Georgia House of Representatives explained

Georgia House of Representatives
Coa Pic:House_of_Representatives.png
Session Room:House Chamber, Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta 20160718 1.jpg
Term Limits:None
New Session:January 9, 2023
House Type:Lower House
Leader1:Jon G. Burns (R)
Election1:January 9, 2023
Leader2 Type:Speaker Pro Tempore
Leader2:Jan Jones (R)
Election2:January 11, 2010
Leader3 Type:Majority Leader
Leader3:Chuck Efstration (R)
Election3:January 9, 2023
Leader4:James Beverly (D)
Election4:January 11, 2021
Term Length:2 years
Salary:$23,341.72/year + per diem[1]
Members:180
Last Election1:November 8, 2022
(180 seats)
Next Election1:November 5, 2024
(180 seats)
Redistricting:Legislative control
Structure1:Georgia State House_2023.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Political Groups1:Majority

Minority

Website:Georgia House of Representatives

The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly (the state legislature) of the U.S. state of Georgia. There are currently 180 elected members. Republicans have had a majority in the chamber since 2005. The current House Speaker is Jon G. Burns.

History

The Georgia House of Representatives was created in during the American Revolution, making it older than the U.S. Congress. During its existence, its meeting place has moved multiple times, from Savannah to Augusta, to Louisville, to Milledgeville and finally to Atlanta in 1868.[2]

In 1867, the military governor of Georgia called for an assembly in Atlanta to discuss a constitutional convention. Atlanta officials moved to make the city Georgia's new state capital, donating the location of Atlanta's first city hall. The constitutional convention agreed and the people voted to ratify the decision on April 20, 1868. The Georgia General Assembly first presided in Atlanta on July 4, 1868.[2]

On October 26, 1884, construction began on a new state capitol and was first occupied on June 15, 1889.[2]

Powers and privileges

The state constitution gives the state legislature the power to make state laws, restrict land use to protect and preserve the environment and natural resources, form a state militia under the command of the Governor of Georgia, expend public money, condemn property, zone property, participate in tourism, and control and regulate outdoor advertising.[3]

The state legislature cannot grant incorporation to private persons but may establish laws governing the incorporation process. It is also prohibited from authorizing contracts or agreements that may have the effect of or the intent of lessening competition or encouraging a monopoly.

Privileges

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives maintain two privileges during their time in office. First, no member can be arrested during session or during committee meetings except in cases of treason, felony, or "breach of the peace". Second, members are not liable for anything they might say in session or committee meetings.

Composition

See main article: Political party strength in Georgia (U.S. state). According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to comprise no fewer than 180 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 180 members. Elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.

It is the third-largest lower house of the 50 United States (behind New Hampshire (400) and Pennsylvania (203)).[4] Republicans currently have a majority, though Democrats have gained seats in recent elections.

As of 2011, attorneys account for about 16.1% of the membership of the Georgia House of Representatives, a relatively low figure.[5]

AffiliationParty

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

Total
RepublicanDemocraticVacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"End of 155th General Assembly105741791
nowrap style="font-size:80%"End of 156th General Assembly103761791
nowrap style="font-size:80%"Beginning of 157th General Assembly101791800
nowrap style="font-size:80%"July 11, 2023[6] 102781800
Latest voting share

Officers

The House of Representatives elects its own Speaker as well as a Speaker Pro Tempore. Speaker Jon G. Burns was elected on January 9, 2023. Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, who served as Speaker following the death of Speaker David Ralston, was reelected to her previous position on that day as well. The Speaker Pro Tempore becomes Speaker in case of the death, resignation, or permanent disability of the Speaker. The Speaker Pro Tempore serves until a new Speaker is elected. In addition there is a Clerk of the House, who is charged with overseeing the flow of legislation through the body. The current clerk is William L. Reilly.[7]

OfficeRepresentativeParty
Speaker of the HouseRepublican
Speaker pro temporeRepublican
Majority LeaderRepublican
Majority WhipRepublican
Majority Caucus ChairmanBruce WilliamsonRepublican
Majority Caucus Vice-ChairmanHouston GainesRepublican
Majority Caucus Secretary/TreasurerGinny EhrhartRepublican
Majority Caucus Chief Deputy WhipRob LeverettRepublican
Minority LeaderDemocratic
Minority WhipDemocratic
Minority Caucus ChairmanBilly MitchellDemocratic
Minority Caucus Vice-ChairwomanKaren BennettDemocratic
Minority Caucus SecretaryPark CannonDemocratic
Minority Caucus TreasurerSolomon AdesanyaDemocratic
Minority Caucus Chief Deputy WhipSandra ScottDemocratic
Source:[8]

Membership

List of current representatives

, the membership of the House is as follows:[9]

District RepresentativeParty Since Residence Counties represented
1Republican2021RossvilleDade, Walker
2Republican2014ChickamaugaCatoosa, Walker, Whitfield
3Republican2023RinggoldCatoosa
4Republican2017DaltonWhitfield
5Republican2019CalhounFloyd, Gordon
6Republican2017ChatsworthMurray
7Republican2023Blue RidgeDawson, Fannin, Gilmer
8Republican2021BlairsvilleTowns, Union, White
9Republican2013DawsonvilleDawson, Lumpkin, White
10Republican2021CorneliaHabersham, Rabun
11Republican2010JasperCherokee, Forsyth, Pickens
12Republican2013RomeChattooga, Floyd
13Republican2007RomeFloyd
14Republican2019RydalBartow, Cherokee
15Republican2019CartersvilleBartow
16Republican2013CedartownPaulding, Polk
17Republican2019DallasPaulding
18Republican2021BremenCarroll, Haralson
19Republican2019DallasPaulding
20Republican2013WoodstockCherokee
21Republican2013WoodstockCherokee
22Republican2023WoodstockCherokee, Cobb
23Republican2013CantonCherokee
24Republican2023CummingForsyth
25Republican2017CummingForsyth, Fulton
26Republican2021CummingForsyth
27Republican2013GainesvilleHall, Lumpkin
28Republican2023DawsonvilleForsyth, Hall
29Republican2017GainesvilleHall
30Republican2023Chestnut MountainGwinnett, Hall
31Republican2011GillsvilleHall, Jackson
32Republican2023HomerBanks, Habersham
33Republican1991HartwellFranklin, Hart, Madison
34Republican2021MariettaCobb
35Democratic2023KennesawCobb
36Republican2019Powder SpringsCobb
37Democratic2019MariettaCobb
38Democratic2011Powder SpringsCobb
39Democratic2023MabletonCobb
40Democratic2023SmyrnaCobb
41Democratic2013MariettaCobb
42Democratic2017SmyrnaCobb
43Democratic2023MariettaCobb
44Republican1995MariettaCherokee, Cobb
45Republican1997MariettaCobb
46Republican2011RoswellCherokee, Cobb
47Republican2003AlpharettaCherokee, Fulton
48Republican2023Peachtree CornersFulton, Gwinnett
49Republican2003AlpharettaFulton
50Democratic2023Johns CreekFulton
51Democratic2023Sandy SpringsFulton
52Democratic2021Sandy SpringsDeKalb, Fulton
53Republican2023Sandy SpringsFulton
54Democratic2019AtlantaFulton
55Democratic2023AtlantaFulton
56Republican2021AtlantaFulton
57Democratic2021AtlantaFulton
58Democratic2016AtlantaFulton
59Democratic2023AtlantaFulton
60Democratic2005AtlantaFulton
61Democratic2003AtlantaDouglas, Fulton
62Democratic2023AtlantaFulton
63Democratic2017AtlantaFulton
64Republican2023Villa RicaDouglas, Paulding
65Democratic2021AtlantaCoweta, Douglas, Fulton
66Democratic2013DouglasvilleDouglas
67Democratic2023FairburnCoweta, Fulton
68Democratic2023TyroneFayette, Fulton
69Democratic2017South FultonFayette, Fulton
70Republican1997NewnanCarroll, Coweta
71Republican2017Villa RicaCarroll
72Republican2023RoopvilleCarroll, Heard, Troup
73Republican2017FayettevilleCoweta, Fayette
74Republican2023GriffinFayette, Henry, Spalding
75Democratic2023JonesboroClayton
76Democratic2011RexClayton
77Democratic2017RiverdaleClayton
78Democratic2013JonesboroClayton, Henry
79Democratic2011MorrowClayton
80Democratic2023DunwoodyDeKalb
81Democratic2011AtlantaDeKalb
82Democratic2003AtlantaDeKalb
83Democratic2023ChambleeDeKalb
84Democratic2023DecaturDeKalb
85Democratic2001Avondale EstatesDeKalb
86Democratic2023TuckerDeKalb
87Democratic2019Stone MountainDeKalb
88Democratic2003LithoniaDeKalb, Gwinnett
89Democratic2023AtlantaDeKalb
90Democratic2023AtlantaDeKalb
91Democratic2021LithoniaDeKalb, Henry, Rockdale
92Democratic2021ConyersDeKalb, Rockdale
93Democratic2015LithoniaDeKalb, Newton, Rockdale
94Democratic2013Stone MountainDeKalb, Gwinnett
95Democratic2023LithoniaDeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale
96Democratic2003DuluthGwinnett
97Democratic2023DuluthGwinnett
98Democratic2021NorcrossGwinnett
99Republican2023DuluthGwinnett
100Republican2015Sugar HillForsyth, Gwinnett, Hall
101Democratic2017LawrencevilleGwinnett
102Democratic2017LawrencevilleGwinnett
103Republican2023LawrencevilleGwinnett, Hall
104Republican2013AuburnBarrow, Gwinnett
105Democratic2023DaculaGwinnett
106Democratic2019SnellvilleGwinnett
107Democratic2023LawrencevilleGwinnett
108Democratic2019LilburnGwinnett
109Democratic2023LawrencevilleGwinnett
110Democratic2023GraysonGwinnett
111Republican2023LoganvilleGwinnett, Walton
112Republican2023MonroeWalton
113Democratic2021CovingtonNewton
114Republican2023CovingtonJasper, Morgan, Newton
115Democratic2023McDonoughHenry
116Democratic2023StockbridgeClayton, Henry
117Republican2023Locust GroveHenry, Spalding
118Republican2023JacksonButts, Henry, Jasper, Putnam
119Republican2023WinderBarrow, Jackson
120Republican2019AthensBarrow, Clarke, Jackson, Oconee
121Republican2019WatkinsvilleClarke, Oconee
122Democratic2023AthensClarke
123Republican2023ElbertonColumbia, Elbert, Lincoln, Madison, Wilkes
124Republican2015GreensboroClarke, Greene, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Taliaferro
125Gary RichardsonRepublican2024EvansColumbia, McDuffie
126Democratic2007HephzibahBurke, Jenkins, Richmond
127Republican2023AugustaColumbia, Richmond
128Democratic2009SandersvilleBaldwin, Glascock, Hancock, McDuffie, Warren, Washington
129Democratic2023AugustaRichmond
130Democratic2023AugustaRichmond
131Republican2023EvansColumbia
132Democratic2023AugustaJefferson, Richmond
133Republican2023MilledgevilleBaldwin, Jones
134Republican2005GriffinLamar, Monroe, Spalding
135Republican2021ConcordLamar, Pike, Upson
136Republican2021GrantvilleCoweta, Meriwether, Troup
137Democratic2003Junction CityMeriwether, Muscogee, Talbot, Troup
138Republican2019HamiltonHarris, Muscogee, Troup
139Republican2024ColumbusHarris, Muscogee
140Democratic2023ColumbusMuscogee
141Democratic1993ColumbusMuscogee
142Democratic2017MaconBibb
143Democratic2011MaconBibb
144Republican2019MaconBibb, Jones, Monroe
145Republican2011MusellaBaldwin, Putnam
146Republican2015KathleenHouston
147Republican2023Warner RobinsHouston
148Republican2019CordeleBen Hill, Crisp, Houston, Pulaski, Wilcox
149Republican2011CochranBleckley, Dodge, Telfair, Twiggs, Wilkinson
150Democratic2013ButlerDooly, Macon, Peach, Sumter, Taylor
151Republican2023AmericusChattahoochee, Dougherty, Marion, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, Webster
152Republican2019SylvesterDougherty, Lee, Worth
153Democratic2023AlbanyDougherty
154Republican1983CuthbertBaker, Calhoun, Clay, Dougherty, Early, Miller, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole
155Republican2023DublinJohnson, Laurens
156Republican2021LyonsBen Hill, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Wheeler
157Republican2015GlennvilleAppling, Evans, Jeff Davis, Tattnall
158Republican1985SwainsboroBulloch, Candler, Emanuel, Treutlen
159Republican2005NewingtonBulloch, Effingham, Screven
160Republican2023StatesboroBryan, Bulloch
161Republican2013RinconChatham, Effingham
162Democratic2016Garden CityChatham
163Democratic2023SavannahChatham
164Republican1997Richmond HillBryan, Chatham
165Democratic2021SavannahChatham
166Republican2015SavannahBryan, Chatham
167Republican2021TownsendGlynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Wayne
168Democratic2003MidwayLiberty
169Republican2023AshburnCoffee, Irwin, Tift, Turner
170Republican1997NashvilleBerrien, Cook, Tift
171Republican2020CamillaDecatur, Grady, Mitchell
172Republican2023MoultrieColquitt, Thomas
173Republican2011ThomasvilleGrady, Thomas
174Republican2015Lake ParkBrantley, Charlton, Clinch, Echols, Lowndes, Ware
175Republican2018ValdostaBrooks, Lowndes
176Republican2019MillwoodAtkinson, Coffee, Lanier, Lowndes, Ware
177Democratic2013ValdostaLowndes
178Republican2019ScrevenAppling, Bacon, Pierce, Wayne
179Republican2023St. SimonsGlynn
180Republican2019WoodbineCamden, Glynn

Longest serving representatives

The following is a list of the 10 individuals who served the longest amount of time in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Tenure Name Term Party Hometown
1January 13, 1975 – January 9, 2023 Democratic Columbus
2January 9, 1961 – January 13, 2003 Democratic Bremen
3January 14, 1957 – January 11, 1999 Democratic Forest Park
4Since January 10, 1983 Republican Cuthbert
5January 14, 1935 – January 13, 1975 Democratic Avera
6Since January 14, 1985 Republican Swainsboro
7September 27, 1962 – January 8, 2001 Democratic Waycross
8January 9, 1967 – January 10, 2005 Democratic Columbus
9January 14, 1963 – January 8, 2001 Democratic Quitman
10September 18, 1975 – January 14, 2013 Republican Parrott

Committees list

Source:[10]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Comparison of state legislative salaries . Ballotpedia . September 1, 2020.
  2. http://www.sos.state.ga.us/state_capitol/capitolguide/handout21.htm The Capitalization of Georgia
  3. http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/conart3.htm Article III Section VI
  4. Web site: brenda erickson . Population and Size of Legislature . Ncsl.org . October 11, 2007 . April 5, 2011 . June 14, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180614221935/http://www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?TabId=13527 . dead .
  5. Web site: Georgia House of Representatives . June 6, 2011.
  6. Web site: Vigdor . Neil . Democrat's Defection Gives Georgia G.O.P. First Black Woman in State House . The New York Times . 12 July 2023.
  7. Web site: Staff Directory. Georgia House of Representatives. October 16, 2013.
  8. Web site: House Leadership. www.house.ga.gov. January 9, 2023.
  9. Web site: Representatives (2023–2024 Regular Session) . Georgia House of Representatives . 27 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Committees List . House.Ga.Gov. November 26, 2020.

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