Louisiana House of Representatives

Louisiana House of Representatives Chambre des Représentants de Louisiane
Louisiana State Legislature
Type
Type	Lower house
Term limits	3 Terms (12 years)
History
New session started	March 12, 2012
Leadership
Speaker of the House	Taylor Barras (R) Since January 11, 2016
Speaker Pro Tempore	Walt Leger, III (D) Since January 9, 2012
Majority Leader	Lance Harris (R) Since December 10, 2012
Minority Leader	Vacant Since December 10, 2015
Structure
Seats	105
Political groups	Governing party   Republican (59) Opposition   Democratic (44)   Independent (2)
Length of term	4 years
Authority	Article III, Section 3, Louisiana Constitution
Salary	$15,362/year
Elections
Last election	November 19, 2011 (105 seats)
Next election	November 2015 (105 seats)
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber Louisiana State Capitol Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Website
Louisiana House of Representatives

The Louisiana House of Representatives (French: Chambre des Représentants de Louisiane) is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people (2000 figures). Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of three terms (twelve years). The House is one of the five state legislative lower houses that has a four-year term, as opposed to the near-universal two-year term.

The House convenes at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

Leadership of the House

The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is customarily recommended by the Governor (although this is not in House rules), then elected by the full House.^[1] In addition to presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leadership position, and controls the flow of legislation and committee assignments. The House of Representatives also elects a Speaker pro tempore to preside in the absence of the Speaker.

The current Speaker is Republican Chuck Kleckley of the 36th District (Calcasieu) who was elected to that position in 2012 succeeding Jim Tucker. His deputy is the Speaker pro tempore, currently Democrat Walt Leger, III of the 91st District (Orleans). The Speaker pro tempore presides when the Speaker is not present. The Chairman of the Republican Delegation (i. e. the Majority Leader) is Lance Harris of the 25th District (Rapides), the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus (i. e. the Minority Leader) is Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards of the 72nd District (Tangipahoa).

Composition

The Louisiana House of Representatives comprises 105 representatives elected from across the state from single-member districts by registered voters in the district. Representatives must be electors, be at least eighteen years old, be domiciled in the district they represent at least one year, and have resided in the state two years. The House is the judge of its members' qualifications and elections. All candidates for state representative in a district compete in a nonpartisan blanket primary; if no candidate earns 50+1 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters advance into the general election. Elections occur every four years and representatives are limited to three four-year terms (12 years). If a seat is vacant, it will be filled in a special election. House sessions occur along with the Louisiana State Senate, every year, for sixty legislative days in even-numbered years and forty-five legislative days in odd-numbered years in which only monetary bills can be considered. The House is the lower legislative chamber of the Louisiana State Legislature; the upper house is the Louisiana State Senate. The Louisiana House has sole authority to impeach state officials and introduce appropriation bills. The Louisiana House of Representatives was established, along with its functions and authority, in Article III, Section 3 of the Louisiana Constitution.

Leaders

Party membership

Current membership

Standing Committees

The Committees of the Louisiana House review proposed bills and either kill them or recommend their passage to the full House. Each committee has a specialized area it oversees. Committees can call upon state officials to testify at committee meetings. Committee membership including Chairmanships and Vice Chairmanships are assigned by the Speaker.

See also

• List of Speakers of the Louisiana House of Representatives
• Louisiana State Capitol
• Louisiana State Legislature
• Louisiana Senate
• American Legislative Exchange Council members

References

External links

• Louisiana House of Representatives
• House district maps
• Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812–2016
• 2012–2016 House Orientation Guide
• In The Loop Official Blog of the Louisiana House of Representatives