House of Representatives of Liberia

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The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the bicameral Liberian Legislature. Legislative elections took place on 11 October 2005, and the elected members took office in January 2006.

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[edit] Candidate eligibility

Citizens of Liberia who have attained the age of 25 years are eligible to contest elections and become members of the House of Representatives.

[edit] Electoral system

The simple majority (or First Past the Post) voting system is used in electing members to both chambers of the Liberian Legislature. In House elections, the candidate with a plurality of votes (not necessarily an absolute majority) wins. House members serve a six-year term.

[edit] County representation

The 64 House seats are distributed among Liberia's fifteen counties based on its total number of registered voters. Each county is guaranteed by law to have at least two seats. The current seat distribution among the counties is as follows:

[edit] 2005 election results

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 11 October 2005 Liberian House of Representatives and Senate election results
Parties and coalitions House votes % in House House seats Senate votes % in Senate Senate seats
Congress for Democratic Change 23.44% 15 10% 3
Liberty Party 14.06% 9 10% 3
Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia 12.5% 8 23.34% 7
Unity Party 12.5% 8 10% 3
Alliance for Peace and Democracy 7.81% 5 10% 3
National Patriotic Party 6.25% 4 13.34% 4
New Deal Movement 4.69% 3 0% -
All Liberia Coalition Party 3.13% 2 3.34% 1
National Democratic Party of Liberia 1.56% 1 6.67% 2
National Reformation Party 1.56% 1 3.34% 1
United Democratic Alliance 1.56% 1 0% -
Independents 10.94% 7 10% 3
Total   64   30
More info: Liberia elections, 2005

[edit] Leadership structure

A Speaker, who is elected by fellow House members, is the body's presiding officer. He is assisted by a Deputy Speaker and other officers whose purpose is to ensure that the House functions properly. On 13 January 2006, 63 out of 64 House members met to elect their leaders. The results are as follows:

Speaker of the House
Results Political Affiliation Number of Votes
Edwin Snowe Independent 48
Dusty Wolokollie Unity Party 13
Abstentions 2
Total 63


Deputy Speaker of the House
Results Political Affiliation Number of Votes
Tokpah John Mulbah Congress for Democratic Change 38
Others/Abstentions 25
Total 63

The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and other officers may be removed from office by resolution of a two-thirds majority of House members.

[edit] See also

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