Idaho Legislature

Idaho Legislature
Idaho Legislature
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate; House of Representatives
Leadership
President of the Senate	Scott Bedke (R) ; since January 2, 2023
President Pro Tempore of the Senate	Chuck Winder (R) ; since December 1, 2020
Speaker of the House	Mike Moyle (R) ; since December 1, 2022
Structure
Seats	105 voting members 35 senators; 70 representatives;
State Senate political groups	Republican (28); Democratic (7);
House of Representatives political groups	Republican (59); Democratic (11);
Elections
Last State Senate election	November 8, 2022
Next State Senate election	November 5, 2024
Meeting place
	Idaho State Capitol; Boise
Website
	Idaho Legislature

The Idaho Legislature consists of the upper Idaho Senate and the lower Idaho House of Representatives. Idaho is divided into 35 legislative districts, which each elect one senator and two representatives. There are no term limits for either chamber.

The crossing of upper and lower house districts into a single constituency is found in seven U.S. state legislatures: Idaho, Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. Based on 2010 census data, each legislative district in the state of Idaho had approximately 44,788 residents. Based on 2020 census data, each legislative district had an ideal population of approximately 52,546 people.

History

The first Idaho legislature convened in December 1890.

Elections and composition

Members of the Idaho Legislature were originally elected by county, but in recent times districts apportioned by population have replaced representation by county.

Today members of the Idaho Legislature are elected from 35 districts throughout the state. Some districts include several counties, while others are located entirely within a single county. Ada County, the state's largest by population, currently has nine legislative districts within its boundaries (as of the 2010 redistricting, Ada County has Legislative Districts 14, 15, 16 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.)^[1]

All 105 members are elected simultaneously every two years on the same day as the federal election day in early November.^[2]

Districts

Each district is represented by one senator and two representatives. Idaho has fourteen committees in the House of Representatives and ten committees in the Senate. Currently, there are thirty-five members in the Senate with twenty-six men and nine women. The House of Representatives also currently holds seventy members with forty-six men and twenty-four women.

Districts are reapportioned every 10 years. The next reapportionment is expected to occur after the 2030 census and take effect as of the 2032 election.

In the 1980s voters elected legislators from two districts, a smaller local district and a larger "floterial" district which often encompassed an entire region of the state. Legislative seats in floterial districts were last contested in 1990. Today floterial districts are prohibited by the Idaho Constitution.^[2]

Responsibilities

According to the Legislature's website, the Idaho Legislature is responsible for translating the public will into policy for the state, levying taxes, appropriating public funds, and overseeing the administration of state agencies. These responsibilities are carried out through the legislative process - laws passed by elected representatives of the people, legislators.

Location and time of operation

The Idaho Legislature normally convenes at the Idaho State Capitol in downtown Boise. The Legislature meets annually from January until mid-March, although sessions have been known to last into May. The Governor of Idaho may also call special sessions at any time.

The Idaho State Capitol Commission^[3] was created by Governor Phil Batt in 1998. The Commission undertook the leading role of extensively remodeling the capitol building starting in 2007. The 2008 and 2009 sessions of the Idaho Legislature met in converted courtrooms in the old Ada County Courthouse. The capitol building was official re-opened and re-dedicated on January 9, 2010.

References

^ "L93.pdf" (PDF). legislature.idaho.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Idaho State Constitution Article III". sos.idaho.gov. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
^ Idaho State Capitol Commission. Accessed 3 August 2007.