | County circuit judges | District Courts | Judicial Nominating Commission | Judicial news | Judicial activist organizations | |
| Transparency Topics |
Sunshine Law | Transparency Checklist | Government corruption reports | Transparency Legislation | Open Records procedures | Transparency Advocates | Transparency blogs | State budget | Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations | |
| Divisions |
State |
List of Counties |
List of Cities |
List of School Districts | |
