$70,537/year; set to increase every two years equal to the increase in the median salary of Massachusetts. All members receive office stipends, and chairs of committees and party leaders receive additional stipends.
Any person seeking to get elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives must meet the following qualifications:[1]
Be at least eighteen years of age
Be a registered voter in Massachusetts
Be an inhabitant of the district for at least one year prior to election
Receive at least 150 signatures on nomination papers
Representationedit
Originally,[when?] representatives were apportioned by town. For the first 150 persons, one representative was granted, and this ratio increased as the population of the town increased. The largest membership of the House was 749 in 1812 (214 of these being from the District of Maine); the largest House without Maine was 635 in 1837.[2] The original distribution was changed to the current regional population system in the 20th century. Until 1978, there were 240 members of the house,[3] a number in multi-member districts; today there are 160 in single-member districts.[4]
Districts are named for the counties they are in and tend to stay within one county, although districts often cross county lines. Representatives serve two-year terms which are not limited.
Representatives' desk with microphone and voting buttons (yea/nay)
The Sacred Codedit
Within the House's debating chamber hangs the Sacred Cod of Massachusetts. The 5-foot-long (1.5 m) pine carving of the cod was offered by Representative John Rowe in 1784 in commemoration of the state's maritime economy and history. Two previous carvings of the cod existed during the legislature's colonial era; the first destroyed in a fire in 1747, and the second during the American War of Independence. Since 1784, the current Sacred Cod has been present at nearly every House session, and moved to its current location when the House began convening in the State House in 1798.
In 1933, members of the Harvard Lampoon stole the cod carving as part of a prank. The theft sparked a large statewide search by the Boston and Massachusetts State Police. Following outrage from Boston newspapers and the General Court itself, the cod was anonymously handed back.[5]
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. As well as presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leader, and controls the flow of legislation. 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 House.
^Edward Coppinger (D) resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio).[8]
^Jon Santiago (D) resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov. Maura Healey.[9]
^Special Elections in two Boston-based House seats restore the House to full strength[10]
"Representative Districts". Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Manual for the Use of the General Court for 1993-1994. Boston. 1993.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) (Per Chapter 11, Acts of 1988. Based on 1985 census)
massachusetts, house, representatives, lower, house, massachusetts, general, court, state, legislature, massachusetts, composed, members, elected, from, counties, each, divided, into, single, member, electoral, districts, across, commonwealth, house, represent. The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court the state legislature of Massachusetts It is composed of 160 members elected from 14 counties each divided into single member electoral districts across the Commonwealth The House of Representatives convenes at the Massachusetts State House in Boston the state capital of Massachusetts MassachusettsHouse of Representatives193rd General Court of MassachusettsSeal of the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesTypeTypeLower house of the Massachusetts General CourtTerm limitsNoneHistoryNew session startedJanuary 4 2023LeadershipSpeakerRon Mariano D since December 30 2020Speaker pro temporeKate Hogan D since February 11 2021Majority LeaderMichael Moran D since February 10 2023Minority LeaderBradley Jones R since November 21 2002StructureSeats160Political groupsMajority 135 Democratic 134 Independent 1 Minority 25 Republican 25 Length of term2 yearsAuthorityChapter 1 of the Massachusetts ConstitutionSalary 70 537 year set to increase every two years equal to the increase in the median salary of Massachusetts All members receive office stipends and chairs of committees and party leaders receive additional stipends ElectionsVoting systemFirst past the postLast electionNovember 8 2022Next electionNovember 5 2024RedistrictingLegislative ControlMeeting placeHouse of Representatives ChamberMassachusetts State HouseBoston MassachusettsWebsiteMassachusetts House of RepresentativesRulesRules of the Massachusetts House of Representatives English Contents 1 Qualifications 2 Representation 3 The Sacred Cod 4 Composition 5 Leadership 5 1 Current leaders 6 Current members and districts 7 Current committees and members 8 Past composition of the House of Representatives 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 12 Further reading 13 External linksQualifications editAny person seeking to get elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives must meet the following qualifications 1 Be at least eighteen years of age Be a registered voter in Massachusetts Be an inhabitant of the district for at least one year prior to election Receive at least 150 signatures on nomination papersRepresentation editOriginally when representatives were apportioned by town For the first 150 persons one representative was granted and this ratio increased as the population of the town increased The largest membership of the House was 749 in 1812 214 of these being from the District of Maine the largest House without Maine was 635 in 1837 2 The original distribution was changed to the current regional population system in the 20th century Until 1978 there were 240 members of the house 3 a number in multi member districts today there are 160 in single member districts 4 Districts are named for the counties they are in and tend to stay within one county although districts often cross county lines Representatives serve two year terms which are not limited nbsp Representatives desk with microphone and voting buttons yea nay The Sacred Cod editWithin the House s debating chamber hangs the Sacred Cod of Massachusetts The 5 foot long 1 5 m pine carving of the cod was offered by Representative John Rowe in 1784 in commemoration of the state s maritime economy and history Two previous carvings of the cod existed during the legislature s colonial era the first destroyed in a fire in 1747 and the second during the American War of Independence Since 1784 the current Sacred Cod has been present at nearly every House session and moved to its current location when the House began convening in the State House in 1798 In 1933 members of the Harvard Lampoon stole the cod carving as part of a prank The theft sparked a large statewide search by the Boston and Massachusetts State Police Following outrage from Boston newspapers and the General Court itself the cod was anonymously handed back 5 Composition editThe Democrats hold a supermajority in the House Affiliation Party Shading indicates majority caucus TotalDemocratic Unenrolled Republican VacantBegin 187th 2011 2012 128 0 32 160Begin 188th 2013 2014 131 0 29 160Begin 189th 2015 2016 127 0 35 160Begin 190th 2017 2018 125 0 35 160Begin 191st 2019 2020 127 1 32 160Begin 192nd 2021 2022 128 1 30 159 1Begin 193rd 2023 2024 132 1 26 159 1January 18th 2023 a 133 1 26 160 0February 3rd 2023 b 134 1 25 160 0February 28 2023 c 133 1 25 159 1March 1 2023 d 132 1 25 158 2June 7 2023 e 134 1 25 160 0Latest voting share 84 16 11 Leadership editFurther information List of speakers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 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 As well as presiding over the body the Speaker is also the chief leader and controls the flow of legislation 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 House Current leaders edit Main article 2023 2024 Massachusetts legislature LeadershipCurrent members and districts editMain article 2023 2024 Massachusetts legislature MembersCurrent committees and members editMain article 2023 2024 Massachusetts legislature CommitteesPast composition of the House of Representatives editMain article Political party strength in Massachusetts nbsp Composition by municipality in the 187th General Court nbsp Composition by municipality in the 188th General Court nbsp Composition by municipality in the 189th General Court nbsp Composition by municipality at the beginning of the 190th General Court nbsp Composition by municipality at the beginning of the 191st General Court See also edit2023 2024 Massachusetts legislature List of current Massachusetts House of Representatives committees List of speakers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Massachusetts State House Massachusetts Senate Massachusetts General Court List of former districts of the Massachusetts House of Representatives List of members of the colonial Massachusetts House of Representatives List of Massachusetts General Courts Massachusetts GovernmentNotes edit Margaret Scarsdale D was sworn in 6 Kristin Kassner D was sworn in 7 Edward Coppinger D resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council MassBio 8 Jon Santiago D resigned from the Massachusetts House of Representatives to accept a job in the gubernatorial administration of Gov Maura Healey 9 Special Elections in two Boston based House seats restore the House to full strength 10 References edit https www sec state ma us ele elepdf Candidates Guide generic pdf bare URL PDF The Massachusetts State House p 110 111 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Boston 1953 League of Women Voters of Massachusetts Archived October 25 2006 at the Wayback Machine See Amendment CI of the Massachusetts Constitution adopted by voters in 1974 The Sacred Cod Moves to the New State House Mass Moments Mass Humanities Retrieved June 7 2020 Mass House declares Democrat winner of 7 vote race second contest remains under review The Boston Globe Retrieved January 18 2023 State Rep Kristin Kassner Finally Sworn In On One Vote Majority WBZ News Radio 1030 Retrieved February 11 2023 Boston s special election double header Politico Retrieved March 27 2023 Boston s special election double header Politico Retrieved March 27 2023 Two new Boston Dems put house back at full strength State House News Service Retrieved June 11 2023 Massachusetts House of Representatives Ballotpedia Retrieved January 5 2023 Representative Districts accessed April 9 2006 House Members of the General CourtFurther reading edit General Court of Massachusetts House Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1945 1946 1945 House of Representatives of the General Court of Massachusetts Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1947 1948 1947 1951 1957 1961 1967 1971 1977 1981 1987 1993 1997 2001 2003 2005 2007 Representative Districts Commonwealth of Massachusetts Manual for the Use of the General Court for 1993 1994 Boston 1993 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Per Chapter 11 Acts of 1988 Based on 1985 census External links edit Massachusetts State Legislative District Maps Lower Chamber United States Census Bureau Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Massachusetts House of Representatives amp oldid 1179501230, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
