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New York State Assembly
| New York State Assembly | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2012 session start: | January 4, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Sheldon Silver, (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Ronald Canestrari, (D) |
| Minority leader: | Brian Kolb, (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 150 |
| Democratic Party (100) Republican Party (49) Independence Party (1) Vacancy (4) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art III, New York Constitution |
| Salary: | $79,500/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (150 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (150 seats) |
| Redistricting: | New York Legislature has control |
The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal amount of districts. Each member represents an average of 129,187 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 126,510 residents.[2] Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits[3].
Sessions
Article III of the New York Constitution outlines the legislative power for New York's government. Article III does not limit when the New York State Legislature, which the Assembly is a part of, can convene in regular session. However, Section 18 of Article III does contain provisions related to special sessions of the Legislature. Section 18 states that a special session can be called by a petition of request from two-thirds of both legislative houses.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the Assembly will be in session from January 4 through a date to be determined by the legislature.
Major issues
Redistricting was a divisive issue in 2011 and has to be dealt with in this session. Other issues include addressing a $3.5 billion budget gap and a proposal to ban hydrofracking.[4]
2011
In 2011, the Assembly will be in session from January 5 through a date to be determined by the Legislature. [5]
2010
In 2010, the Assembly convened its regular session on January 6. The Legislature remained in regular session throughout the year. Additionally, the Legislature was in an ongoing special session, which convened in 2009, dealing with issues of deficit reduction.[6]
Elections
2012
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2012
Elections for the office of New York State Assembly will be held in New York on November 6, 2012. All 150 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline is July 12 2012.
2010
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2010
Elections for the office of New York's State Assembly were held in New York on November 2, 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was July 22, 2010. The primary election day was September 14, 2010.
In 2010, the candidates for state assembly raised a total of $22,899,004 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [7]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Democratic Assembly Campaign Cmte of New York | $786,493 |
| Democratic Assembly Campaign Cmte | $480,838 |
| Monroe County Republican Cmte | $345,404 |
| New York State United Teachers | $323,799 |
| Rooney, Peter R | $269,000 |
| New York State Trial Lawyers | $240,325 |
| Katz, Stephen | $178,000 |
| 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East | $172,800 |
| Barclay for Senate | $159,452 |
| Republican Assembly Campaign Cmte of New York | $149,726 |
Qualifications
Article 3, Section 7 of the New York Constitution states: No person shall serve as a member of the legislature unless he or she is a citizen of the United States and has been a resident of the state of New York for five years, and, except as hereinafter otherwise prescribed, of the assembly or senate district for the twelve months immediately preceding his or her election; if elected a senator or member of assembly at the first election next ensuing after a readjustment or alteration of the senate or assembly districts becomes effective, a person, to be eligible to serve as such, must have been a resident of the county in which the senate or assembly district is contained for the twelve months immediately preceding his or her election. No member of the legislature shall, during the time for which he or she was elected, receive any civil appointment from the governor, the governor and the senate, the legislature or from any city government, to an office which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time.
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. An election can be held as long the vacancy happened before April 1st in an election year[8]. The person elected to fill the vacant seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term[9].
Assemblymen
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 100 | |
| Republican Party | 49 | |
| Independence Party of New York | 1 | |
| Total | 150 | |
When sworn in
New York legislators assume office January 1st.
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2011, members of the New York Legislature are paid $79,500/year and per diem of $61/half day and $171/full day. Per diem varies and is tied to the federal rate. [10]
The $79,500/year that New York legislators are paid as of 2011 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007.[11][12]
Leadership
The Speaker of the Assembly is the presiding officer of the body. Duties of the Speaker include preserving order and decorum, deciding all questions of order, and appointing all committee and subcommittee members.[13][14]
Current leadership
Members
Current members
Former members
Standing committees
The New York State Assembly has 37 standing committees:
- Aging Committee, New York State Assembly
- Agriculture Committee, New York State Assembly
- Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee, New York State Assembly
- Banks Committee, New York State Assembly
- Children and Families Committee, New York State Assembly
- Cities Committee, New York State Assembly
- Codes Committee, New York State Assembly
- Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee, New York State Assembly
- Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee, New York State Assembly
- Correction Committee, New York State Assembly
- Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry Committee, New York State Assembly
- Education Committee, New York State Assembly
- Election Law Committee, New York State Assembly
- Energy Committee, New York State Assembly
- Environmental Conservation Committee, New York State Assembly
- Ethics and Guidance Committee, New York State Assembly
- Governmental Employees Committee, New York State Assembly
- Governmental Operations Committee, New York State Assembly
- Health Committee, New York State Assembly
- Higher Education Committee, New York State Assembly
- Housing Committee, New York State Assembly
- Insurance Committee, New York State Assembly
- Judiciary Committee, New York State Assembly
- Labor Committee, New York State Assembly
- Libraries and Education Technology Committee, New York State Assembly
- Local Governments Committee, New York State Assembly
- Mental Health Committee, New York State Assembly
- Oversight, Analysis and Investigation Committee, New York State Assembly
- Racing and Wagering Committee, New York State Assembly
- Real Property Taxation Committee, New York State Assembly
- Rules Committee, New York State Assembly
- Small Business Committee, New York State Assembly
- Social Services Committee, New York State Assembly
- Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development Committee, New York State Assembly
- Transportation Committee, New York State Assembly
- Veterans' Affairs Committee, New York State Assembly
- Ways and Means Committee, New York State Assembly
External links
- Official website of the New York State Assembly
- Official list of the current members of the New York State Assembly
- New York Assembly on Project Vote Smart
- New York State Assembly on Wikipedia
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ "Wikipedia" New York State Assembly, February 26, 2009
- ↑ Poughkeepsie Journal, "Divisive issues to test Cuomo's popularity in 2nd year," January 9, 2012
- ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
- ↑ 2010 session dates for New York Legislature
- ↑ Follow the Money: "New York Assembly 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ New York State Legislature "New York State Public Officers Law"(Referenced Statute § 42 (4))
- ↑ New York Legislature "New York State Public Officers Law"(Referenced Statute § 38)
- ↑ 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"
- ↑ New York State Assembly Rules - Rule 1: Speaker
- ↑ New York Assembly Leadership
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