Connecticut House of Representatives
From Ballotpedia
| Connecticut House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2012 session start: | February 8, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Christopher Donovan, (D) |
| Majority Leader: | J. Brendan Sharkey, (D) |
| Minority leader: | Lawrence Cafero, (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 151 |
| Democratic Party (99) Republican Party (52) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art III, Connecticut Constitution |
| Salary: | $28,000/year |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (151 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (151 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Connecticut Legislature has control |
Meeting place: | |
Contents |
The House convenes within the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford.
In odd-numbered years, legislative sessions begin on the Wednesday following the first Monday in January and adjourn no later than the first Wednesday following the first Monday in June. In even-numbered years, legislative essions begin on the Wednesday following the first Monday in February, adjourning no later than the first Wednesday following the first Monday in May.
In 2010, the House was in session from February 3rd to May 5th.[3]
The annual salary of members of the Connecticut state house is $28,000 plus $4,500 for expenses, and a 55 cents-per-mile travel allowance.[4]
Sessions
Article III of the Connecticut Constitution establishes when the Connecticut State Legislature, which the House of Representatives is a part of, is to be in session. Section 2 of Article III states that, in odd-numbered years, the Legislature shall convene its regular session on the Wednesday after the first Monday in January. Section 2 requires regular sessions in odd-numbered years to adjourn by the Wednesday after the first Monday in June.
The Constitution does not establish when the Legislature is supposed to meet in even-numbered years, so these dates are established by law. In even-numbered years, the Legislature convenes on the Wednesday following the first Monday in February, pending the decision of the Legislature, and it must adjourn by the Wednesday after the first Monday in May.[5]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House of Representatives will be in session from February 8 to May 9.
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the House of Representatives was in session from January 5 through June 8. Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy convened both houses in a special session to address budget cuts on June 30. [6]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House of Representatives was in session from February 3rd to May 5th.
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Connecticut House of Representatives will be held in Connecticut on November 6, 2012. All 151 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections is February 6, 2012 at 12 p.m. The primary date is February 7, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Connecticut State House were held in Connecticut on November 2, 2010. Elections were held in all 151 districts.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was June 8 for candidates of either the Republican or Democratic parties and August 4 for others such as independents. The primary election day was August 10, 2010.
In 2010, the total amount raised by candidates running for office was $7,114,872. The top 10 overall campaign contributors were: [7]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Public Fund | $5,205,685 |
| Public Fund | $92,790 |
| Speakers Leadership Cmte | $70,683 |
| House Democratic Caucus Cmte | $55,636 |
| Hauser, Debra | $44,200 |
| Mahoney, Dennis E | $20,250 |
| House Democrats Caucus Cmte of Connecticut | $18,295 |
| Candelora, Vincent J | $14,106 |
| Working Families Party | $13,910 |
| Connecticut House Democratic Majority | $8,031 |
Qualifications
Article III, Section 4 of the Connecticut Constitution states: The house of representatives shall consist of not less than one hundred twenty-five and not more than two hundred twenty-five members, each of whom shall be an elector residing in the assembly district from which he is elected. Each assembly district shall be contiguous as to territory and shall elect no more than one representative. For the purpose of forming assembly districts no town shall be divided except for the purpose of forming assembly districts wholly within the town.
Elections
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the House, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The Governor must call for an election no later than 10 days after the vacancy happened. All special elections must be held no later than 46 days after a Governor's declaration. If the vacancy happened with less than 125 days left before the general election, the special election must be held on the same day as the general election. No election can be called by the Governor if the vacancy happened with less than 49 days before the general election[8].
Representatives
Leadership
The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the full House through the passage of a House resolution. In addition to presiding over the body, the Speaker is also its chief leadership position, and controls the flow of legislation and committee assignments. Other House leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the chamber.[9]
Current leadership
| Position | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker | Christopher Donovan |  Democratic
|
| State House Majority Leader | J. Brendan Sharkey | Democratic
|
| State House Minority Leader | Lawrence Cafero |  Republican
|
2010 Leadership
| Position | Representative | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker | Christopher Donovan | Democratic
|
| State House Majority Leader | Denise Merrill | Democratic
|
| State House Minority Leader | Lawrence Cafero | Republican
|
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of February 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 99 | |
| Republican Party | 52 | |
| Total | 151 | |
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2010, members of the Connecticut legislature are paid $28,000 per year. They receive no per diem.[10]
The $28,000 that Connecticut legislators are paid as of 2010 is the same that they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. The per diem is also the same.[11]
When sworn in
Connecticut legislators assume office the Wednesday following the first Monday of the January next succeeding their election.
Current members
Standing Committees
Unique among the 50 state legislatures, in Connecticut, all legislative committees are joint committees of the upper house and lower house.
- See also: General Assembly Committees
See also
External links
- Official website of the Connecticut House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Connecticut House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart on the Connecticut House of Representatives
- Connecticut House Districts Map
- "This is Your General Assembly", a lay guide to the Connecticut General Assembly
- Connecticut House Republican Caucus
- Connecitcut House Democratic Caucus
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Connecticut legislative session dates, 2010
- ↑ This is Your General Assembly
- ↑ Session Scheduling Rules website and Connecticut Constitution, Article III, Section 2
- ↑ StateScape, State Legislative Snapshot, accessed June 30, 2011
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Connecticut House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly "Connecticut General Statutes"(Referenced Statute 9-215(a), Connecticut General Statutes)
- ↑ 2009-2010 Connecticut House Democratic Leadership
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
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