Maine House of Representatives

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The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members (excluding two nonvoting members) representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state.

The House meets at the Maine State House in Augusta.

Contents 1 Leadership of the House 2 Make-up of the House of Representatives, 2007-2009 2.1 Nonvoting Members of the House 2.2 Independents and other parties 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Leadership of the House

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 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.

The current Speaker is Democrat Glenn A. Cummings of District 115 (Portland). The Majority Leader is Hannah Pingree of District 36 (Brooklin, Deer Isle, Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, part of Mount Desert, North Haven, Stonington, Swans Island and Tremont and Vinalhaven.). The Minority Leader is Republican Joshua Tardy of District 25 - Corinna, part of Corinth, Exeter, Newport and Plymouth(Newport).

[edit] Make-up of the House of Representatives, 2007-2009

Affiliation		Members
	Democratic Party	89
	Republican Party	60
	Independent	2
Total		151
Nonvoting Members		2

[edit] Nonvoting Members of the House

The two nonvoting members within the House represent the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The special Representatives can sponsor legislation relating to Natives and Native land claims, as well as cosponsor any other legislation brought before the House, but are not allowed to submit an actual legislative vote. The Penobscot and Passamaquoddy representatives are also entitled to sit as nonvoting members of joint standing committees during hearings and deliberations.

[edit] Independents and other parties

Due to the independent political tradition in the state, the Maine House of Representatives has been an entry ground for several of the state's prominent Independent politicians. From 2002 to 2006, supporters of the Green Party also noted the House of Representatives as the legislative home of John Eder, District 118 (Portland), of the Maine Green Independent Party, then the highest elected Green politician in U.S. politics. In the 2006 elections, Eder lost his seat to a Democratic challenger.

[edit] See also

• Maine State House
• Maine Legislature
• Maine Senate

[edit] External links

• Maine House of Representatives

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