Michigan Legislature: Difference between revisions

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| structure2_res = 250px
| structure2_res = 250px
| term_length = [[Michigan Senate|Senate]]: 4 years <br>[[Michigan House of Representatives|House]]: 2 years
| term_length = [[Michigan Senate|Senate]]: 4 years <br>[[Michigan House of Representatives|House]]: 2 years
| term_limits = [[Michigan Senate|Senate]]: 2 terms (8 years) <br>[[Michigan House of Representatives|House]]: 3 terms (6 years) <br>12 years combined (from 2023)
| term_limits = 12 years combined
| leader1_type = [[List of Lieutenant Governors of Michigan|President of the Senate<br><small>(Lt. Governor)</small>]]
| leader1_type = [[List of Lieutenant Governors of Michigan|President of the Senate<br><small>(Lt. Governor)</small>]]
| leader1 = [[Garlin Gilchrist]]
| leader1 = [[Garlin Gilchrist]]
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| leader2 = [[Joe Tate (politician)|Joe Tate]]
| leader2 = [[Joe Tate (politician)|Joe Tate]]
| party2 = ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
| party2 = ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
| election2 =
| election2 = January 11, 2023
| leader3_type = [[List of Majority Leaders of the Michigan Senate|Senate Majority Leader]]
| leader3_type = [[List of Majority Leaders of the Michigan Senate|Senate Majority Leader]]
| leader3 = [[Winnie Brinks]]
| leader3 = [[Winnie Brinks]]
| party3 = ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
| party3 = ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
| election3 =
| election3 = January 11, 2023
| leader4_type = House Majority Floor Leader
| leader4_type = House Majority Floor Leader
| leader4 = [[Abraham Aiyash]]
| leader4 = [[Abraham Aiyash]]
| party4 = ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
| party4 = ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
| election4 =
| election4 = January 11, 2023
| members = '''148'''<br>38 Senators<br>110 Representatives
| members = '''148'''<br>38 Senators<br>110 Representatives
| political_groups1 = '''Majority'''
| political_groups1 = '''Majority'''
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| last_election1 = [[2022 Michigan Senate election|November 8, 2022]]
| last_election1 = [[2022 Michigan Senate election|November 8, 2022]]
| last_election2 = [[2022 Michigan House of Representatives election|November 8, 2022]]
| last_election2 = [[2022 Michigan House of Representatives election|November 8, 2022]]
| next_election1 = [[2026 Michigan Senate election|TBD]]
| next_election1 = [[2026 Michigan Senate election|November 3, 2026]]
| next_election2 = [[2024 Michigan House of Representatives election|November 5, 2024]]
| next_election2 = [[2024 Michigan House of Representatives election|November 5, 2024]]
| meeting_place = [[Michigan Capitol]], [[Lansing, Michigan]]
| meeting_place = [[Michigan State Capitol]]<br/>[[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]]
| session_room = Michigan state capitol.jpg
| session_room = Michigan state capitol.jpg
| session_res = 275px
| session_res = 275px
| redistricting = Independent redistricting commission <br>(as of December 14, 2018)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Lauren |title=What the passage of Proposal 2 means for Michigan |url=https://expo.mlive.com/news/erry-2018/11/052abe75429023/what-the-passage-of-proposal-2.html |access-date=April 30, 2019 |work=MLive.com |date=November 7, 2018}}</ref>
| redistricting = Independent redistricting commission <br>(as of December 14, 2018)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Lauren |title=What the passage of Proposal 2 means for Michigan |url=https://expo.mlive.com/news/erry-2018/11/052abe75429023/what-the-passage-of-proposal-2.html |access-date=April 30, 2019 |work=MLive.com |date=November 7, 2018}}</ref>
| website ={{URL|legislature.mi.gov}}
| website ={{URL|legislature.mi.gov}}
|chambers=[[Michigan Senate|Senate]]<br>[[Michigan House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]}}
}}
The '''Michigan Legislature''' is the [[state legislature (United States)|legislature]] of the U.S. state of [[Michigan]]. It is organized as a [[bicameral]] body composed of an upper chamber, the [[Michigan Senate|Senate]], and a lower chamber, the [[Michigan House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. Article IV of the [[Michigan Constitution]], adopted in 1963, defines the role of the Legislature and how it is to be constituted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(qzvrtukff32yqyac5xpro43c))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-Article-IV-1|title=State Constitution of Michigan Article IV Section I|publisher=Michigan Legislature}}</ref> The chief purposes of the Legislature are to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws. The Legislature meets in the [[Michigan State Capitol|Capitol]] building in [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]].
The '''Michigan Legislature''' is the [[state legislature (United States)|legislature]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. It is organized as a [[bicameral]] body composed of an [[Upper house| upper chamber]], the [[Michigan Senate|Senate]], and a [[Lower house|lower chamber]], the [[Michigan House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. Article IV of the [[Michigan Constitution]], adopted in 1963, defines the role of the Legislature and how it is to be constituted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(qzvrtukff32yqyac5xpro43c))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-Article-IV-1|title=State Constitution of Michigan Article IV Section I|publisher=Michigan Legislature}}</ref> The chief purposes of the Legislature are to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws. The Legislature meets in the [[Michigan State Capitol|Capitol]] building in [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]].


The [[102nd Michigan Legislature]] will be sworn in January 1, 2023.
The [[102nd Michigan Legislature]] was sworn in on January 11, 2023.


==Titles==
==Titles==
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==Michigan Senate==
==Michigan Senate==
{{Main|Michigan Senate}}
{{Main|Michigan Senate}}
The Senate is the upper house of the Legislature. Its members are elected on a partisan basis for four-year terms, concurrent with the election of the [[Governor of Michigan]].<ref name=mib/> The Senate consists of 38 members elected from single-member election districts<ref name=mib/> ranging from 212,400 to 263,500 residents according to the most recent creation of districts (2002). Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures through the federal decennial census. Senators' terms begin at noon on January 1 following their election. The Senate Chamber is located in the south wing of the State Capitol building. As of 2018, [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] hold the majority in the Senate with 22 seats; [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] hold the minority with 16 seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_State_Legislature|title=Michigan State Legislature|publisher=Ballotpedia}}</ref> Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, Democrats will hold the majority with 20 seats, and Republicans will have 18 seats. Under the [[Michigan Constitution]], the [[Lieutenant Governor of Michigan]] serves as President of the Senate, but may only cast a vote in the instance of a tie.<ref name=mib/> The Senate selects its other officers and adopts its own rules of procedure at the start of a new Legislative Session.
The Senate is the upper house of the Legislature. Its members are elected on a partisan basis for four-year terms, concurrent with the election of the [[Governor of Michigan]].<ref name=mib/> The Senate consists of 38 members elected from single-member election districts<ref name=mib/> ranging from 212,400 to 263,500 residents according to the most recent creation of districts (2002). Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures through the federal decennial census. Senators' terms begin at noon on January 1 following their election. The Senate Chamber is located in the south wing of the State Capitol building. As of 2023, [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] hold the majority in the Senate with 20 seats; [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] hold the minority with 18 seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_State_Legislature|title=Michigan State Legislature|publisher=Ballotpedia}}</ref> Under the [[Michigan Constitution]], the [[Lieutenant Governor of Michigan]] serves as President of the Senate, but may only cast a vote in the instance of a tie.<ref name=mib/> The Senate selects its other officers and adopts its own rules of procedure at the start of a new Legislative Session.


==Michigan House of Representatives==
==Michigan House of Representatives==
{{Main|Michigan House of Representatives}}
{{Main|Michigan House of Representatives}}
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Legislature. Its members are elected on a partisan basis for two-year terms, at the same time at which [[United States House of Representatives|Representatives in U.S. Congress]] are chosen. The House of Representatives consists of 110 members who are elected from single-member election districts<ref name=mib/> ranging from 77,000 to 91,000 according to the most recent creation of districts (2012). Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures through the federal decennial census. Representatives' terms begin at noon on January 1 following their election. The House of Representatives Chamber in the State Capitol is located in the north wing of the State Capitol building. As of 2018, [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] hold a majority of seats in the House of Representatives with 58, and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] hold 52 seats. The House of Representatives selects its own [[List of Speakers of the Michigan House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] and other officers and adopts its rules of procedure at the start of a new legislative session.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.michigan.gov/citizens.asp|title=Citizen's Guide |publisher=Michigan House of Representatives}}</ref>
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Legislature. Its members are elected on a partisan basis for two-year terms, at the same time at which [[United States House of Representatives|Representatives in U.S. Congress]] are chosen. The House of Representatives consists of 110 members who are elected from single-member election districts<ref name=mib/> ranging from 77,000 to 91,000 according to the most recent creation of districts (2012). Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures through the federal decennial census. Representatives' terms begin at noon on January 1 following their election. The House of Representatives Chamber in the State Capitol is located in the north wing of the State Capitol building. As of 2023, [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] hold a majority of seats in the House of Representatives with 56, and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] hold 54 seats. The House of Representatives selects its own [[List of Speakers of the Michigan House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] and other officers and adopts its rules of procedure at the start of a new legislative session.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.michigan.gov/citizens.asp|title=Citizen's Guide |publisher=Michigan House of Representatives}}</ref>


==Term limits==
==Term limits==
On November 3, 1992, almost 59 percent of Michigan voters backed Proposal B, the Michigan Term Limits Amendment, which amended the State Constitution, to enact term limits on federal and state officials. In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not enact congressional term limits, but ruled that the state-level term limits remain. Under the amendment, a person could be elected to the office of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state two times each. It also limited the number of times a person could be elected to the House of Representatives to three times, and to the Senate two times. A provision governing partial terms was also included. These provisions became Article IV, section 54 and Article V, section 30 of the Michigan Constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Const_Amend_189834_7.pdf|title=Constitutional Amendments|publisher=Michigan Legislature}}</ref> On November 8, 2022, voters approved Proposal 1, further limiting state representatives and senators to 12 years combined in either chamber of the legislature, but senators re-elected in 2022 would remain eligible for their new terms even if it pushed them over the 12-year limit.<ref>{{Cite news |last = DesOrmeau |first = Taylor |date = November 9, 2022 |title = Proposal 1: Voters pass plan to shorten term limits, require politicians to disclose finances |url = https://www.mlive.com/politics/2022/11/proposal-1-voters-pass-plan-to-shorten-term-limits-require-politicians-to-disclose-finances.html |access-date = November 22, 2022 |website = MLive |language = en }}</ref>
On November 3, 1992, almost 59 percent of Michigan voters backed Proposal B, the Michigan Term Limits Amendment, which amended the State Constitution, to enact term limits on federal and state officials. In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court [[U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton|ruled]] that states could not enact congressional term limits, but ruled that the state-level term limits remain. Under the amendment, a person could be elected to the office of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state two times each. It also limited the number of times a person could be elected to the House of Representatives to three times, and to the Senate two times. A provision governing partial terms was also included. These provisions became Article IV, section 54 and Article V, section 30 of the Michigan Constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Const_Amend_189834_7.pdf|title=Constitutional Amendments|publisher=Michigan Legislature}}</ref> On November 8, 2022, voters approved Proposal 1, limiting state representatives and senators to 12 years combined in either chamber of the legislature, but senators re-elected in 2022 would remain eligible for their new terms even if it pushed them over the 12-year limit.<ref>{{Cite news |last = DesOrmeau |first = Taylor |date = November 9, 2022 |title = Proposal 1: Voters pass plan to shorten term limits, require politicians to disclose finances |url = https://www.mlive.com/politics/2022/11/proposal-1-voters-pass-plan-to-shorten-term-limits-require-politicians-to-disclose-finances.html |access-date = November 22, 2022 |website = MLive |language = en }}</ref>


==Qualifications==
==Qualifications==
Senators and Representatives must be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, and an elector of the district they represents. Under state law, moving out of the district shall be deemed a vacation of the office. No person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be eligible for either house of the legislature.
Senators and Representatives must be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years of age, and an elector of the district they represent. Under state law, moving out of the district shall be deemed a vacation of the office. No person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be eligible for either chamber of the legislature.


==Legislative session==
==Legislative session==
For reckoning periods of time during which the Legislature operates, each two-year period coinciding with the election of new members of the House of Representatives is numbered consecutively as a legislature, dating to the [[1st Michigan Legislature|first legislature]] following adoption of Michigan's first constitution. The current two-year term of the legislature (January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022) is the 101st Legislature.
For reckoning periods of time during which the Legislature operates, each two-year period coinciding with the election of new members of the House of Representatives is numbered consecutively as a legislature, dating to the [[1st Michigan Legislature|first legislature]] following adoption of Michigan's first constitution. The current two-year term of the legislature (January 11, 2023 – January 8, 2025) is the 102nd Legislature.


Each year during which the Legislature meets constitutes a new legislative session. According to Article IV Section 13 of the State Constitution, a new session of the Legislature begins when the members of each house convene, on the second Wednesday of January every year at noon. A regular session of the Legislature typically lasts throughout the entire year with several periods of recess and adjourns ''[[sine die]]'' in late December.
Each year during which the Legislature meets constitutes a new legislative session. According to Article IV Section 13 of the Michigan Constitution, a new session of the Legislature begins when the members of each house convene, on the second Wednesday of January every year at noon. A regular session of the Legislature typically lasts throughout the entire year with several periods of recess and adjourns ''[[sine die]]'' in late December.


The Michigan Legislature is one of ten full-time state legislative bodies in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/full-and-part-time-legislatures.aspx|title=Full- and Part-Time Legislatures}}</ref> Members receive a base salary of $71,685 per year, which makes them the fourth-highest paid legislators in the country, after California, Pennsylvania and New York. While legislators in many states receive per diems that make up for lower salaries, Michigan legislators receive $10,800 per year for session and interim expenses.<ref>[http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/legislatures/full-and-part-time-legislatures.aspx National Conference of State Legislatures]</ref> Salaries and expense allowances are determined by the State Officers Compensation Commission.<ref name=mib/>
The Michigan Legislature is one of ten full-time state legislative bodies in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/full-and-part-time-legislatures.aspx|title=Full- and Part-Time Legislatures}}</ref> Members receive a base salary of $71,685 per year, which makes them the fourth-highest paid legislators in the country, after California, Pennsylvania and New York. While legislators in many states receive per diems that make up for lower salaries, Michigan legislators receive $10,800 per year for session and interim expenses.<ref>[http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/legislatures/full-and-part-time-legislatures.aspx National Conference of State Legislatures]</ref> Salaries and expense allowances are determined by the State Officers Compensation Commission.<ref name=mib/>
Line 87: Line 87:


==Powers and process==
==Powers and process==
The Michigan Legislature is authorized by the [[Michigan Constitution]] to create and amend the laws of the U.S. state of Michigan, subject to the Governor's power to veto legislation. To do so, legislators propose legislation in the forms of bills drafted by a nonpartisan, professional staff. Successful legislation must undergo committee review, three [[Reading (legislature)|readings]] on the floor of each house, with appropriate voting majorities, as required, and either be signed into law by the Governor or enacted through a veto override approved by two-thirds of the membership of each legislative house.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.michigan.gov/citizens.asp|title=Citizens Guide|publisher=Michigan House of Representatives}}</ref>
The Michigan Legislature is authorized by the [[Michigan Constitution]] to create and amend the laws of the U.S. state of Michigan, subject to the Governor's power to veto legislation. To do so, legislators propose legislation in the forms of bills drafted by a nonpartisan, professional staff. Successful legislation must undergo committee review, three [[Reading (legislature)|readings]] on the floor of each house, with appropriate voting majorities, as required, and either be signed into law by the [[Governor of Michigan|Governor]] or enacted through a veto override approved by two-thirds of the membership of each legislative house.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.michigan.gov/citizens.asp|title=Citizens Guide|publisher=Michigan House of Representatives}}</ref>


===Leadership===
===Leadership===
Line 95: Line 95:


*President of the Michigan Senate (Lieutenant Governor): [[Garlin Gilchrist]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.michigan.gov/leadership.html|title=Senate Leadership|publisher=Michigan Senate}}</ref>
*President of the Michigan Senate (Lieutenant Governor): [[Garlin Gilchrist]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.michigan.gov/leadership.html|title=Senate Leadership|publisher=Michigan Senate}}</ref>
*President ''Pro Tempore'' of the Michigan Senate: [[Aric Nesbitt]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
*President ''Pro Tempore'' of the Michigan Senate: [[Jeremy Moss]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
*Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: [[Mike Shirkey]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
*Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: [[Winnie Brinks]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
*Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate: [[Jim Ananich]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
*Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate: [[Aric Nesbitt]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
*[[Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]]: [[Jason Wentworth]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.house.mi.gov/leadership.asp|title=House Leadership|publisher=Michigan House of Representatives}}</ref>
*[[Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]]: [[Joe Tate (politician)|Joe Tate]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.house.mi.gov/Leadership|title=House Leadership|publisher=Michigan House of Representatives}}</ref>
*Speaker ''Pro Tempore'' of the Michigan House: [[Pamela Hornberger]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
*Speaker ''Pro Tempore'' of the Michigan House: [[Laurie Pohutsky]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
*Majority Leader of the Michigan House: [[Ben Frederick]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
*Majority Leader of the Michigan House: [[Abraham Aiyash]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
*Minority Leader of the Michigan House: [[Donna Lasinski]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
*Minority Leader of the Michigan House: [[Matt Hall (politician)|Matt Hall]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 19:36, 2 May 2024

Michigan Legislature
102nd Michigan Legislature
The Great Seal of the State of Michigan :: A.D. MDCCCXXXV
Type
Type
ChambersSenate
House of Representatives
Term limits
12 years combined
History
FoundedJanuary 26, 1837
Preceded byMichigan Territorial Council
Leadership
Garlin Gilchrist (D)
since January 1, 2019
Joe Tate (D)
since January 11, 2023
Winnie Brinks (D)
since January 11, 2023
House Majority Floor Leader
Abraham Aiyash (D)
since January 11, 2023
Structure
Seats148
38 Senators
110 Representatives
Senate political groups
Majority
  •   Democratic (20)

Minority

House of Representatives political groups
Majority

Minority

Length of term
Senate: 4 years
House: 2 years
AuthorityArticle IV, Michigan Constitution
Salary$71,685 salary/year + $10,800 per diem/year
Elections
Last Senate election
November 8, 2022
November 8, 2022
Next Senate election
November 3, 2026
November 5, 2024
RedistrictingIndependent redistricting commission
(as of December 14, 2018)[1]
Meeting place
Michigan State Capitol
Lansing
Website
legislature.mi.gov

The Michigan Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is organized as a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives. Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, adopted in 1963, defines the role of the Legislature and how it is to be constituted.[2] The chief purposes of the Legislature are to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws. The Legislature meets in the Capitol building in Lansing.

The 102nd Michigan Legislature was sworn in on January 11, 2023.

Titles[edit]

Members of the Senate are referred to as Senators and members of the House of Representatives are referred to as Representatives. Because this shadows the terminology used to describe members of Congress, constituents and the news media, using The Associated Press Stylebook, often refer to legislators as state senators or state representatives to avoid confusion with their federal counterparts.[3]

Michigan Senate[edit]

Main article: Michigan Senate

The Senate is the upper house of the Legislature. Its members are elected on a partisan basis for four-year terms, concurrent with the election of the Governor of Michigan.[3] The Senate consists of 38 members elected from single-member election districts[3] ranging from 212,400 to 263,500 residents according to the most recent creation of districts (2002). Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures through the federal decennial census. Senators' terms begin at noon on January 1 following their election. The Senate Chamber is located in the south wing of the State Capitol building. As of 2023, Democrats hold the majority in the Senate with 20 seats; Republicans hold the minority with 18 seats.[4] Under the Michigan Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan serves as President of the Senate, but may only cast a vote in the instance of a tie.[3] The Senate selects its other officers and adopts its own rules of procedure at the start of a new Legislative Session.

Michigan House of Representatives[edit]

Main article: Michigan House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Legislature. Its members are elected on a partisan basis for two-year terms, at the same time at which Representatives in U.S. Congress are chosen. The House of Representatives consists of 110 members who are elected from single-member election districts[3] ranging from 77,000 to 91,000 according to the most recent creation of districts (2012). Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures through the federal decennial census. Representatives' terms begin at noon on January 1 following their election. The House of Representatives Chamber in the State Capitol is located in the north wing of the State Capitol building. As of 2023, Democrats hold a majority of seats in the House of Representatives with 56, and Republicans hold 54 seats. The House of Representatives selects its own Speaker of the House and other officers and adopts its rules of procedure at the start of a new legislative session.[5]

Term limits[edit]

On November 3, 1992, almost 59 percent of Michigan voters backed Proposal B, the Michigan Term Limits Amendment, which amended the State Constitution, to enact term limits on federal and state officials. In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not enact congressional term limits, but ruled that the state-level term limits remain. Under the amendment, a person could be elected to the office of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state two times each. It also limited the number of times a person could be elected to the House of Representatives to three times, and to the Senate two times. A provision governing partial terms was also included. These provisions became Article IV, section 54 and Article V, section 30 of the Michigan Constitution.[6] On November 8, 2022, voters approved Proposal 1, limiting state representatives and senators to 12 years combined in either chamber of the legislature, but senators re-elected in 2022 would remain eligible for their new terms even if it pushed them over the 12-year limit.[7]

Qualifications[edit]

Senators and Representatives must be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years of age, and an elector of the district they represent. Under state law, moving out of the district shall be deemed a vacation of the office. No person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be eligible for either chamber of the legislature.

Legislative session[edit]

For reckoning periods of time during which the Legislature operates, each two-year period coinciding with the election of new members of the House of Representatives is numbered consecutively as a legislature, dating to the first legislature following adoption of Michigan's first constitution. The current two-year term of the legislature (January 11, 2023 – January 8, 2025) is the 102nd Legislature.

Each year during which the Legislature meets constitutes a new legislative session. According to Article IV Section 13 of the Michigan Constitution, a new session of the Legislature begins when the members of each house convene, on the second Wednesday of January every year at noon. A regular session of the Legislature typically lasts throughout the entire year with several periods of recess and adjourns sine die in late December.

The Michigan Legislature is one of ten full-time state legislative bodies in the United States.[8] Members receive a base salary of $71,685 per year, which makes them the fourth-highest paid legislators in the country, after California, Pennsylvania and New York. While legislators in many states receive per diems that make up for lower salaries, Michigan legislators receive $10,800 per year for session and interim expenses.[9] Salaries and expense allowances are determined by the State Officers Compensation Commission.[3]

Any legislation pending in either chamber at the end of a session that is not the end of a legislative term of office continues and carries over to the next Legislative Session.

Powers and process[edit]

The Michigan Legislature is authorized by the Michigan Constitution to create and amend the laws of the U.S. state of Michigan, subject to the Governor's power to veto legislation. To do so, legislators propose legislation in the forms of bills drafted by a nonpartisan, professional staff. Successful legislation must undergo committee review, three readings on the floor of each house, with appropriate voting majorities, as required, and either be signed into law by the Governor or enacted through a veto override approved by two-thirds of the membership of each legislative house.[10]

Leadership[edit]

The House of Representatives is headed by the Speaker, while the Senate is headed by the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, who serves as President of the Senate but may only cast a vote in the instance of a tie.[11]

The Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader control the assignment of committees and leadership positions, along with control of the agenda in their chambers. The two leaders, along with the Governor of Michigan, control most of the agenda of state business in Michigan.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gibbons, Lauren (November 7, 2018). "What the passage of Proposal 2 means for Michigan". MLive.com. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  2. ^ "State Constitution of Michigan Article IV Section I". Michigan Legislature.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Chapter 2: About State Government" (PDF). Michigan in Brief: 1998–99. Public Sector Consultants. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2007.
  4. ^ "Michigan State Legislature". Ballotpedia.
  5. ^ "Citizen's Guide". Michigan House of Representatives.
  6. ^ "Constitutional Amendments" (PDF). Michigan Legislature.
  7. ^ DesOrmeau, Taylor (November 9, 2022). "Proposal 1: Voters pass plan to shorten term limits, require politicians to disclose finances". MLive. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "Full- and Part-Time Legislatures".
  9. ^ National Conference of State Legislatures
  10. ^ "Citizens Guide". Michigan House of Representatives.
  11. ^ "Michigan State Constitution - Article V, Section 25". Michigan Legislature.
  12. ^ "Senate Leadership". Michigan Senate.
  13. ^ "House Leadership". Michigan House of Representatives.

External links[edit]

42°44′01″N 84°33′20″W / 42.733601°N 84.555470°W / 42.733601; -84.555470

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michigan_Legislature&oldid=1221918595"