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Oregon House of Representatives
| Oregon House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2012 session start: | February 1, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Arnie Roblan (D) Bruce Hanna (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Tina Kotek (D) Kevin Cameron (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 60 |
| Democratic Party (30) Republican Party (30) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art IV, Oregon Constitution |
| Salary: | $21,612/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (60 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (60 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Legislature redraws boundaries |
Contents |
The Oregon legislature is termed as a "citizens' assembly" (meaning that most legislators hold other jobs.) Its regular sessions occur in odd-numbered years, beginning on the second Monday in January. Oregon is one of only 6 states which do not hold annual sessions.
In Oregon, representatives serve two-year terms with no limit on consecutive terms.
Sessions
Article IV of the Oregon Constitution establishes when the Oregon State Legislature, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to meet. Section 10 of Article IV states that the Legislature will meet in regular session once every two years. The section goes on to establish starting dates for these sessions, but these dates have been changed by law (as the section allows).
Section 10 of Article IV also requires the presiding officers of both legislative houses to convene an emergency session of the Legislature when a majority of the members of each house request an emergency session.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House will be in session from February 1 through March 6.
Major issues
In their month-long 2012 session, the legislature is expected to mostly deal with issues from the previous session which includes proposals from Governor John Kitzhaber (D) for implementing federal healthcare reforms, requiring an annual "achievement compact" for school districts, and increasing funding for children and families. They will also address the state budget, job growth and economic development regulation of state timber harvest, foreclosure assistance, and tax reform.[3]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the House was in session from February 1 through June 30. [4]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House did not hold a regular session. However, the Legislature was in special session from February 1st to February 25th.[5]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Oregon House of Representatives will be held in Oregon on November 6, 2012. All 60 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 6, 2012. The primary election day was May 15, 2012.[6]
2010
Elections for the office of Oregon's House of Representatives were held in Oregon on November 2, 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 9, 2010 (August 24 for independents). The primary election date was May 18, 2010.
In 2010, the candidates for state house raised a total of $14,996,656 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [7]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Future PAC House Builders | $1,818,536 |
| Promote Oregon Leadership PAC | $628,525 |
| Oregon Education Association | $462,227 |
| Oregon Public Employees Local 503 | $425,634 |
| Oregon Health Care Association | $246,496 |
| Oregon Nurses Association | $222,892 |
| Oregon Beer & Wine Distributors Association | $200,280 |
| Oregon Lodging Association | $194,027 |
| Oregon Victory PAC | $175,000 |
| Oregon Trial Lawyers Association | $170,068 |
Qualifications
Article 4, Section 8 of the Oregon Constitution states:
- No person shall be a Senator or Representative who at the time of election is not a citizen of the United States; nor anyone who has not been for one year next preceding the election an inhabitant of the district from which the Senator or Representative may be chosen. However, for purposes of the general election next following the operative date of an apportionment under section 6 of this Article, the person must have been an inhabitant of the district from January 1 of the year following the reapportionment to the date of the election.
- Senators and Representatives shall be at least twenty one years of age.
- No person shall be a Senator or Representative who has been convicted of a felony during:
- The term of office of the person as a Senator or Representative; or
- The period beginning on the date of the election at which the person was elected to the office of Senator or Representative and ending on the first day of the term of office to which the person was elected.
- No person is eligible to be elected as a Senator or Representative if that person has been convicted of a felony and has not completed the sentence received for the conviction prior to the date that person would take office if elected. As used in this subsection, “sentence received for the conviction” includes a term of imprisonment, any period of probation or post-prison supervision and payment of a monetary obligation imposed as all or part of a sentence.
- Notwithstanding sections 11 and 15, Article IV of this Constitution:
- The office of a Senator or Representative convicted of a felony during the term to which the Senator or Representative was elected or appointed shall become vacant on the date the Senator or Representative is convicted.
- A person elected to the office of Senator or Representative and convicted of a felony during the period beginning on the date of the election and ending on the first day of the term of office to which the person was elected shall be ineligible to take office and the office shall become vacant on the first day of the next term of office.
- Subject to subsection (4) of this section, a person who is ineligible to be a Senator or Representative under subsection (3) of this section may:
- Be a Senator or Representative after the expiration of the term of office during which the person is ineligible; and
- Be a candidate for the office of Senator or Representative prior to the expiration of the term of office during which the person is ineligible.
- No person shall be a Senator or Representative who at all times during the term of office of the person as a Senator or Representative is not an inhabitant of the district from which the Senator or Representative may be chosen or has been appointed to represent. A person shall not lose status as an inhabitant of a district if the person is absent from the district for purposes of business of the Legislative Assembly. Following the operative date of an apportionment under section 6 of this Article, until the expiration of the term of office of the person, a person may be an inhabitant of any district.
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the House, the Board of County Commissioners representing the vacant seat must select a replacement. This can only be done when the Legislature is in session or the vacancy happens more than 61 days before the next scheduled general election[8]. The board must select a person from the political party that last held the vacant seat. Three candidates who are members of the party that last controlled the seat must be considered by the board. A replacement must be selected within 30 days of the vacancy. The person selected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term[9].
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 30 | |
| Republican Party | 30 | |
| Total | 60 | |
Representatives
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2011, members of the Oregon Legislature are paid $21,612/year during legislative sessions. Legislators receive $109/day per diem tied to the federal rate.[10]
The $21,612/year that Oregon legislators are paid as of 2011 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2010 and increase over the $18,408/year during in 2007. Per diem has increased from $99/day in 2007 to $116/day in 2010 and decreased to $109/day in 2011.[11][12]
The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate receive twice as much salary as other legislators. These salaries have been determined by statute. [13]
When sworn in
Oregon legislators assume office the second Monday in January.
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. [14]
Current leadership
Because the Oregon House is tied 30-30, members have elected co-speakers.[15]
2010 Leadership
Current members
Standing committees
The Oregon House has 13 standing committees:
- Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Communities
- Business and Labor
- Education
- Energy, Environment and Water
- General Government and Consumer Protection
- Health Care
- Human Services
- Judiciary
- Revenue
- Rules
- Transportation
- Veterans and Emergency Services
External links
- Official Website of the Oregon House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Oregon House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart on the Oregon House of Representatives
- Oregon State Assembly Maps
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Oregon Live, "Oregon lawmakers hope for quick, civil session that tackles budget, health care and schools," January 29, 2012
- ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
- ↑ 2010 session dates for Oregon Legislature
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State "Elections Calendar for 2012"
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Oregon House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ OregonLaws "Oregon Election Law(Referenced Statute 171.051, (1) (a)-(c))
- ↑ OregonLaws "Oregon Election Law(Referenced Statute 171.051, (2)-(6))
- ↑ 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"
- ↑ "Oregon State Legislature: Frequently Asked Questions," 2011
- ↑ Oregon House Leadership
- ↑ Oregonian "Oregon House makes history by electing two co-speakers," January 11, 2011
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