Alaska House of Representatives explained

Alaska House of Representatives
Legislature:Alaska State Legislature
Coa Pic:Seal of the State of Alaska.svg
Session Room:Alaska House of Representatives.png
House Type:Lower house
Term Limits:None
New Session:January 17, 2023
Leader1 Type:Speaker
Leader1:Cathy Tilton (R-C)
Election1:January 18, 2023
Leader2 Type:Majority Leader
Leader2:Dan Saddler (R-C)
Election2:January 19, 2023
Leader3 Type:Minority Leader
Leader3:Calvin Schrage (I)
Election3:January 18, 2023
Term Length:2 years
Authority:Article 2, Alaska Constitution
Salary:$50,400/year + per diem
Members:40
Structure1 Res:250px
Voting System1:Nonpartisan blanket primary / Instant-runoff voting
(Beginning in 2022)
Last Election1:November 8, 2022
(40 seats)
Next Election1:November 5, 2024
(40 seats)
Redistricting:Alaska Redistricting Board
Political Groups1:
Majority coalition caucus (23)
Minority caucus (16)
Other (1)
Meeting Place:House of Representatives chamber
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska
Website:Alaska House of Representatives
Rules:Alaska State Legislature Uniform Rules

The Alaska State House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of approximately 17,756 people per 2010 census figures. Members serve two-year terms without term limits. With 40 representatives, the Alaska House is the smallest state legislative lower chamber in the United States. The House convenes at the State Capitol in Juneau.

Powers and process

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives are responsible for a portion of the process of making and amending state law. The first step of the legislative process is filing a bill by giving it to the chief clerk of the Alaska House of Representatives.[1] The chief clerk will then assign bills a number.[1]

Bills are introduced and read the first time with the number, sponsor or sponsors, and the title of the bill and then referred to a committee(s).[1] Committee chairs can choose whether or not hear a bill and committees can vote to approve a bill in its original form or make modifications through a committee substitute.[1] Once bills or substitutes are approved, the legislation is referred to the next committee of assignment or to the Rules Committee, which can further amend the bill or assign it to the daily floor calendar.[1]

Once a bill is scheduled on the floor, it appears on the calendar in Second Reading. The bill is again read by number, sponsor or sponsors, and title along with the standing committee reports. A motion is made on the floor to adopt any committee substitutes.[1] Amendments can also be offered and voted on.[1] Third Reading is where the motion is made to vote on the bill.[1]

Senate action

After final passage in the Alaska House of Representatives, a bill is engrossed and sent to the Alaska Senate to go through the same process of introduction, committee referral and three readings. Likewise, bills that have been approved on Third Reading in the Alaska Senate are engrossed and sent to the Alaska House of Representatives.[1]

Enrollment or conference

When a bill is not modified in the second house, it can be sent to the governor on Third Reading, through enrollment. If the bill is modified, the house of origin must vote to accept or reject amendments by the opposite house. A Fourth Reading, in the case of acceptance, will send the bill to the governor, through enrollment. If amendments are rejected, the bill can be sent to conference, where members of the Senate and House hash out a final version and send it to a Fourth Reading in both houses.[1]

Governor and veto override

The governor can choose to sign or veto the legislation. In the case of the veto, a two-thirds majority of a joint session can override the veto. An appropriations bill requires a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session to override a veto. If signed or approved by a veto override, the legislation becomes law.[1]

Membership

Terms and qualifications

State representatives must be a qualified voter and resident of Alaska for no less than three years, and a resident of the district from which elected for one year immediately preceding filing for office.[2] A state representative must be 21 years of age at the time the oath of office is taken.[2] The Alaska House of Representatives may expel a member with the concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of the house.[2]

Legislative terms begin on the second Monday in January following a presidential election year and on the third Tuesday in January following a gubernatorial election.[3] State representatives serve for terms of two years.[3]

Leadership

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. In addition to presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leadership position, and controls the flow of legislation and committee assignments. 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 chamber.

Position Representative Caucus Party Residence District
Rep-Coalition Rep 26
Rep-Coalition Rep 24
Rep-Coalition Rep 29
Minority Leader Dem-Coalition Ind 12
Minority Whip Dem-Coalition Rep 5

Current composition

The 23-member majority caucus consists of 20 Republicans, 1 Independent and 2 Democrats from the Bush Caucus. The 16-member minority caucus consists of 11 Democrats, 4 Independents and 1 Republican. Representative David Eastman is not a member of either caucus. [4]

201211411
RepublicanIDRRIDemocratic
AffiliationParty

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

Total
RepublicanIndep.DemocraticVacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"End of 28th Legislature260410400
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Begin 29th Legislature (2015)231 rowspan=2412400
nowrap style="font-size:80%"End of 29th (2016)122
nowrap style="font-size:80%30th Legislature (2017–2018)18 width=303217400
nowrap style="font-size:80%Begin 31st Legislature (2019)158 colspan=2 rowspan=22 colspan=2 rowspan=215400
nowrap style="font-size:80%End 31st (2020)16width=2015391
nowrap style="font-size:80%Begin 32nd Legislature (2021)201415400
nowrap style="font-size:80%End 32nd (2022)1722415
nowrap style="font-size:80%Begin 33rd Legislature (2023)[5] 21613400
nowrap style="font-size:80%January 18, 2023[6] 11 width=60 rowspan=21924 rowspan=3211
nowrap style="font-size:80%October 10, 2023[7] rowspan=21391
nowrap style="font-size:80%November 13, 2023[8] width=6020400
Latest voting share

Past partisan compositions can be found on Political party strength in Alaska.

Committees

Current committees include:[9]

Current members (33rd Alaska State Legislature)

Alaska House of Representatives
33rd Alaska State Legislature, 2023–25
District Name Party Coalition Residence Assumed
office
Ind Minority Coalition 2015
2 Ind Minority Coalition 2023
3 Dem Minority Coalition 2019
4 Dem Minority Coalition Juneau 2019
5 Rep Minority Coalition 2015
6 Rep Majority Coalition 2019
7 Rep Majority Coalition 2023
8 Rep Majority Coalition 2019
9 Rep Majority Coalition 2019
10 Rep Majority Coalition Anchorage 2023
(2005–2017)
11 Rep Majority Coalition Anchorage 2023
12 Ind Minority Coalition Anchorage 2021
13 Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2013
14 Ind Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
15 Rep Majority Coalition Anchorage 2021
16 Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
17 Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2019
18 Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
19 Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
20 Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
21 Dem Minority Coalition Anchorage 2023
22 Rep Majority Coalition Anchorage 2023
23 Rep Majority Coalition 2023
24 Rep Majority Coalition Eagle River 2023
(2011–2019)
25 Rep Majority Coalition 2017
26 Rep Majority Coalition 2015
27 Rep No Coalition Wasilla 2017
28 Rep Majority Coalition Wasilla 2023
29 Rep Majority Coalition 2017
30 Rep Majority Coalition 2021
31 Dem Minority Coalition Fairbanks 2023
32 Rep Majority Coalition Fairbanks 2023
33 Rep Majority Coalition 2019
34 Rep Majority Coalition Fairbanks 2023
35 Dem Minority Coalition Fairbanks 2023
36 Rep Majority Coalition 2021
37 Ind Majority Coalition 2007
38 Dem Majority Coalition 2023
39 Dem Majority Coalition 2009
40 Rep Majority Coalition 2023

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See main article: Political party strength in Alaska.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/legprocess.pdf Legislative Process
  2. http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/docs/pdf/handbook.pdf Alaska Handbook to State Government
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20101222032055/http://ltgov.alaska.gov/treadwell/services/alaska-constitution/article-ii-96A0the-legislature.html Article 2 of the Alaska Constitution
  4. Web site: February 2, 2023 . Alaska's Republican former House speaker joins Democrat-led minority . February 3, 2023 . Alaska Division of Elections.
  5. https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2023/01/17/alaska-house-remains-in-disarray-as-legislature-begins-session/ Legislature sworn in January 17, 2023 without a governing majority
  6. https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2023/01/18/alaska-house-elects-republican-tilton-as-speaker/ Speaker elected and majority formed
  7. Independent Josiah Patkotak (District 40) resigned. https://alaskapublic.org/2023/10/11/state-rep-josiah-patkotak-resigns-after-winning-north-slope-mayors-race/
  8. Republican Thomas Baker was sworn in to succeed Patkotak. https://www.adn.com/politics/2023/11/14/alaska-house-republicans-confirm-thomas-baker-to-fill-vacancy-left-when-independent-rep-patkotak-resigned/
  9. Web site: Alaska House Committees. 2014-04-09. Open States. Sunlight Foundation. 2014-04-09.