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Alabama senate, house elect leaders and prepare for session
January 14, 2011
MONTGOMERY, Alabama: Alabama state legislators organized for the upcoming session which begins on March 1.
Del Marsh (R) was voted Senate pro-tem -- the top ranking Senate post.[1] Roger Bedford (D) was confirmed as Senate minority leader.[2]
Mike Hubbard (R) was elected speaker of the house.[3]
Both Alabama chambers flipped from Democrat to Republican in the 2010 election.
Senate
In the Senate elections, 7 incumbents (all Democrats) were defeated in the November 2 election. A total of 16 new senators have embarked on Montgomery -- 3 Democrats and 13 Republicans.
House
Meanwhile, 15 incumbents lost in the House (14 Democrats, 1 Republican). A total of 33 new representatives were sworn-into the House -- 8 Democrats and 25 Republicans.
Redistricting
One of the biggest items on the Alabama agenda will be redistricting. The legislature controls the process, and must finish redrawing districts before the 2011-2012 session ends.
The Alabama Legislative Committee on Reapportionment is responsible for drafting plans for redistricting in the state House and Senate, along with U.S. Congressional seats in Alabama and the State Board of Education. The Legislative Reapportionment Office serves as a link between the United States Census Bureau and the Alabama Legislature. During years when the legislature is not involved with redistricting, the Commission is normally made up of 6 members as follows:[4]
- Three members of the Alabama State Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
- Three members of the Alabama House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House
When the Legislature is involved in the redistricting process, the Committee is composed of 22 members as follows:
- One member of the House of Representatives from each U.S. congressional district
- For at-large members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House
- One member of the Alabama Senate from each U.S. congressional district
- For at-large members of the Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor
See also
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Footnotes
- ↑ Alabama Birmingham News, "State Senate elects Del Marsh of Anniston pro-tem," January 11, 2011
- ↑ Times Daily, "House, Senate elect leaders," January 12, 2011
- ↑ Montgomery Advertiser, "State representatives organize for upcoming session," January 12, 2011
- ↑ Alabama Legislature - "Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment"
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