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New Jersey General Assembly
| New Jersey General Assembly | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2012 session start: | January 10, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Sheila Oliver (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Louis Greenwald (D) |
| Minority leader: | Jon Bramnick (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 80 |
| Democratic Party (48) Republican Party (32) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art IV, New Jersey Constitution |
| Salary: | $49,000/year |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | 2009 (80 seats) |
| Next election: | November 8, 2011 (80 seats) |
| Redistricting: | New Jersey Redistricting Commission |
Sessions
Article IV of the New Jersey Constitution establishes when the New Jersey State Legislature, of which the General Assembly is a part, is to be in session. Section 1 of Article IV states that each annual session is to begin on the second Tuesday of January. The session does not end until the beginning of the next annual session or until the Legislature chooses to adjourn.
Section 1 also allows for special sessions of the Legislature to be called by the Governor of New Jersey or by a majority of the members of each legislative house.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the General Assembly will be in session from January 10 through a date to be determined by the Legislature.
Major issues
Democratic legislative leaders are expected to put legalization of same-sex marriage and an increase in the minimum wage at the top of their agenda, both of which are opposed by Republican Governor Chris Christie.[3]
The legislature passed a gay marriage bill in February, only to see it vetoed the next day by Gov. Christie.[4]
2011
In 2011, the General Assembly will be in session from January 12 through a date to be determined by the Legislature. [5]
2010
In 2010, the General Assembly convened on January 12, and remained in session throughout the year.[6]
Elections
Four states, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia hold their state legislative elections in odd-numbered years. New Jersey began holding elections in odd numbered years when the state adopted a new constitution in 1947. Prior to the new constitution, members of the Assembly were elected to one-year terms, members of the Senate to three-year terms and governors to three-year terms. The new constitution changed the term structure to include two years for representatives and four year terms for senators and governors. Because the constitution was adopted in an odd-numbered year, elections were also held in odd-numbered years and have continued in such a manner to this day.[7]
The notion also exists that the reason for odd year elections exists to insulate New Jersey politics from national politics. Former New Jersey Governor Alfred E. Driscoll made the following statement before the constitutional convention in 1947:[7]
- ...the election for a Governor and for Assemblymen should not coincide with a Presidential election. The importance of a gubernatorial election merits an election that will not be overshadowed by a national contest for the Presidency. The problems confronting the State are frequently distinct from those confronting the nation...
2011
Elections for the office of New Jersey's state house representatives will be held in New Jersey on November 8, 2011.
2007
As of the 2000 Census, New Jersey's 80 state representatives each represent an average population of 105,179 people. In 2007, the candidates for the state general assembly raised a total of $26,388,602 in campaign contributions.
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 204 | $26,388,602 |
| 2005 | 212 | $23,299,489 |
| 2003 | 233 | $15,682,188 |
| 2001 | 218 | $12,642,876 |
The top 10 donors were:[8]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Public Fund | $2,687,684 |
| Panter & Mallet for Assembly | $935,740 |
| Hudson County Democratic Organization | $803,942 |
| New Jersey Republican Party | $573,008 |
| New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters | $269,750 |
| New Jersey Association of Realtors | $268,700 |
| New Jersey State Laborers | $248,850 |
| New Jersey Business & Industry Association | $205,735 |
| New Jersey Education Association | $194,885 |
| Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 9 | $191,950 |
Qualifications
In order to be a candidate to run for the New Jersey General Assembly, a candidate must:
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Reside for no less than two years in the district the candidate plans to represent.
- Be 21 years of age or older.
- Obtain 100 signatures via petition and submit the signatures to the New Jersey Secretary of State[9].
- Disclose any criminal convictions[10].
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
For any vacancy that happens in session, a special election must be conducted within 51 days of the vacancy. All other vacancies must be filled by the county leadership of the political party that holds the seat[11].
Assemblymen
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2010, members of the New Jersey General Assembly are paid $49,000/year. There is no per diem.[12]
The $49,000/year that New Jersey assemblymen are paid as of 2010 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem is also the same.[13]
When sworn in
New Jersey legislators assume office at noon of the second Tuesday in January following the election.
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 48 | |
| Republican Party | 32 | |
| Total | 80 | |
Leadership
The Speaker of the Assembly is the presiding officer of the body. [14]
Current leadership
Current members 2012-2013
Standing committees
New Jersey General Assembly has 23 standing committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Appropriations
- Budget
- Commerce and Economic Development
- Consumer Affairs
- Education
- Environment and Solid Waste
- Financial Institutions and Insurance
- Health and Senior Services
- Higher Education
- Homeland Security and State Preparedness
- Housing and Local Government
- Human Services
- Judiciary
- Labor
- Law and Public Safety
- Military and Veterans' Affairs
- Regulated Professions
- Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee
- State Government
- Telecommunications and Utilities
- Tourism and the Arts
- Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities
External links
- Official website of the New Jersey Legislature
- Official list of the current members of the New Jersey Legislature
- Project Vote Smart on the New Jersey General Assembly
- Legislative district map
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ NJ.com, "Democratic legislators to put Christie in tight spot with gay marriage, minimum wage," January 15, 2012
- ↑ FOX News, "Christie follows through on promise to veto gay marriage bill," February 18, 2012
- ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
- ↑ 2010 session dates for New Jersey Legislature
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Thicket of State Legislatures, Why do Four States Have Odd-Year Elections?, Aug. 25, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money: "New Jersey House 2007 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State "Partisan Office Candidate Requirements
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State "Memo to General Assembly and Senate Candidates on Criminal Disclosure", April 8, 2005
- ↑ New Jersey Legislature "New Jersey Constitution"(Referenced Section Article IV, Section 4, (1))
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
- ↑ New Jersey Assembly Leadership
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