Legislative Branch

Appropriations Committee Hearing Room (2002)

The legislature was established: in 1820 “To make and establish all reasonable laws and regulations for the defense and benefit of the people of this State, not repugnant to the Constitution, nor to that of the United States.” Maine Constitution, Article IV, Part Third, Section I. It consists of a 35 member Senate and a…

Legislative Council

The Legislative Council is the administrative body for the Legislative Branch. It comprises the ten members of legislative leadership: the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Majority and Minority Floor Leaders and the Majority and Minority Assistant Floor Leaders for both the Senate and House of Representatives. Council members elect a…

Legislative Process

Idea developed A legislator decides to sponsor a bill, sometimes at the suggestion of a constituent, interest group, public official or the Governor. The legislator may ask other legislators in either chamber to join as co-sponsors. While the Maine legislator performs a number of different tasks, the legislative function is essentially that of proposing, considering…

Legislature, House of Representatives

Maine House Chambers (2006)

  The Maine House of Representatives, on of the two houses of the Maine Legislature, contains 151 voting members elected from as many House Districts. House members are assigned to Joint Standing Committees, as are members of the Senate, to hear and recommend proposed legislation.   Both House and Senate districts are reapportioned every ten…

Legislature, Senate Party Balance

2004 Senate Election

Political party electoral strength has followed certain geographic patterns in recent years.  In the maps below Maine Senate district election results are illustrated: blue for Democrats, red for Republicans, and yellow for non-party (“independent”) candidates.  During this period the only independent elected to the Senate has been Richard Woodbury of Yarmouth representing Senate District 11.…

Legislature, Senate Presidents

Senate Presidents Terms Since 1820

One-hundred sixteen different people have served as Presidents of the Maine Senate since 1820.  Until 1880, terms were typically for one year only.  In 1880 the Maine Constitution was amended to provide for two-year terms for legislators instead of the one-year terms established in 1820.  With that, typical terms for president quickly moved to two…

Senate, Maine

Maine State Senate Chambers (2001)

The Senate currently has 35 members, although the number has varied over the years. The President of the Senate presides over that body and is constitutionally eligible to act as Governor in the event of the chief executive’s disability or death. Its smaller number of members compared to the House (35 v. 151) make each…