Virginia House of Delegates

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Historic Partisan Makeup of the Virginia House of Delegates

The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the House membership by the Delegates. The Speaker is almost always a member of the majority party and, as Speaker, becomes the most powerful member of the House. The House shares legislative power with the Senate of Virginia, the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The House of Delegates is the modern-day successor to the Virginia House of Burgesses, which first met at Jamestown in 1619. The House is divided into Democratic and Republican caucuses. In addition to the Speaker, there is a majority leader, majority caucus chair, minority leader, minority caucus chair, and the chairs of the several committees of the House. Through the House of Burgesses, the Virginia House of Delegates is considered the oldest continuous legislative body in the New World.

The House has met in Virginia's Capitol Building, designed by Thomas Jefferson, since 1788. In recent years, the General Assembly members and staff operate from offices in the General Assembly Building, located in Capitol Square.

Republicans took control of the traditionally Democratic House of Delegates for the first time since Reconstruction in 1999 (with the exception of a brief 2 year period in which the Readjuster Party was in the majority in the 1880s). However, the Democrats began making a comeback under the leadership of Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, gaining six seats during Warner's term in office (2002-2006), and one in a special election at the beginning of Kaine's term.

Contents

[edit] Salary and qualifications

The annual salary for delegates is $17,640 per year.[1] Each delegate represents roughly 71,000 people.[1] Candidates for office must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the election, residents of the districts they seek to represent, and qualified to vote for General Assembly legislators.[2][3] The regular session of the General Assembly is 60 days long during even numbered years and 30 days long during odd numbered years, unless extended by a two-thirds vote of both houses.[2][4]

[edit] Make-up of the Virginia House of Delegates

Affiliation Members
Republicans 53 55
Independents (caucus with Republicans) 2
Democrats 43
Vacant 2
Total 100
Majority 12

[edit] Party control

(The party control table shows the balance of power after each recent general election. The preceding Makeup table includes results of special elections since the last general election.)

Years Democrats Republicans Independents
1998–2000 50 49 1
2000–2002 47 52 1
2002–2004 34 64 2
2004–2006 37 61 2
2006–2008 40 57 3
2008–2010 44 54 2

[edit] House leadership

Speaker William J. Howell
Majority Leader Morgan Griffith
Minority Leader Ward Armstrong

[edit] Committee chairs and ranking members

The House has 14 standing committees.[5]

Committee Chair Senior Minority Member
Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Harvey Morgan Ken Plum
Appropriations Lacey Putney Bud Phillips
Commerce and Labor Terry Kilgore Ken Plum
Counties, Cities and Towns Riley Ingram Bob Hull
Courts of Justice Dave Albo Joe Johnson
Education Bob Tata Jim Shuler
Finance Harry Purkey Joe Johnson
General Laws Chris Jones Bud Phillips
Health, Welfare and Institutions Phil Hamilton Lionell Spruill
Militia, Police and Public Safety Beverly Sherwood Jim Scott
Privileges and Elections Mark Cole Bud Phillips
Rules William J. Howell Johnny Joannou
Science and Technology Kathy Byron Vivian Watts
Transportation Joe T. May Jeion Ward

[edit] Members

The Virginia House of Delegates is up for reelection every two years. The next election cycle is in 2009.

District Name Party Areas Represented First Election
Counties Cities
1 Terry Kilgore Majority Caucus Chairman Republican Lee, Scott, Washington (part), Wise (part) 1993
2 Bud Phillips Democratic Dickenson, Russell (part), Wise (part) Norton 1989
3 Dan Bowling Buchanan, Russell (part), Tazewell (part) 2006
4 Joe Johnson Smyth (part), Washington (part) Bristol 1989
5 Bill Carrico Republican Carroll (part), Grayson, Smyth (part), Wythe (part) Galax 2001
6 Anne B. Crockett-Stark Bland, Giles (part), Pulaski (part), Tazewell (part), Wythe (part) 2005
7 Dave Nutter Montgomery (part), Pulaski (part) Radford 2001
8 Morgan Griffith Majority Leader Roanoke (part) Salem 1993
9 Charles Poindexter Floyd, Franklin, Pittsylvania (part) 2007
10 Ward Armstrong Minority Leader Democratic Carroll (part), Henry (part), Patrick Martinsville (part) 1991
11 Onzlee Ware Minority Caucus Sergeant at Arms Roanoke (part) Roanoke (part) 2003
12 Jim Shuler Alleghany, Bath, Craig, Giles (part), Montgomery (part) Covington 1993
13 Bob Marshall Republican Loudoun (part), Prince William (part) 1991
14 Danny Marshall Henry (part), Pittsylvania (part) Danville 2001
15 Todd Gilbert Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham (part), Shenandoah 2005
16 Donald Merricks Henry (part), Pittsylvania (part) Martinsville (part) 2007
17 William Fralin Botetourt (part), Roanoke (part) Roanoke (part) 2003
18 Clay Athey Fauquier (part), Frederick (part), Warren 2001
19 Lacey Putney Independent Bedford (part), Botetourt (part) Bedford 1961
20 Chris Saxman Republican Augusta (part), Highland, Rockingham (part) Staunton 2001
21 Bobby Mathieson Democratic Virginia Beach (part) 2007
22 Kathy Byron Republican Bedford (part), Campbell 1997
23 Shannon R. Valentine Democratic Amherst (part) Lynchburg 2006
24 Ben Cline Republican Amherst (part), Augusta (part), Rockbridge Buena Vista, Lexington 2002
25 Steve Landes Albemarle (part), Augusta (part), Rockingham (part) Waynesboro 1995
26 Matt Lohr Rockingham (part) Harrisonburg 2005
27 Sam Nixon Chesterfield (part) 1994
28 Bill Howell Speaker of the House Stafford (part) Fredericksburg 1987
29 Beverly Sherwood Frederick (part) Winchester 1993
30 Ed Scott Culpeper, Madison, Orange (part) 2003
31 Scott Lingamfelter Fauquier (part), Prince William (part) 2001
32 David Poisson Democratic Loudoun (part) 2005
33 Joe T. May Republican Clarke, Loudoun (part) 1993
34 Margaret Vanderhye Democratic Fairfax (part) 2007
35 Steve Shannon 2003
36 Kenneth R. Plum 1981
37 David Bulova Fairfax 2005
38 Bob Hull 1992
39 Vivian E. Watts 1995
40 Tim Hugo Republican 2002
41 Dave Marsden Democratic 2005
42 Dave Albo Republican 1993
43 Mark D. Sickles Minority Caucus Secretary Democratic 2003
44 Kristen J. Amundson Minority Caucus Vice Chair for Operations 1999
45 David L. Englin Arlington (part), Fairfax (part) Alexandria (part) 2005
46 Charniele Herring Fairfax (part) 2009
47 Al Eisenberg Arlington (part) 2003
48 Bob Brink 1997
49 Adam Ebbin Arlington (part), Fairfax (part) Alexandria (part) 2003
50 Jackson H. Miller Republican Prince William (part) Manassas, Manassas Park 2006
51 Paul F. Nichols Democratic 2007
52 Jeff Frederick Republican 2003
53 Jim Scott Democratic Fairfax (part) Falls Church 1991
54 Bobby Orrock Republican Caroline (part), Spotsylvania (part) 1989
55 Frank Hargrove Hanover (part) 1981
56 Bill Janis Goochland, Henrico (part), Louisa 2001
57 David Toscano Democratic Albemarle (part) Charlottesville 2005
58 Rob Bell Republican Albemarle (part), Fluvanna (part), Greene, Orange (part) 2001
59 Watkins Abbitt, Jr. Independent Albemarle (part), Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna (part), Nelson, Prince Edward (part) 1985
60 Clarke Hogan Republican Charlotte, Halifax, Nottoway (part), Prince Edward (part) 2001
61 Tommy Wright Amelia, Brunswick (part), Lunenburg (part), Mecklenburg, Nottoway (part) 2000
62 Riley Ingram Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part), Prince George (part) Hopewell (part) 1991
63 Rosalyn Dance Democratic Chesterfield (part), Dinwiddie Petersburg 2005
64 Bill Barlow Isle of Wight (part), James City (part), Southampton (part), Surry Franklin (part), Williamsburg 1991
65 Lee Ware Republican Chesterfield (part), Powhatan 1998
66 Kirk Cox Majority Whip Chesterfield (part) Colonial Heights 1989
67 Chuck Caputo Democratic Fairfax (part), Loudoun (part) 2005
68 Manoli Loupassi Republican Chesterfield (part) Richmond (part) 2007
69 Vacant
(Frank Hall retired April 14, 2009)
70 Delores McQuinn Democratic Chesterfield (part), Henrico (part) 2009
71 Jennifer McClellan Henrico (part) 2005
72 James P. Massie Republican 2007
73 John O'Bannon Richmond (part) 2000
74 Joseph D. Morrissey Democratic Charles City, Henrico (part), Prince George (part) Hopewell (part), Richmond (part) 2007
75 Roslyn Tyler Brunswick (part), Greensville, Isle of Wight (part), Lunenburg (part), Southampton (part), Sussex Emporia, Franklin (part) 2005
76 Chris Jones Republican Chesapeake (part), Suffolk (part) 1997
77 Lionell Spruill Minority Caucus Vice Chair for Outreach Democratic 1993
78 John Cosgrove Republican Chesapeake (part) 2001
79 Johnny Joannou Democratic Chesapeake (part), Norfolk (part), Portsmouth (part), Suffolk (part) 1997
80 Vacant
(Ken Melvin retired May 1, 2009)		 Chesapeake (part), Norfolk (part), Portsmouth (part)
81 Barry Knight Republican Chesapeake (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2009
82 Harry 'Bob' Purkey Virginia Beach (part) 1985
83 Joseph Bouchard Democratic 2007
84 Sal Iaquinto Republican 2005
85 Bob Tata 1983
86 Tom Rust Fairfax (part), Loudoun (part) 2001
87 Paula Miller Democratic Norfolk (part) 2004
88 Mark Cole Republican Fauquier (part), Spotsylvania (part), Stafford (part) 2001
89 Kenny Alexander Democratic Norfolk (part) 2002
90 Algie Howell Chesapeake (part), Norfolk (part), Virginia Beach (part) 2003
91 Tom Gear Republican York (part) Hampton (part), Poquoson 2001
92 Jeion Ward Minority Caucus Treasurer Democratic Hampton (part) 2003
93 Phil Hamilton Republican James City (part) Newport News (part) 1988
94 Glenn Oder 2001
95 Mamye BaCote Democratic Hampton (part), Newport News (part) 2003
96 Brenda Pogge Republican James City (part), York (part) Newport News (part) 2007
97 Chris Peace Caroline (part), Hanover (part), Henrico (part), King and Queen (part), King William (part), New Kent, Spotsylvania (part) 2006
98 Harvey Morgan Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen (part), King William (part), Mathews, Middlesex 1979
99 Albert C. Pollard Democratic Caroline (part), King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland 2008
100 Lynwood Lewis Accomack, Northampton Hampton (part), Norfolk (part) 2003

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Virginia House of Delegates". DailyPress.com. http://www.dailypress.com/topic/politics/virginia-house-of-delegates-ORGOV0000123.topic. Retrieved on 2008-09-11. 
  2. ^ a b "Virginia State Legislature". VAKids.org. http://www.vakids.org/pubs/virginia_state_legislature_faq.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-09-11. 
  3. ^ "Constitution of Virginia, Article IV, Section 4. Qualifications of senators and delegates.". Virginia General Assembly. http://legis.state.va.us/Laws/search/Constitution.htm#4S4. Retrieved on 2008-10-22. 
  4. ^ "Constitution of Virginia, Article IV, Section 6. Legislative sessions.". Virginia General Assembly. http://legis.state.va.us/Laws/search/Constitution.htm#4S6. Retrieved on 2008-10-22. 
  5. ^ "Legislative Committees". Legislative Information System. Virginia General Assembly. http://leg1.state.va.us/091/com/COM.HTM. Retrieved on 2009-01-16. 

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Legislatures of the United States
United States Congress
State legislatures
Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S)
Territorial legislatures
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_House_of_Delegates"
Personal tools
Languages