Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas House of Representatives | |
---|---|
Kansas State Legislature | |
![]() | |
Type | |
Type | |
Term limits | None |
History | |
New session started | January 12, 2015 |
Leadership | |
Speaker pro Tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
Structure | |
Seats | 125 |
File:Kansas state legislature diagram house.svg | |
Political groups | Governing party
Opposition party
|
Length of term | 2 years |
Authority | Article 2, Kansas Constitution |
Salary | $88.66/day + per diem |
Elections | |
Last election | November 4, 2014 (125 seats) |
Next election | November 8, 2016 (125 seats) |
Redistricting | Kansas Reapportionment Commission |
Meeting place | |
House of Representatives Chamber Kansas State Capitol Topeka, Kansas | |
Website | |
Kansas House of Representatives |
The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on legislation, helping to create a state budget, and legislative oversight over state agencies.
Representatives are elected to a two-year term. The Kansas House of Representatives does not have term limits. The legislative session convenes at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka annually.
History
On January 29, 1861, President James Buchanan authorized Kansas to become the 34th state of United States, a free state. The ratification of the Kansas Constitution created the Kansas House of Representatives as the lower house of the state legislature.
Members of the Kansas House voted to impeach Governor Charles L. Robinson in 1862, but the impeachment trial did not lead to his conviction and removal of office.[1] The Kansas Senate did vote to impeach the secretary of state and state auditor for the unlawful sale of bonds, but only three state senators voted for the governor's impeachment.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/1905_Kansas_House_of_Representatives_Topeka_GeoRLawrenceCo_LC_6a34855u.jpg/180px-1905_Kansas_House_of_Representatives_Topeka_GeoRLawrenceCo_LC_6a34855u.jpg)
In 1870, the Kansas House of Representatives first met at the Kansas State Capitol, which was not officially completed until 1903.[2]
Populists and Republicans both claimed control of the Kansas House of Representatives in 1893, with the Populists accusing the Republican Party of election fraud.[3] The dispute led to separate Populist-led and Republican-led Houses in 1893 until the Kansas Supreme Court sided with the Republicans and the Populist-led House disbanded.[3]
In 1918, Minnie J. Grinstead became the first female elected to the House.[4]
In 1966, the state legislature began to hold annual general sessions and a constitutional amendment adopted at the 1974 general election extended the duration of the session held in the even-numbered years to 90 calendar days, subject to extension by a vote of two-thirds of the elected membership of each house.[5]
An early legislator who served from 1875 to 1883, Robert M. Wright, was also one of the founders of Dodge City and later its mayor as well.[6]
United States presidential candidate Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican nominee, began his political career with a two-year term in the Kansas House of Representatives after his election in 1950.[7]
Legislative procedure
State representatives introduce a proposed law in the Kansas House of Representatives in the form of a bill, which must be approved by a standing committee, the Committee of the Whole and the entire membership of the chamber.[8] Other state representatives can amend a bill in committee or on the floor of the chamber.[8]
A bill must be approved by both houses of the Kansas Legislature in order to be submitted to the governor, who can sign it into law or veto the bill.[8] State legislators can override the veto with the support of two-thirds majority of both houses.[8]
Party composition
Republicans hold a supermajority in the Kansas House of Representatives, and have controlled the chamber for decades.[citation needed] The following is the official make-up for the 2015–2017 session:
Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
End of 2009-2011 legislature | 77 | 48 | 125 | 0 |
Begin | 92 | 33 | 125 | 0 |
End of 2011-2013 Legislature | 92 | 33 | 125 | 0 |
Begin | 92 | 33 | 125 | 0 |
End of 2013-2015 Legislature | 93 | 32 | 125 | 0 |
Begin | 97 | 28 | 125 | 0 |
Latest voting share | 77.6% | 22.4% |
Leadership
The Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives is the leader of the chamber and is elected by his fellow state representatives.[8] The speaker presides over the legislative process on the floor of the chamber or appoints a presiding officer in his or her place. He or she also decides the committee structure.[8] The majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the chamber.
Officers
Position | Name | Party | District |
---|---|---|---|
Speaker of the House | Ray Merrick | Republican | 27 |
House Leadership[9] | |||
Speaker Pro Tem | Peggy Mast | Republican | 76 |
Majority Leader | Jene Vickrey | Republican | 6 |
Assistant Majority Leader | Mario Goico | Republican | 94 |
Majority Whip | Willie Dove | Republican | 38 |
Caucus Chair | Travis Couture-Lovelady | Republican | 110 |
Democratic Leaders[9] | |||
Minority Leader | Tom Burroughs | Democratic | 33 |
Assistant Minority Leader | Louis Ruiz | Democratic | 31 |
Minority Whip | Ed Trimmer | Democratic | 79 |
Caucus Chair | Barbara Ballard | Democratic | 44 |
Agenda Chair | Brandon Whipple | Democratic | 96 |
Policy Chair | John Wilson | Democratic | 10 |
Members of the Kansas House of Representatives, 2015–17
District | Representative | Party | Residence |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Houser | Republican | Columbus |
2 | Adam Lusker | Democratic | Frontenac |
3 | Chuck Smith | Republican | Pittsburg |
4 | Marty Read | Republican | Mound City |
5 | Kevin Jones | Republican | Wellsville |
6 | Jene Vickrey | Republican | Louisburg |
7 | Richard Proehl | Republican | Parsons |
8 | Craig McPherson | Republican | Overland Park |
9 | Kent Thompson | Republican | Iola |
10 | John Wilson | Democratic | Lawrence |
11 | Jim Kelly | Republican | Independence |
12 | Virgil Peck, Jr. | Republican | Tyro |
13 | Larry Hibbard | Republican | Toronto |
14 | Keith Esau | Republican | Olathe |
15 | Erin Davis | Republican | Olathe |
16 | Amanda Grosserode | Republican | Lenexa |
17 | Brett Hildabrand | Republican | Shawnee |
18 | John Rubin | Republican | Shawnee |
19 | Stephanie Clayton | Republican | Overland Park |
20 | Rob Bruchman | Republican | Overland Park |
21 | Barbara Bollier | Republican | Mission Hills |
22 | Nancy Lusk | Democratic | Overland Park |
23 | Linda Gallagher | Republican | Lenexa |
24 | Jarrod Ousley | Democratic | Merriam |
25 | Melissa Rooker | Republican | Fairway |
26 | Larry Campbell | Republican | Olathe |
27 | Ray Merrick | Republican | Stilwell |
28 | Jerry Lunn | Republican | Overland Park |
29 | James Todd | Republican | Overland Park |
30 | Randy Powell | Republican | Olathe |
31 | Louis Ruiz | Democratic | Kansas City |
32 | Pam Curtis | Democratic | Kansas City |
33 | Tom Burroughs | Democratic | Kansas City |
34 | Valdenia Winn | Democratic | Kansas City |
35 | Broderick Henderson | Democratic | Kansas City |
36 | Kathy Wolfe Moore | Democratic | Kansas City |
37 | Stan Frownfelter | Democratic | Kansas City |
38 | Willie Dove | Republican | Bonner Springs |
39 | Charles Macheers | Republican | Shawnee |
40 | John Bradford | Republican | Lansing |
41 | Tony Barton | Republican | Leavenworth |
42 | Connie O'Brien | Republican | Lansing |
43 | William Sutton | Republican | Gardner |
44 | Barbara Ballard | Democratic | Lawrence |
45 | Tom Sloan | Republican | Lawrence |
46 | Dennis Highberger | Democratic | Lawrence |
47 | Ramon Gonzalez, Jr. | Republican | Perry |
48 | Marvin Kleeb | Republican | Overland Park |
49 | Scott Schwab | Republican | Olathe |
50 | Fred Patton | Republican | Topeka |
51 | Ron Highland | Republican | Wamego |
52 | Dick Jones | Republican | Topeka |
53 | Jim Gartner | Democratic | Topeka |
54 | Ken Corbet | Republican | Topeka |
55 | Annie Kuether | Democratic | Topeka |
56 | Lane Hemsley | Republican | Topeka |
57 | John Alcala | Democratic | Topeka |
58 | Ben Scott | Democratic | Topeka |
59 | Blaine Finch | Republican | Ottawa |
60 | Don Hill | Republican | Emporia |
61 | Becky Hutchins | Republican | Holton |
62 | Randy Garber | Republican | Sabetha |
63 | Jerry Henry | Democratic | Cummings |
64 | Susie Swanson | Republican | Clay Center |
65 | Lonnie Clark | Republican | Junction City |
66 | Sydney Carlin | Democratic | Manhattan |
67 | Tom Phillips | Republican | Manhattan |
68 | Tom Moxley | Republican | Council Grove |
69 | J. R. Claeys | Republican | Salina |
70 | John Barker | Republican | Abilene |
71 | Diana Dierks | Republican | Salina |
72 | Marc Rhoades | Republican | Newton |
73 | Les Mason | Republican | McPherson |
74 | Don Schroeder | Republican | Inman |
75 | Will Carpenter | Republican | El Dorado |
76 | Peggy Mast | Republican | Emporia |
77 | Kristey Williams | Republican | Augusta |
78 | Ron Ryckman, Jr. | Republican | Olathe |
79 | Ed Trimmer | Democratic | Winfield |
80 | Kasha Kelley | Republican | Arkansas City |
81 | Blake Carpenter | Republican | Derby |
82 | Peter DeGraaf | Republican | Mulvane |
83 | Henry Helgerson | Democratic | Eastborough |
84 | Gail Finney | Democratic | Wichita |
85 | Chuck Weber | Republican | Wichita |
86 | Jim Ward | Democratic | Wichita |
87 | Mark Kahrs | Republican | Wichita |
88 | Joseph Scapa | Republican | Wichita |
89 | Roderick Houston | Democratic | Wichita |
90 | Steve Huebert | Republican | Valley Center |
91 | Gene Suellentrop | Republican | Wichita |
92 | John Carmichael | Democratic | Wichita |
93 | John Whitmer | Republican | Wichita |
94 | Mario Goico | Republican | Wichita |
95 | Tom Sawyer | Democratic | Wichita |
96 | Brandon Whipple | Democratic | Wichita |
97 | Leslie Osterman | Republican | Wichita |
98 | Steven Anthimides | Republican | Wichita |
99 | Dennis Hedke | Republican | Wichita |
100 | Daniel Hawkins | Republican | Wichita |
101 | Joe Seiwert | Republican | Pretty Prairie |
102 | Janice Pauls | Republican | Hutchinson |
103 | Ponka-We Victors | Democratic | Wichita |
104 | Steven Becker | Republican | Buhler |
105 | Mark Hutton | Republican | Wichita |
106 | Sharon Schwartz | Republican | Washington |
107 | Susan Concannon | Republican | Beloit |
108 | Steven C. Johnson | Republican | Assaria |
109 | Troy Waymaster | Republican | Luray |
110 | Ken Rahjes | Republican | Agra |
111 | Sue Boldra | Republican | Hays |
112 | John Edmonds | Republican | Great Bend |
113 | Greg Lewis | Republican | St. John |
114 | Jack Thimesch | Republican | Cunningham |
115 | Ron Ryckman, Sr. | Republican | Meade |
116 | Kyle Hoffman | Republican | Coldwater |
117 | John Ewy | Republican | Jetmore |
118 | Don Hineman | Republican | Dighton |
119 | Bud Estes | Republican | Dodge City |
120 | Rick Billinger | Republican | Goodland |
121 | Mike Kiegerl | Republican | Olathe |
122 | Russell Jennings | Republican | Lakin |
123 | John Doll | Republican | Garden City |
124 | J. Stephen Alford | Republican | Ulysses |
125 | Shannon Francis | Republican | Liberal |
See also
References
- ^ a b Ewing, Cortez A. M. "Early Kansas Impeachments," Kansas Historical Quarterly, August 1932 (Vol. 1, No. 4), p. 307-325, digitized with permission of the Kansas Historical Society. (accessed July 25, 2013)
- ^ Kansas State Capitol, Kansapedia, Kansas Historical Society. (accessed July 25, 2013)
- ^ a b Cool Things - Legislative War Artifacts, Kansapedia, Kansas Historical Society, November 1997. (accessed July 25, 2013)
- ^ Enicks-Knissr, Lori Lynn (April 2014). "The Lady from Seward" – Minnie J. Grinstead, the First Woman Elected to the Kansas House of Representatives (PDF) (M.A. thesis). Emporia State University.
- ^ "Kansas Legislative Research Manual Kansas Legislative Procedures," March 12, 2009.
- ^ "George Laughhead, Robert M. Wright (1840-1915), Dodge City, Kansas: Town President, founder, pioneer, September 23, 2009". kansashistory.us. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ^ Kansas Legislators Past & Present-Robert Dole
- ^ a b c d e f Legislative Procedure in Kansas, Kansas Legislative Research Department, November 2006. (accessed July 24, 2013)
- ^ a b House Leadership 2015–16 sessions