Wyoming House of Representatives
| Wyoming House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2013 session start: | February 13, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Edward Buchanan, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Thomas E. Lubnau II, (R) |
| Minority leader: | W. Patrick Goggles, (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 60 |
| Democratic Party (8) Republican Party (52) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art 3, Wyoming Constitution |
| Salary: | $150/day + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (60 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (60 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Wyoming Legislature has control |
Contents |
In 2012, the House was in session from February 13 through March 9.
Sessions
Article III of the Wyoming Constitution establishes when the Wyoming State Legislature, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to be in session. Sections 6 and 7 of Article III contain the relevant provisions. The Legislature is to convene in regular session for no more than sixty legislative working days every two years, and no more than forty legislative days in any year. In odd-numbered years, the Legislature meets for a general and budget session, beginning on the second Tuesday of January. In even-numbered years, the Legislature meets for a session devoted to budgetary matters.
Section 7 of Article III contains the provisions for convening special sessions of the Legislature. Special sessions can be convened by the proclamation of the Governor of Wyoming, or the Legislature can convene a special session of up to twenty legislative days if the session is requested by a majority of the members of each legislative house.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House was in session from February 13 through March 9.
Major issues
With projections estimating a $115 million decrease in revenue, a number of legislators are focused on either cutting spending or at least preventing the budget from increasing. Governor Matt Mead (R) has called for $17 million in spending cuts. Other issues include redistricting, creating a statewide school support and evaluation system, increasing motor vehicle fees and raising the state speed limit 80 mph.[3]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the Legislature was in regular session from January 11 through March 3. [4] The 45 calendar days that the Wyoming Legislature was in session during 2011 is tied with Utah, New Mexico, and Arkansas for the shortest legislative session in the country.[5]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House convened for its biennial budget session, which lasted from February 8 to March 5.[6]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Wyoming House of Representatives will be held in Wyoming on November 6, 2012.[7] All 60 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was June 1, 2012. The primary election day is August 21, 2012.[7]
2010
Elections for the office of Wyoming's House of Representatives were held in Wyoming on November 2, 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was May 28, 2010 (August 23 for independents). The primary election day was August 17, 2010. Representatives serve a two-year terms with no term limits. All members are up for election on even years. Of the 60 seats up for re-election, incumbents ran in 48 of them.
In 2010, the candidates for state house raised a total of $699,577 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [8]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Republican (Party) | $17,750 |
| Wyoming Realtors Association | $17,350 |
| Wyoming Education Association | $16,820 |
| Democrat (Party) | $15,451 |
| United Transportation Union | $14,500 |
| Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association | $13,250 |
| CONPAC Contractors PAC | $12,500 |
| United Pacific Railroad | $10,500 |
| Dixon, Kathleen Baker | $10,000 |
| Trucking Industry PAC | $9,700 |
Qualifications
Section 2 of Article 3 of the Wyoming Constitution states, "Senators shall be elected for the term of four (4) years and representatives for the term of two (2) years. The senators elected at the first election shall be divided by lot into two classes as nearly equal as may be. The seats of senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first two years, and of the second class at the expiration of four years. No person shall be a senator who has not attained the age of twenty-five years, or a representative who has not attained the age of twenty-one years, and who is not a citizen of the United States and of this state and who has not, for at least twelve months next preceding his election resided within the county or district in which he was elected."
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the House, the Board of County Commissioners representing the vacant district must select a replacement. The state central committee of the political party that last held the seat must submit a list of three candidates to the Board of County Commissioners. The party committee must submit the list of candidates within 30 days after the vacancy happened[9].
The Board of County Commissioners selects the replacement within five days of receiving the list of candidates and serves for the remainder of the unexpired term[10].
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Wyoming
The Wyoming State Legislature is responsible for drafting the new, redistricted maps. The initial drafting usually occurs in the Joint Interim Committee on Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions, and then must pass through both the House of Representatives and the State Senate. The Governor of Wyoming holds veto power over the map.
2010
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wyoming's population increased from just under 494,000 to over 563,000.[11] This increase of 14.5 percent was higher than the national average, but Wyoming still had less people than the average size for one Congressional district.[12][13]
The Joint Interim Committee on Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions decided to keep single-member districts and the current configuration of 30 members in the Senate and 60 members in the House.[14] Only 34 of the 90 old House and Senate districts were within the accepted five percent margin of error from the ideal population, suggesting that many districts would have to be reshuffled.[15] After having public hearings, the Committee adopted a complete map in December of 2011, and gave it final approval in January of 2012. The Senate and the House both passed the final map by very wide margins (28-2 in the Senate and 51-8 in the House) and Governor Matt Mead signed the map into law on March 6, 2012.[16][17]
Representatives
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 8 | |
| Republican Party | 52 | |
| Total | 60 | |
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2010, members of the Wyoming House of Representatives are paid $150/day. Legislators receive $109/day per diem, set by the legislature.[18]
The $150/day that Wyoming representatives are paid as of 2010 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $85/day in 2007 to $109/day in 2010.[19]
When sworn in
Wyoming legislators assume office the first Monday in January following the election.
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body.[20]
Current leadership
2010 Leadership
Current members
Standing committees
The Wyoming House has 12 standing committees.
- Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Appropriations Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Education Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Journal Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Judiciary Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Labor, Health and Social Services Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Revenue Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Rules and Procedure Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
- Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee, Wyoming House of Representatives
External links
- Official website of the Wyoming State Legislature
- Official list of the current members of the Wyoming House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart on the Wyoming House of Representatives
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "State may cracked down on spending," February 12, 2012
- ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
- ↑ South Carolina Policy Council "50 State Legislative Session Interactive Map," February 2011
- ↑ 2010 session dates for Wyoming Legislature
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wyoming Secretary of State, "2012 Election Calendar," retrieved May 14, 2012.
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Wyoming House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Wyoming Legislature "Wyoming Election Code"(Referenced Statute 22-18-111 (iii)-(A))
- ↑ Wyoming Legislature "Wyoming Election Code"(Referenced Statute 22-18-111 (iii)-(A))
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Wyoming Profile," 2011
- ↑ Star Tribune, "Committee sticks with current Wyoming Legislature configuration," April 13, 2011
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Congressional Apportionment," November 2011
- ↑ Star Tribune, "Committee sticks with current Wyoming Legislature configuration," April 13, 2011
- ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle "Redistricting process gaining momentum," May 22, 2011
- ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Redistricting plan clears both House and Senate," March 10, 2012
- ↑ Pinedale Roundup, "Gov. Mead signs redistricting plan into law," March 8, 2012
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
- ↑ Wyoming House Leadership
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