Idaho State Legislature

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Idaho State Legislature


General Information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   None
2011 session start:   January 10, 2011
Website:   Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Brent Hill (R)
House Speaker:  Lawerence Denney (R)
Majority Leader:   Bart Davis (R) (Senate),
Mike Moyle (R) (House)
Minority leader:   Edgar Malepeai (D) (Senate),
John Rusche (D) (House)
Structure
Members:  35 (Senate), 70 (House)
Length of term:   2 years (Senate), 2 years (House)
Authority:   Art IV, Idaho Constitution
Salary:   $16,116/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010
35 seats (Senate)
70 seats (House)
Next election:  November 6, 2012
35 seats (Senate)
70 seats (House)
Redistricting:  Idaho Redistricting Commission has control

Contents

The Idaho State Legislature is the state legislature of Idaho. It consists of the upper Idaho State Senate and the lower Idaho House of Representatives. The Idaho Senate contains 35 Senators, who are elected from 35 districts. The Idaho House of Representatives consists of 70 Representatives, who are elected from the same 35 districts, with 2 being elected from each constituency.

The crossing of upper and lower house districts into a single constituency is found in only seven U.S. state legislatures: Idaho, Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. As of 2000, each legislative district in the state of Idaho had approximately 37,000 residents.

The Idaho State Capitol, where the legislature meets, is based in Boise. The historical building is currently undergoing extensive renovations.

In 2010, the Legislature was in session from January 11th to March 29th.[1]

Sessions

Article III of the Idaho Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to be in session. Section 8 of Article III states that the Legislature will convene its regular session on the second Monday in January of each year. Section 8 also allows that starting date of the legislative session to be changed by law. However, in 2010, the Legislature convened on the second Monday in January as provided by the Constitution. Section 8 also states that the Governor of Idaho can convene special sessions of the Legislature at any time.

The Idaho Legislature normally convenes at the Idaho State Capitol in downtown Boise.

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the Legislature was in session from January 10 through April 7. [2]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the Legislature was in session from January 11th to March 29th.

Legislators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2010, members of the Idaho legislature are paid $16,116/year. Additionally, legislators receive $122/day per diem for members living outside Boise. Members living inside Boise receive $49/day. Additionally, all members are eligible for $25/day for travel (vouchered), which is set by the Compensation Commision.[3]

The $16,116/year that Idaho legislators are paid as of 2010 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem is also the same. [4]

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Idaho legislators assume office after the first day of December following the general election. They are officially sworn in during an organizational session on the first Thursday in December every second year. [5]

Senate

The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. Each member represents an average of 44,788 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[6] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 36,970.[7] The senate has been composed of 28 Republicans, 7 Democrats since the 2002 elections.


Party As of September 2011
     Democratic Party 7
     Republican Party 28
Total 35


House of Representatives

The Idaho House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 70 representatives, two from each district, elected to two-year terms. Each member represents an average of 22,394 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[8] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 18,485.[9] The Idaho House of Representatives has been continuously controlled by the Republican Party since the 1950s, usually by a wide margin. However, Democrats picked up six seats in the 2006 elections, mainly in the Boise area.

Party As of September 2011
     Democratic Party 13
     Republican Party 57
Total 70


State capitol


Idaho State Capitol under renovation
Idaho's state capitol, located in Boise, is considered to be one of the state's most significant buildings, both architecturally and historically. It is built in the Renaissance Revival style. Construction began in 1905 and the first round of construction was completed in 1912, allowing legislative meetings to commence in the new building. A second round of construction to complete the original building began in 1919.[10]

A State Capitol Commission was created in 1998. It was given the responsibility of developing a plan for the restoration of the Capitol.

In 2005, the state legislature allocated a portion of the state's tax on cigarettes to go into a permanent building fund earmarked for repair and restoration of the state capitol.

Joint committees

External links


Wikipedia has an article on:

References

  1. ↑ 2010 session dates for Idaho Legislature
  2. ↑ Idaho Legislature 2011 Session Dates
  3. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
  4. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  5. ↑ Confirmed via email with the Idaho Legislature on 7/5/2011.
  6. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  7. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  8. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  9. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  10. ↑ History of Idaho's State Capitol
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