Maine Legislature
Encyclopedia
The Maine Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state
of Maine
. It is a bicameral body composed of the lower house
Maine House of Representatives
and the upper house
Maine Senate
. The Legislature convenes at the State House
in Augusta
, where it has met since 1832.
The House of Representatives consists of one hundred and fifty-one members, each chosen from single-member constituencies. The House is one of the few state legislative bodies in the U.S. to set aside special seats for Native Americans
, where there are two nonvoting Representatives from the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy
Tribes. The Senate includes a varying number of members, which may under the Maine Constitution
be thirty-one, thirty-three, or thirty-five; the present number is thirty-five.
, have been a resident of Maine for one year, and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which elected, continue to be, a resident in the district represented.
. The terms for both houses are two years. Since 1996, members of both the House and Senate are limited to four two-year terms; this is a consecutive, rather than lifetime, limit. Members who have served the limit are re-eligible for election after two years.
. The Legislature, however, by a vote of two-thirds in each house, may override the veto. The Legislature also has the power to propose constitutional amendments by a vote of two-thirds in each house; the proposal must be approved by a majority of voters in a referendum in order to be passed.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. It is a bicameral body composed of the lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
and the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
Maine Senate
Maine Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than...
. The Legislature convenes at the State House
Maine State House
The Maine State House in Augusta, Maine is the state capitol of the State of Maine. The building was completed in 1832, one year after Augusta became the capital of Maine...
in Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
, where it has met since 1832.
The House of Representatives consists of one hundred and fifty-one members, each chosen from single-member constituencies. The House is one of the few state legislative bodies in the U.S. to set aside special seats for Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, where there are two nonvoting Representatives from the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy
Passamaquoddy
The Passamaquoddy are the First Nations people who live in northeastern North America, primarily in Maine and New Brunswick....
Tribes. The Senate includes a varying number of members, which may under the Maine Constitution
Maine Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Maine established the "State of Maine" in 1820 and is the fundamental governing document of the state. It consists of a Preamble and ten Articles , the first of which is a "Declaration of Rights"....
be thirty-one, thirty-three, or thirty-five; the present number is thirty-five.
Qualifications
In order to be a member of the Legislature, one must be no less than twenty-one years old, have been for five years a citizen of the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, have been a resident of Maine for one year, and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which elected, continue to be, a resident in the district represented.
Elections
Legislative elections are held in November of every even-numbered year, during the state's general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. The terms for both houses are two years. Since 1996, members of both the House and Senate are limited to four two-year terms; this is a consecutive, rather than lifetime, limit. Members who have served the limit are re-eligible for election after two years.
Powers
As the legislative branch of the Maine state government, the Legislature has the power to make laws, subject to a veto by the GovernorGovernor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
. The Legislature, however, by a vote of two-thirds in each house, may override the veto. The Legislature also has the power to propose constitutional amendments by a vote of two-thirds in each house; the proposal must be approved by a majority of voters in a referendum in order to be passed.
See also
- Maine State HouseMaine State HouseThe Maine State House in Augusta, Maine is the state capitol of the State of Maine. The building was completed in 1832, one year after Augusta became the capital of Maine...
- Maine House of RepresentativesMaine House of RepresentativesThe Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
- Maine SenateMaine SenateThe Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than...
- Maine Legislative Youth Advisory CouncilMaine Legislative Youth Advisory CouncilThe Maine Legislative Youth Advisory Council advises the Legislature, legislative leadership and legislative committees on issues related to youth. Its statutory role as an ongoing “advisory...