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Florida House of Representatives
From Ballotpedia
| Florida House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | 4 terms (8 years) |
| 2012 session start: | January 10, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Dean Cannon, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Carlos Lopez-Cantera, (R) |
| Minority leader: | Ron Saunders, (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 120 |
| Democratic Party (38) Republican Party (81) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art III, Florida Constitution |
| Salary: | $29,697/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (120 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (120 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Florida Legislature has control |
Contents |
The Speaker of the House is elected by the representatives for a two-year term. The speaker has the power to preside over the chamber during a session, to appoint committee members and chairs of committees, to influence the placement of bills on the calendar, and to rule on procedural motions. The Speaker pro tempore presides if the speaker leaves the chair or if there is a vacancy.
In 2010, the legislature was in session from March 2nd to April 30th.[3]
Sessions
Article III of the Florida Constitution establishes when the Florida State Legislature, of which the House is a part, is to be in session. Section 3 of Article III states that the regular session of the Legislature is to convene on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of each year. Regular sessions of the Legislature are not to exceed sixty days, unless extended by a three-fifths vote of each house.
Section 3 also allows for the convening of special sessions, either by the proclamation of the Governor of Florida or as otherwise provided by law.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House will be in session from January 10 through March 9.
Major issues
Lawmakers will have to address a $2 billion budget shortfall as well as complete new legislative and congressional district maps.[4]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the House was in session from March 8 through May 6.
Session highlights
In 2011, the legislature reduced government spending and avoided raising taxes. Spending will be reduced by $1 billion from last year, and $4 billion less than in 2006. Florida also removed 14,000 businesses from corporate tax income rolls. Areas that spending was cut include education and social programs. The legislature removed funding from a veteran's homeless support group, reduced payments to social workers by 15 percent, and will spend $2.5 billion less on education than last year. [5]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House of Representatives was in session from March 2nd to April 30th.
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Florida House of Representatives will be held in Florida on November 6, 2012. All 120 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections is May 7, 2012. The primary date is August 14.
Florida state representatives are subject to term limits, and may serve no more than four two-year terms. In 2012, 12 state representatives will be termed-out of office.
2010
Elections for the office of Florida State Representative were held in Florida on November 2, 2010. State senate seats in all 120 districts were on the ballot in 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was April 30, 2010, and the primary election day was August 24, 2010.
| Florida House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 1, 2010 | After the 2010 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 44 | 39 | |
| Republican Party | 76 | 81 | |
| Total | 120 | 120 | |
In 2010, the total amount of contributions raised in house campaigns was $30,673,659. The top 10 overall donors were: [6]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Florida Republican Party | $1,973,004 |
| Florida Democratic Party | $1,016,800 |
| Florida Chamber of Commerce | $240,300 |
| Hospital Corporation of America | $196,500 |
| Florida Association of Realtors | $163,000 |
| Brandes, Jeffrey R | $152,338 |
| AT&T | $141,500 |
| Frank, Stacy C | $139,975 |
| Southern Gardens Citrus Holding Corp | $126,500 |
| Steinberg, Michael A | $122,212 |
Qualifications
To run for the Florida House of Representatives, candidates must be 21 years old, have lived in Florida for two years and live in the district they intend to serve. [7]
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the House, a special election must be called to fill the vacant seat[8]. The Governor is responsible for calling the election and must consult with the Secretary of State to set the election dates and nominating deadlines[9]. The person elected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term[10].
Representatives
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 38 | |
| Republican Party | 81 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | |
| Total | 120 | |
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body and is elected to a two year term by fellow Representatives. An important duty of the Speaker is the appointment of committee members and selection of their Chairs.[11]
Current leadership
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2010, members of the Florida legislature are paid $29,697 per year. Legislators are allowed $133 per day for per diem, tied to the federal rate. Travel vouchers are required.[12]
The $29,697 that Florida legislators are paid as of 2010 is a decrease from the $39,996 that they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $126 per day in 2007 to $133 per day in 2010. The same per diem rules apply in 2010 as 2007 -- per diem tied to days in session and travel vouchers are required.[13]
When sworn in
Florida legislators assume office two weeks following their election.
Current members
Standing committees
For the 2011 regular session the Florida House has 9 standing committees:
- Appropriations
- Economic Affairs
- Education
- Finance & Tax
- Health & Human Services
- Judiciary
- Redistricting
- Rules & Calendar
- State Affairs
External links
- Official website of the Florida House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Florida House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart on the Florida House of Representatives
- Florida House of Representatives on Wikipedia
- Florida House districts
Portions of this article were adapted from Wikipedia.
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ 2010 session dates for Florida legislature
- ↑ Miami Herald, "State lawmakers open session facing $2 billion budget shortfall," January 8, 2012
- ↑ Stateline.org, States balance budgets with cuts, not taxes, June 15, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Florida House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Qualifications for Senate
- ↑ Florida Legislature "Florida Election Law"(Referenced Statute 100.101(2), Florida Election Code)
- ↑ Florida Legislature "Florida Election Law"(Referenced Statute 100.141 (1) (2), Florida Election Code)
- ↑ Florida Legislature "Florida Election Law"(Referenced Statute 100.111 (1) (a-c), Florida Election Code)
- ↑ Florida House Leaders
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
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