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Rhode Island House of Representatives
| Rhode Island House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2012 session start: | January 3, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Gordon Fox, (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Nicholas Mattiello, (D) |
| Minority leader: | Brian Newberry, (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 75 |
| Democratic Party (65) Republican Party (10) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Article VI, Rhode Island Constitution |
| Salary: | $13,098.44/year |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (75 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (75 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Legislature redraws boundaries |
Contents |
Sessions
Article VI of the Rhode Island Constitution establishes when the Rhode Island General Assembly, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to be in session. Section 3 of Article states that the General Assembly is to convene its regular session on the first Tuesday of January in each year.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House will be in session from January 3 through mid-June.
Major issues
The legislature will have to address a $120 million budget deficit. Legislators want to cut spending to close the gap while Governor Lincoln Chafee (I) is considering a tax raise. Major issues also include reducing municipal pension costs and reducing regulations to spur economic growth.[3]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the House was in session from January 4 - July 1. The legislature is in recess until October, when a special session is planned to tackle the cost of public-employee pensions. [4]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House was in session from January 5 to June 11.[5]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Rhode Island House of Representatives will be held in Rhode Island on November 6, 2012. All 75 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections is June 27, 2012. The primary election day will be September 11, 2012.[6]
2010
Elections for the office of Rhode Island's House of Representatives were held in Rhode Island on November 2, 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was May 28, 2010. The primary election day was September 14, 2010.
In 2010, the candidates for state house raised a total of $2,454,588 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [7]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Schadone, Gregory J | $54,200 |
| Rhode Island Education Association | $29,375 |
| Mitchell, Kevin J | $23,733 |
| Corvese, Arthur J | $22,600 |
| Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers | $17,200 |
| Cranston Fire Fighters Local 1363 | $15,850 |
| Rhode Island Laborers | $15,625 |
| Operating Engineers Local 57 | $14,700 |
| Rhode Island Laborers Public Employees | $14,175 |
| Rhode Island State Association of Fire Fighters | $12,575 |
Qualifications
Article III of the Rhode Island Constitution describes the requirements to hold office.
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the House, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Secretary of State must call for an election to be held anywhere from 70 to 90 days after the vacancy occurred. No election can be held if the vacancy happens after the first Monday in February during an election year[8]. The person elected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term[9].
Representatives
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2011, members of the Rhode Island Legislature are paid $13,962.55/year during legislative sessions. Legislators receive no per diem.[10]
The $13,962.55/year that Rhode Island legislators are paid as of 2011 is an increase over $13,098.44/year they were paid during legislative sessions in 2010 and 2007. There is no per diem.[11][12]
When sworn in
Rhode Island legislators assume office the first Tuesday in January.
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 65 | |
| Republican Party | 10 | |
| Total | 75 | |
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body.[13]
Current leadership
| Position | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| State Speaker of the House | Gordon Fox |  Democratic
|
| State House Majority Leader | Nicholas Mattiello | Democratic
|
| State House Minority Leader | Robert Watson |  Republican
|
2010 Leadership
| Position | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| State Speaker of the House | Gordon Fox | Democratic
|
| State House Majority Leader | Nicholas Mattiello | Democratic
|
| State House Minority Leader | Robert Watson | Republican
|
Current members
Standing committees
The Rhode Island House has 11 standing committees:
- Corporations Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Finance Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Health, Education and Welfare Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Judiciary Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Labor Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Municipal Government Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Oversight Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Rules Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Small Business Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Veterans' Affairs Committee, Rhode Island House of Representatives
External links
- Official website of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart on the Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Rhode Island House of Representatives on Wikipedia
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Boston.com, "Issues to watch in 2012 RI session," January 2, 2012
- ↑ Projo.com, R.I. lawmakers pass flurry of bills, recess until October, July 1, 2011
- ↑ 2010 session dates for the Rhode Island Legislature
- ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections "Upcoming Elections"
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Rhode Island House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Rhode Island Legislature "Rhode Island General Laws"(Referenced Statute 17-3-6 (a))
- ↑ Rhode Island Legislature "Rhode Island General Laws"(Referenced Statute 17-3-6 (b))
- ↑ 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"
- ↑ Rhode Island House Leadership
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