Alaska House of Representatives

Alaska House of Representatives
Alaska Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 20, 2015
Leadership
Mike Chenault (R)
Since January 20, 2009
Majority Leader
Charisse Millett (R)
Since January 20, 2014
Minority Leader
Chris Tuck (D)
Since January 24, 2014
Structure
Seats 40
Political groups

Majority

Minority

Length of term
2 years
Authority Article 2, Alaska Constitution
Salary $50,400/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 4, 2014
(40 seats)
Next election
November 8, 2016
(40 seats)
Redistricting Alaska Redistricting Board
Meeting place
House of Representatives chamber
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska
Website
Alaska House of Representatives

The Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of approximately 17,756 people per 2010 Census figures. Members serve two-year terms without term limits. With 40 representatives, the Alaska House is the smallest state legislative lower house in the United States.

The House convenes at the State Capitol in Juneau.

Powers and process

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives are responsible for a portion of the process of making and amending state law. The first step of the legislative process is filing a bill by giving it to the chief clerk of the Alaska House of Representatives.[1] The chief clerk will then assign bills a number.[1]

Bills are introduced and read the first time with the number, sponsor or sponsors, and the title of the bill and then referred to a committee(s).[1] Committee chairs can choose whether or not hear a bill and committees can vote to approve a bill in its original form or make modifications through a committee substitute.[1] Once bills or substitutes are approved, the legislation is referred to the next committee of assignment or to the Rules Committee, which can further amend the bill or assign it to the daily floor calendar.[1]

Once a bill is scheduled on the floor, it appears on the calendar in Second Reading. The bill is again read by number, sponsor or sponsors, and title along with the standing committee reports. A motion is made on the floor to adopt any committee substitutes.[1] Amendments can also be offered and voted on.[1] Third Reading is where the motion is made to vote on the bill.[1]

Senate action

After final passage in the Alaska House of Representatives, a bill is engrossed and sent to the Alaska Senate to go through the same process of introduction, committee referral and three readings. Likewise, bills that have been approved on Third Reading in the Alaska Senate are engrossed and sent to the Alaska House of Representatives.[1]

Enrollment or Conference

When a bill is not modified in the second house, it can be sent to the governor on Third Reading, through enrollment. If the bill is modified, the house of origin must vote to accept or reject amendments by the opposite house. A Fourth Reading, in the case of acceptance, will send the bill to the governor, through enrollment. If amendments are rejected, the bill can be sent to conference, where members of the Senate and House hash out a final version and send it to a Fourth Reading in both houses.[1]

Governor and veto override

The governor can choose to sign or veto the legislation. In the case of the veto, a two-third majority of a joint session can override the veto. An appropriations bill requires a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session to override a veto.If signed or approved by a veto override, the legislation becomes law.[1]

Membership

Terms and qualifications

State representatives must be a qualified voter and resident of Alaska for no less than three years, and a resident of the district from which elected for one year immediately preceding filing for office.[2] A state representative must be 21 years of age at the time the oath of office is taken.[2] The Alaska House of Representatives may expel a member with the concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of the house.[2]

Legislative terms begin on the second Monday in January following a presidential election year and on the third Tuesday in January following a gubernatorial election.[3] State representatives serve for terms of two years.[3]

Leadership

House of Representatives member directory in the State Capitol as it appeared in 2009.

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 the 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.

Position Name Party Residence District
Speaker Mike Chenault Republican Nikiski 29
Majority Leader Charisse Millett Republican Anchorage 25
Minority Leader Chris Tuck Democratic Anchorage 23

Current composition

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Ind Vacant
End of previous legislature 26 4 10 0 40 0
Begin 23 4 12 1 40 0
March 16, 2015[4] 1 22
Latest voting share 3% 65% 33%

Committees

Current committees include:[5]

  • Judiciary
  • Resources
  • State Affairs
  • Econ. Dev., Trade & Tourism
  • Fisheries
  • Committee On Committees
  • Task Force On Sustainable Education
  • Community & Regional Affairs
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Military & Veterans' Affairs
  • Health & Social Services
  • Labor & Commerce
  • Transportation
  • Rules
  • Finance
    • Education & Early Development
    • Governor
    • Labor & Workforce Development
    • Health & Social Services
    • Legislature
    • Military & Veterans' Affairs
    • Natural Resources
    • Public Safety
    • Revenue
    • Transportation & Public Facilities
    • University Of Alaska
    • Administration
    • Commerce, Community & Economic Dev
    • Corrections
    • Court System
    • Environmental Conservation
    • Fish & Game
    • Law
    • Fiscal Policy

Current members (29th Alaska State Legislature)

At the start of the 29th Alaska Legislature in 2015, four Democrats (Edgmon, Herron, Foster, and Nageak) caucus with the Republican-led majority and one independent (Ortiz) caucuses with the Democratic-led minority.

Alaska State House of Representatives
29th Alaska Legislature, 2015–2016
District Name Party Residence Assumed
office
1 Kawasaki, ScottScott Kawasaki Dem Fairbanks 2007
2 Thompson, SteveSteve Thompson Rep Fairbanks 2011
3 Wilson, TammieTammie Wilson Rep North Pole 2009
4 Guttenberg, DavidDavid Guttenberg Dem Fairbanks 2003
5 Wool, AdamAdam Wool Dem Fairbanks 2015
6 Talerico, DaveDave Talerico Rep Healy 2015
7 Gattis, LynnLynn Gattis Rep Wasilla 2013
8 Neuman, MarkMark Neuman Rep Big Lake 2005
9 Colver, JimJim Colver Rep Hatcher Pass 2015
10 Keller, WesWes Keller Rep Wasilla 2007
11 Hughes, ShelleyShelley Hughes Rep Palmer 2012
12 Tilton, CathyCathy Tilton Rep Chugiak 2015
13 Saddler, DanDan Saddler Rep Eagle River 2011
14 Reinbold, LoraLora Reinbold Repa Eagle River 2013
15 LeDoux, GabrielleGabrielle LeDoux Rep Anchorage 2013
16 Spohnholz, IvyIvy Spohnholz Dem Anchorage 2016
17 Josephson, AndyAndy Josephson Dem Anchorage 2013
18 Drummond, HarrietHarriet Drummond Dem Anchorage 2013
19 Tarr, GeranGeran Tarr Dem Anchorage 2013
20 Gara, LesLes Gara Dem Anchorage 2003
21 Claman, MattMatt Claman Dem Anchorage 2015
22 Vazquez, LizLiz Vazquez Rep Anchorage 2015
23 Tuck, ChrisChris Tuck Dem Anchorage 2009
24 Johnson, CraigCraig Johnson Rep Anchorage 2007
25 Millett, CharisseCharisse Millett Rep Anchorage 2009
26 Lynn, BobBob Lynn Rep Anchorage 2003
27 Pruitt, LanceLance Pruitt Rep Anchorage 2011
28 Hawker, MikeMike Hawker Rep Anchorage 2003
29 Chenault, MikeMike Chenault Rep Nikiski 2001
30 Olson, KurtKurt Olson Rep Soldotna 2005
31 Seaton, PaulPaul Seaton Rep Homer 2003
32 Stutes, LouiseLouise Stutes Rep Kodiak 2015
33 Kito III, SamSam Kito III Dem Juneau 2014
34 Munoz, CathyCathy Muñoz Rep Juneau 2009
35 Kreiss-Tomkins, JonathanJonathan Kreiss-Tomkins Dem Sitka 2013
36 Ortiz, DanDan Ortiz Indb Ketchikan 2015
37 Edgmon, BryceBryce Edgmon Demc Dillingham 2007
38 Herron, BobBob Herron Demc Bethel 2009
39 Foster, NealNeal Foster Demc Nome 2009
40 Nageak, BenjaminBenjamin Nageak Demc Barrow 2013

^a Not a member of any caucus
^b Caucuses with the Democratic-led minority
^c Caucuses with the Republican-led majority

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Legislative Process, Alaska Legislature (accessed April 27, 2013)
  2. 1 2 3 Alaska Handbook to State Government (accessed April 25, 2013)
  3. 1 2 Article 2 of the Alaska Constitution, Lieutenant Governor's Office (accessed April 26, 2013)
  4. Republican Lora Reinbold (District 26) ejected from the Republican caucus for breaking caucus rules on a budget vote.
  5. "Alaska House Committees". Open States. Sunlight Foundation. 2014-04-09. Retrieved 2014-04-09.

External links

Coordinates: 58°18′08″N 134°24′38″W / 58.302198°N 134.410467°W / 58.302198; -134.410467

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