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Tennessee House of Representatives
| Tennessee House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2013 session start: | January 10, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Beth Harwell, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Gerald McCormick, (R) |
| Minority leader: | Craig Fitzhugh, (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 99 |
| Democratic Party (28) Republican Party (70) Independent (1) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art III, Tennessee Constitution |
| Salary: | $19,009/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (99 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (99 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Tennessee Legislature has control |
Meeting place: | |
Contents |
In 2012, the House was in session from January 10 through May 1.
Sessions
The Tennessee General Assembly, which the House is a part of, convenes on the second Tuesday in January on the years following elections as outlined by Article II, Section 8 of the Tennessee Constitution. The legislature is limited to 90 paid legislative days within a two year term.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House was in session from January 10 through May 1.
Major issues
Republican legislators began the session by passing new congressional and state legislative maps, but redistricting may remain a major issue as Democrats have threatened a lawsuit over the new districts. Republican leaders say the session will focus on job creation and eliminating policies and regulations that restrict businesses, including the inheritance tax, and reforming unemployment insurance.[3]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the House will be in session from January 11 through mid May. [4]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House was in regular session from January 12th to June 10th. Additionally, the General Assembly met in special session from January 12th to January 25th to deal with educational issues related to Race to the Top funds.[5]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Tennessee House of Representatives will be held in Tennessee on November 6, 2012. All 99 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline was April 5, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Tennessee House of Representatives were held in Tennessee on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was April 1, 2010 and the primary election day was on August 5, 2010.
In 2010, the candidates for state house raised a total of $9,478,590 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [6]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tennessee Legislative Campaign Cmte | $449,568 |
| Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association | $184,650 |
| Tennessee Bankers Association | $153,250 |
| House Democratic Caucus | $145,953 |
| Tennessee Education Association | $138,376 |
| Tennessee Medical Association | $132,550 |
| CAS-PAC | $122,950 |
| Tennessee Democratic Party | $122,126 |
| Federal Express | $120,050 |
| Tennessee Association of Realtors | $119,750 |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[7]
- A U.S. citizen
- 21 years old before the general election
- A three-year resident of Tennessee before the general election
- A county resident for 1 year prior to the general election
- A qualified voter
- The following situations would eliminate a candidate from qualifying for office:
- Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
- Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county thereof;
- Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
- Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
- Members of congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
In Tennessee, there are two ways a vacancy can be filled in the House. When twelve months or more remain in a unfilled term, a special election must be held within the allowable time frame set by law. If less than twelve months remain in a term, members of the State House must vote on a replacement[8].
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Tennessee
The state's redistricting process is handled by the General Assembly, with the Governor wielding veto power.
2010 census
Tennessee received its local census data on March 16, 2011.[9] The state's population rose 11.5 percent to 6,346,105.[10]
The redistricting process began in January 2012; it was the first time in the state's history where the process was controlled entirely by Republicans. The two chambers passed maps, both of which Governor Bill Haslam signed. While Senate Democrats threatened a lawsuit, House Democrats went through with filing one in March, arguing that the House map unnecessarily split too many counties.
Representatives
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 28 | |
| Republican Party | 70 | |
| Carter County Republican | 1 | |
| Total | 99 | |
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2012, members of the Tennessee Legislature are paid $19,009/year. Legislators receive $171/day per diem tied to the federal rate.[11]
The $19,009/year that Tennessee legislators are paid as of 2011 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2010 and increase over $18,123/year they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $153/day in 2007 to $185/day in 2010 and decreased to $171/day in 2011.[12][13]
When sworn in
Tennessee legislators assume office the 15th of January following the election.
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. Duties of the Speaker include preserving order and decorum and appointing all committee and subcommittee members and officers. In the event that the Speaker is absent, the Speaker Pro Tempore assumes the duties of the office.[14][15]
Current leadership
2010 Leadership
Current members
Standing committees
The Tennessee House has 14 standing committees:
- Agriculture Committee, Tennessee House
- Calendar and Rules Committee, Tennessee House
- Children & Family Affairs Committee, Tennessee House
- Commerce Committee, Tennessee House
- Conservation & Environment Committee, Tennessee House
- Consumer & Employee Affairs Committee, Tennessee House
- Education Committee, Tennessee House
- Ethics Committee, Tennessee House
- Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, Tennessee House
- Government Operations Committee, Tennessee House
- Health & Human Resources Committee, Tennessee House
- Judiciary Committee, Tennessee House
- State & Local Government Committee, Tennessee House
- Transportation Committee, Tennessee House
External links
- Official website of the Tennessee House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Tennessee House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart on the Tennessee House of Representatives
- Tennessee District Map
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ The Tennessean, "TN lawmakers gear up for fast session, re-election," January 8, 2012
- ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
- ↑ 2010 session dates for Tennessee legislature
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Tennessee House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Qualifications for running for Tennessee House of Representatives
- ↑ Tennessee Legislature "Tennessee Constitution"(Referenced Section Article II, Section 15)
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Tennessee's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," March 16, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ USA Today, Census 2010 - Tennessee, retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ 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"
- ↑ Rules of the Tennessee House - 106th General Assembly
- ↑ Tennessee House Leadership
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