Maine Legislature
Maine Legislature | |
---|---|
Nonpartisan (1 non-voting) | |
Length of term | Both chambers: 2 years |
Elections | |
Last Senate election | November 8, 2022 |
Last House of Representatives election | November 8, 2022 |
Next Senate election | November 5, 2024 |
Next House of Representatives election | November 5, 2024 |
Redistricting | Legislative control |
Motto | |
Dirigo | |
Meeting place | |
Maine State House Augusta | |
Website | |
https://legislature.maine.gov/ |
The Maine Legislature is the
The House of Representatives consists of 151 members, each chosen from single-member constituencies. The House is uniquely the only
History
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2016) |
In 1922, Dora Pinkham became the first woman elected to the Maine Legislature, serving first in the House and then in the Senate.[3]
In 1823, the
The Houlton Band of Maliseets received representation in 2012. Thus far, the Mi'kmaq Nation has not been granted representation.
In 2015, the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot pulled their representatives from the legislature in protest of growing tension between the tribes and the state government, including Governor Paul LePage.[6] As of the 2018 election, only the Passamaquoddy tribe have returned to the legislature, while the Maliseets have departed and the Penobscot have yet to return.
Qualifications
To be a member of the Legislature, one must be at least 21 years of age, have to have been a citizen of the US for five years, have been a resident of Maine for one year, and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been and during the period for which elected continue to be, a resident in the district represented.
Elections
Legislative elections are held in November of every even-numbered year, during the state's general election. The terms for both houses are two years. Since 1996, members of both the House and Senate are limited to four two-year terms, a consecutive, rather than a lifetime, limit. Members who have served the limit are re-eligible after two years.
Until 1880, the Legislature was elected for a one-year term. Starting in 1881, an amendment to the
Sessions
The Legislature meets in two separate sessions. The first session begins the first Wednesday in December, following the general election, and continues into the following year. The second session begins the first Tuesday in January of the next year, the same year as the next general election. The second session is typically short and deals with a limited number of bills per the
The Governor of Maine may also call the Legislature into a special session for "extraordinary occasions." The Governor and the Senate President may also call the Senate into session to confirm gubernatorial appointments.[10]
Powers
As the
Unlike other states, the Legislature is responsible for electing the Attorney General, State Treasurer, and Secretary of State. Most states give this responsibility to gubernatorial appointments, or an election by the people at large.
Practices
Committees
Unlike committees in most state legislatures, most standing committees in the Maine Legislature are Joint committees with members from both the House and Senate. As of 2024, the following joint committees are in operation:
- Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF)
- Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA)
- Criminal Justice and Public Safety (CJPS)
- Education and Cultural Affairs (EDU)
- Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT)
- Environment and Natural Resources (ENR)
- Government Oversight Committee (GOC)
- Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services (HCIFS)
- Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW)
- Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business (IDEA)
- Joint Select Committee on Housing (HOU)
- Joint Select Committee on Joint Rules (JTR)
- Judiciary (JUD)
- Labor and Housing (LBHS)
- Marine Resources (MAR)
- State and Local Government (SLG)
- Taxation (TAX)
- Transportation (TRA)
- Veterans and Legal Affairs (VLA)
The Senate and House have only a few separate committees:
- Bills in the Second Reading (House and Senate)
- Engrossed Bills (House and Senate)
- Ethics ("Ethics" in the House, "Conduct and Ethics" in the Senate)
- Rules ("Rules and Business of the House" in the House, "Senate Rules" in the Senate)
- Leaves of Absence (House)
- Elections (House)
- Senatorial Vote (Senate)
In addition, a Legislative Council, which manages the overall business of the legislature, comprises the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Republican and Democratic Floor Leaders for both the Senate and House of Representatives and their Assistant Floor Leaders. A Legislative Budget Subcommittee, which is a subcommittee of the Legislative Council, reviews the proposed legislative budget and sends its recommendations to the Council for approval.
Legislation
Unlike other state legislatures (save for the unicameral Nebraska Legislature), the Maine Legislature uses a unified numbering system for bills. Bills are assigned a House or Senate Paper number (depending on its house of origin) and a unified "Legislative Document" ("LD") number, both of which stay constant until the end of session.
See also
- Maine State House
- Maine House of Representatives
- Maine Senate
- Maine Legislative Youth Advisory Council
References
- ^ "Brief History of Indian Legislative Representatives | Maine State Legislature". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Maine House of Representatives". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ vonHerrlich, Phyllis (2008). "Pinkham, Dora". Maine: An Encyclopedia. Publius Research.
- ^ Starbird, S. Glenn. "Brief History of Indian Legislative Representatives". Maine State Legislature. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
- ^ Adams, Jim (June 20, 2001). "Maine Law to Mandate American Indian Culture Course in Public Schools". Indian Country News. Indian Country News. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. Retrieved April 9, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Moretto, Mario (May 26, 2015). "Passamaquoddy, Penobscot Tribes Withdraw from Maine Legislature". Bangor Daily News. Bangor Daily News. Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
- ^ "Maine Senate – 127th Legislature". Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ^ "Maine State Constitution". Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ^ Moretto, Mario; Staff, B. D. N. (October 28, 2013). "Fredette says his welfare reform bill likely dead on arrival". Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ^ "Maine State Constitution". Retrieved December 23, 2016.