Michigan House of Representatives

Michigan House of Representatives
Michigan Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
6 terms (12 years)
History
New session started
January 11, 2023
Leadership
Joe Tate (D)
since January 11, 2023
Speaker Pro Tempore
Laurie Pohutsky (D)
since January 11, 2023
Majority Leader
Abraham Aiyash (D)
since January 11, 2023
Minority Leader
Matt Hall (R)
since January 11, 2023
Structure
Seats110
Political groups
Majority
  •   Democratic (56)

Minority

Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle IV, Section 3, Michigan Constitution
Salary$71,865/year + expenses
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(110 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(110 seats)
RedistrictingIndependent Redistricting Commission
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Michigan State Capitol
Lansing, Michigan
Website
house.mi.gov
Rules
Standing Rules of the House of Representatives

The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2020 U.S. census. Its composition, powers and duties are established in Article IV of the Michigan Constitution.

Members are elected in even-numbered years and take office at 12 p.m. (EST) on January 1[1] following the November general election. Concurrently with the Michigan Senate, the House first convenes on the second Wednesday in January, according to the state constitution.[2] Each member is limited to serving at most six terms of two years, but may not serve more than twelve years combined across the Michigan House and Michigan Senate.[3][4] The House meets in the north wing of the Michigan Capitol in Lansing. The Democratic Party currently has a majority in the chamber.

In recent years, the Republican majority in the House has been widely attributed to Republican gerrymandering, implemented by the legislature after the 2010 census.[5] In many legislative elections since then, the Democratic Party has won the popular vote, but nonetheless failed to attain a majority. However, after the passage of Proposal 2, a 2018 ballot initiative, redistricting in the state was instead delegated to a nonpartisan commission, which drew new maps after the 2020 census. Aided by the redrawn district lines, in 2022, Democrats won a majority in the House for the first time since 2008.

Qualifications

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According to the constitution of Michigan, to be eligible for the office of State Representative a person must be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, and a registered and qualified elector of the district he or she wishes to represent by the filing deadline.[6]

Title

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Members of the Michigan House of Representatives are commonly referred to as representatives. Because this mirrors the terminology used to describe members of Congress, constituents and news media, abiding by the Associated Press guidelines for journalists, often refer to members as state representatives to avoid confusion with their federal counterparts. As elected officials, members of the Michigan House of Representatives also receive the courtesy title of the Honorable (abbreviated to Hon. or Hon'ble) for life.

Composition

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Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
End of the previous legislature 56 1[7] 53 110 0
Begin 2023 Session 54 56 110 0
Nov 13, 2023[8] 55 109 1
Nov 20, 2023[9] 54 108 2
April 30, 2024[10] 56 110 0
Latest voting share 49.1% 50.9%

Leadership

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Majority party

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Minority party

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Members

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Composition of the Michigan State House after the 2022 elections
  Democratic Party
  Republican Party
District State Representative Party County(ies) Term
1 Tyrone Carter Dem Wayne 3rd
2 Tullio Liberati Dem Wayne 2nd
3 Alabas Farhat Dem Wayne 1st
4 Karen Whitsett Dem Wayne 3rd
5 Natalie Price Dem Oakland, Wayne 1st
6 Regina Weiss Dem Oakland, Wayne 2nd
7 Helena Scott Dem Oakland, Wayne 2nd
8 Mike McFall Dem Oakland, Wayne 1st
9 Abraham Aiyash Dem Wayne 2nd
10 Joe Tate Dem Macomb, Wayne 3rd
11 Veronica Paiz Dem Macomb, Wayne 1st
12 Kimberly Edwards Dem Macomb, Wayne 2nd
13 Mai Xiong Dem Macomb, Wayne 1st
14 Donavan McKinney Dem Macomb, Wayne 1st
15 Erin Byrnes Dem Wayne 1st
16 Stephanie Young Dem Wayne 2nd
17 Laurie Pohutsky Dem Wayne 3rd
18 Jason Hoskins Dem Oakland 1st
19 Samantha Steckloff Dem Oakland 2nd
20 Noah Arbit Dem Oakland 1st
21 Kelly Breen Dem Oakland 2nd
22 Matt Koleszar Dem Wayne 3rd
23 Jason Morgan Dem Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne 1st
24 Ranjeev Puri Dem Wayne 2nd
25 Peter Herzberg Dem Wayne 1st
26 Dylan Wegela Dem Wayne 1st
27 Jaime Churches Dem Wayne 1st
28 Jamie Thompson Rep Monroe, Wayne 1st
29 James DeSana Rep Monroe, Wayne 2nd
30 William Bruck Rep Lenawee, Monroe 1st
31 Reggie Miller Dem Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne 1st
32 Jimmie Wilson Jr. Dem Washtenaw 1st
33 Felicia Brabec Dem Washtenaw 2nd
34 Dale Zorn Rep Lenawee 3rd
35 Andrew Fink Rep Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee 2nd
36 Steve Carra Rep Cass, St. Joseph 2nd
37 Brad Paquette Rep Berrien, Cass 3rd
38 Joey Andrews Dem Allegan, Berrien, Van Buren 1st
39 Pauline Wendzel Rep Allegan, Berrien, Van Buren 3rd
40 Christine Morse Dem Kalamazoo 2nd
41 Julie Rogers Dem Kalamazoo 2nd
42 Matt Hall Rep Allegan, Kalamazoo 3rd
43 Rachelle Smit Rep Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Ottawa 1st
44 Jim Haadsma Dem Calhoun 3rd
45 Sarah Lightner Rep Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Jackson 3rd
46 Kathy Schmaltz Rep Jackson, Washtenaw 1st
47 Carrie Rheingans Dem Jackson, Washtenaw 1st
48 Jennifer Conlin Dem Jackson, Livingston, Washtenaw 1st
49 Ann Bollin Rep Livingston, Oakland 3rd
50 Bob Bezotte Rep Livingston 2nd
51 Matt Maddock Rep Oakland 3rd
52 Mike Harris Rep Oakland 2nd (1st full)
53 Brenda Carter Dem Oakland 3rd
54 Donni Steele Rep Oakland 1st
55 Mark Tisdel Rep Oakland 2nd
56 Sharon MacDonell Dem Oakland 1st
57 Thomas Kuhn Rep Macomb, Oakland 1st
58 Nate Shannon Dem Macomb 3rd
59 Doug Wozniak Rep Macomb 3rd
60 Joseph Aragona Rep Macomb 1st
61 Denise Mentzer Dem Macomb 1st
62 Alicia St. Germaine Rep Macomb 1st
63 Jay DeBoyer Rep Macomb, St. Clair 1st
64 Andrew Beeler Rep Sanilac, St. Clair 2nd
65 Jaime Greene Rep Lapeer, Macomb, St. Clair 1st
66 Josh Schriver Rep Macomb, Oakland 1st
67 Phil Green Rep Genesee, Lapeer, Tuscola 3rd
68 David Martin Rep Genesee, Oakland 2nd
69 Jasper Martus Dem Genesee 1st
70 Cynthia Neeley Dem Genesee 3rd (2nd full)
71 Brian BeGole Rep Gensee, Saginaw, Shiawassee 1st
72 Mike Mueller Rep Genesee, Livingston, Oakland 3rd
73 Julie Brixie Dem Ingham 3rd
74 Kara Hope Dem Ingham 3rd
75 Penelope Tsernoglou Dem Clinton, Ingham, Shiawassee 1st
76 Angela Witwer Dem Eaton 3rd
77 Emily Dievendorf Dem Clinton, Eaton, Ingham 1st
78 Gina Johnsen Rep Barry, Eaton, Ionia, Kent 1st
79 Angela Rigas Rep Allegan, Barry, Kent 1st
80 Phil Skaggs Dem Kent 1st
81 Rachel Hood Dem Kent 3rd
82 Kristian Grant Dem Kent 1st
83 John Fitzgerald Dem Kent 1st
84 Carol Glanville Dem Kent 2nd (1st full)
85 Bradley Slagh Rep Ottawa 3rd
86 Nancy De Boer Rep Allegan, Ottawa 1st
87 Will Snyder Dem Muskegon 1st
88 Greg VanWoerkom Rep Muskegon, Ottawa 3rd
89 Luke Meerman Rep Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa 3rd
90 Bryan Posthumus Rep Kent 2nd
91 Pat Outman Rep Ionia, Kent, Montcalm 2nd
92 Jerry Neyer Rep Gratiot, Isabella 1st
93 Graham Filler Rep Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Montcalm, Saginaw 3rd
94 Amos O'Neal Dem Saginaw 2nd
95 Bill G. Schuette Rep Gladwin, Midland 1st
96 Timothy Beson Rep Bay 2nd
97 Matthew Bierlein Rep Bay, Genesee, Saginaw, Tuscola 1st
98 Gregory Alexander Rep Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, Tuscola 1st
99 Mike Hoadley Rep Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Iosco, Ogemaw 1st
100 Tom Kunse Rep Clare, Lake, Mecosta, Osceola 1st
101 Joseph Fox Rep Lake, Mason, Newaygo, Oceana, Wexford 1st
102 Curt VanderWall Rep Manistee, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana 3rd
103 Betsy Coffia Dem Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelenau 1st
104 John Roth Rep Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, Wexford 2nd
105 Ken Borton Rep Antrim, Crawford, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Oscoda, Otsego, Roscommon 2nd
106 Cam Cavitt Rep Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Montmorency, Oscoda, Presque Isle 1st
107 Neil Friske Rep Charlevoix, Chippewa, Emmet, Mackinac 1st
108 David Prestin Rep Chippewa, Delta, Luce, Mackinac, Menominee, Schoolcraft 1st
109 Jenn Hill Dem Alger, Baraga, Dickinson, Marquette 1st
110 Gregory Markkanen Rep Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Ontonagon 3rd
  • ↑: First elected in a special election.

Officials

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Speaker of the House

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The 76th and current Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the House and the leader of the majority party. The current Speaker is Joe Tate, a Democrat from Detroit.

The Speaker calls the House to order at the hour to which the House last adjourned, preserves order and decorum in the chamber, recognizes Members to speak, and puts all questions. The Speaker is the chief administrator of the House and is technically the employer of all legislative staff. There is also a Speaker pro tempore and two associate Speakers pro tempore who preside in the absence of the Speaker. The full duties of the Speaker are described in Chapter II of the Rules of the House.[11]

Clerk of the House

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Clerk of the Michigan House of Representatives
since January 12, 2011
StyleMister Clerk
AppointerElected by the House
Term lengthPleasure of the House (nominally a two-year Legislature)
Inaugural holderGeorge R. Griswold

The Clerk of the House of Representatives is elected by Members of the House at the beginning of each two-year term. The 33rd and current clerk is Gary L. Randall.[12] Randall also served as clerk from 1999 to 2006. The assistant clerk is Richard J. Brown, who served as clerk from 2007 to 2010. Both Randall and Brown are former Members of the House.

Under the rules of the House, the clerk is the parliamentarian of the House, presides in the absence of the Speaker or any Speaker pro tempore, takes roll at the beginning of each session day and announces whether or not a quorum is present, prepares the official calendar and journal of the House, is responsible for the care and preservation of all bills introduced in the House, and for bills sent from the Senate until they are returned to the Senate.[11][13]

Sergeant at Arms

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The sergeant at arms of the House of Representatives is the chief police officer of the House, appointed by the Speaker. The current chief sergeant at arms is David D. Dickson Jr.

The chief sergeant and the assistant sergeants are empowered as law enforcement officers by statute.[14] The sergeants at arms have authority to serve subpoenas and warrants issued by the House or any duly authorized officer or committee, see that all visitors are seated and at no time are standing on the floor or balconies of the House, ensure that reasonable decorum is maintained in the lobby immediately in front of the entrance to the chamber to ensure access for Members and to ensure equal treatment for all citizens.[11]

Committees

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Article IV of the Michigan Constitution authorizes each house of the Legislature to "establish the committees necessary for the conduct of its business."[15] The House does much of its work in committees, including the review of bills, executive oversight, and the budget and appropriations process. Members of committees and their chairmen are appointed by the Speaker.[11][16] Bills are referred to a committee by the Speaker, and the chairman of a committee sets its agenda, including whether or not a bill will be reported to the full House. The Committee on Appropriations divides its work among subcommittees ordinarily structured by state department or major budget area.

There are also four statutory standing committees: Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; House Fiscal Agency Governing Committee; Legislative Council; Michigan Capitol Committee. Currently, it would appear, the House committees meet on a 'year by year' basis. A full list may be accessed here.[17]

Unlike the Senate, the House does not utilize the committee of the whole.

House Fiscal Agency

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House Fiscal Agency
Agency overview
HeadquartersCora B. Anderson House Office Building
Employees24
Annual budget$4,050,400
Agency executives
  • Mary Ann Cleary, Director
  • Kevin Koorstra, Deputy Director
Parent departmentHouse Fiscal Agency Governing Board (Michigan House of Representatives)
Websitehouse.mi.gov/hfa/

The House Fiscal Agency is a nonpartisan agency within the House of Representatives which provides nonpartisan expertise to members of the House Appropriations Committee, as well as all other Members of the House. Fiscal analysts review the governor's budget recommendation, review and prepare budget bills, supplemental appropriations, and certain transfer requests, provide fiscal impact statements on legislative proposals, monitor state and national situations that may have budgetary implications, research and analyze fiscal issues, prepare reports and documents to assist legislative deliberations, and prepare special reports at the request of Representatives. The economist analyzes legislation related to tax and lottery issues, respond to Representatives' inquiries regarding state tax revenue, revenue sharing, and other economic issues, monitors state revenue, tracks state, and national economic conditions, and prepares reports on revenue and other economic issues. Legislative analysts prepare concise, nonpartisan summaries and analyses of bills. Summaries, completed prior to committee deliberations, describe how a bill would change current law, including any fiscal impact. Analyses are prepared for bills reported to the full House from committee and include, with the summary information, a description of the problem being addressed, arguments for and against the bill, and positions of interested organizations.[18]

The agency is governed by a six-member board consisting of the chairman and minority vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, the Speaker of the House and the minority leader, and the majority and minority floor leaders. The governing committee is responsible for HFA oversight, establishment of operating procedures, and appointment of the HFA director. The director is one of three state officials charged with annually forecasting the state's revenues at the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conferences, which are held at least twice each year.[19]

In January 1993, a front-page story in The Detroit News detailed a massive scandal in the House Fiscal Agency. For six years, the agency's imprest account was used to finance credit card payments, vacations, and property tax payments as well as payments to HFA employees and contract workers for non-existent workers. The scandal threatened to collapse the joint leadership agreement between the Democrats and Republicans brought about by a 55-55 partisan split in the House from the 1992 election. It resulted in Representative Dominic J. Jacobetti of Negaunee in the Upper Peninsula, the longest-serving Member in history, losing his position as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee; the conviction and imprisonment of HFA Director John Morberg; and the resignation of state representative Stephen Shepich as part of a plea bargain.[20]

Past composition of the House of Representatives

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See also

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References

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Notes
References
  1. ^ "Michigan Legislature - Article XI § 2". legislature.mi.gov. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "Michigan Legislature - Article IV § 13". legislature.mi.gov. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  3. ^ Hendrickson, Clara (November 9, 2022). "Michigan voters approve Proposal 1 to modify term limits, require disclosures". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "Michigan Legislature - Article IV § 54". legislature.mi.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "In Michigan, an effort to take politics out of redistricting". PBS NewsHour. September 25, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  6. ^ "Michigan Legislature - Article IV § 7". legislature.mi.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Republican Matt Maddock (District 44) expelled from GOP caucus in Apr 2022
  8. ^ Democrat Kevin Coleman (District 25) resigned to be sworn in as Mayor of Westland.[1]
  9. ^ Democrat Lori Stone (District 13) resigned to be sworn in as Mayor of Warren.[2]
  10. ^ Democrats Mai Xiong (District 13) and Peter Herzberg (District 25) sworn in to succeed Stone and Coleman, respectively. [3]
  11. ^ a b c d Rules of the Michigan House of Representatives
  12. ^ House Resolution 3: A resolution to provide for the Clerk of the House of Representatives for the Ninety-seventh Legislature
  13. ^ 2011-2012 Michigan Manual: Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives (p. 302)
  14. ^ Legislative Sergeant at Arms Police Powers Act, 185 PA 2001, MCL 4.381-4.382
  15. ^ Michigan Constitution: Article IV, § 17 Committees; record of votes, public inspection, notice of hearings.
  16. ^ Journal of the House of Representatives: 97th Legislature—Regular Session of 2013, No. 5 (pg. 77-78)
  17. ^ Standing Committees, retrieved November 27, 2020
  18. ^ About Us :: House Fiscal Agency
  19. ^ Michigan Legislature: Management and Budget Act: MCL 18.1367b Revenue estimating conference; principals; forecasts.
  20. ^ Gongwer News Service Blog: The Scandal, 20 Years Later

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