Idaho Legislature
Encyclopedia
The Idaho Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state
of Idaho
. It consists of the upper
Idaho Senate
and the lower
Idaho House of Representatives
. The Idaho Senate contains 35 Senators, who are elected from 35 districts. The Idaho House of Representatives consists of 70 Representatives, who are elected from the same 35 legislative districts, with 2 being elected from each constituency. There are no term limits for either chamber.
The crossing of upper and lower house districts into a single constituency is found in only seven U.S. state legislatures: Idaho, Arizona
, Maryland
, New Jersey
, North Dakota
, South Dakota, and Washington
. As of 2000, each legislative district in the state of Idaho had approximately 37,000 residents.
Today members of the Idaho Legislature are elected from 35 districts throughout the state. Some districts include several counties, while others are located entirely within a single county. Ada County
, the state's largest by population, currently has eight legislative districts within its boundaries.
All 105 members are elected simultaneously every two years on the same day as the federal election day
in early November.
Districts are reapportioned every 10 years. The next reapportionment is expected to occur after the 2010 census and take effect as of the 2012 election.
In the 1980s voters elected legislators from two districts, a smaller local district and a larger "floterial" district
which often encompassed an entire region of the state. Legislative seats in floterial districts were last contested in 1990. Today floterial districts are prohibited by the Idaho Constitution.
with large majorities. In the 2011 61st Legislature the Senate is composed of seven Democrats and 28 Republicans. The House is composed of 13 Democrats and 57 Republicans.
In terms of single party strength the Idaho Senate is tied with Utah for the fourth most Republican controlled senate in the nation behind Wyoming (26-4), New Hampshire (19-5), and South Dakota (30-5). The Idaho House is the second most Republician controlled lower house in the nation only trailing Wyoming (50-10).
in downtown Boise
. The Legislature meets annually from January until mid-March, although sessions have been known to last into May. The Governor of Idaho may also call special sessions at any time.
The Idaho State Capitol Commission was created by Governor Phil Batt
in 1998. The Commission undertook the leading role of extensively remodeling the capitol building starting in 2007. The 2008 and 2009 sessions of the Idaho Legislature met in converted courtrooms in the old Ada County
Courthouse. The capitol building was official re-opened and re-dedicated on January 9, 2010.
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 Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. It consists of the upper
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 :...
Idaho Senate
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
and the lower
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...
Idaho House of Representatives
Idaho House of Representatives
The Idaho House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 70 representatives elected to two-year terms and meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the House:...
. The Idaho Senate contains 35 Senators, who are elected from 35 districts. The Idaho House of Representatives consists of 70 Representatives, who are elected from the same 35 legislative districts, with 2 being elected from each constituency. There are no term limits for either chamber.
The crossing of upper and lower house districts into a single constituency is found in only seven U.S. state legislatures: Idaho, Arizona
Arizona Legislature
The Arizona Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Senate. There are 60 Representatives and 30 Senators...
, Maryland
Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
, New Jersey
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
, North Dakota
North Dakota Legislative Assembly
The North Dakota Legislative Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The Legislative Assembly consists of two chambers, the lower North Dakota House of Representatives, with 94 representatives, and the upper North Dakota Senate, with 47 senators...
, South Dakota, and Washington
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
. As of 2000, each legislative district in the state of Idaho had approximately 37,000 residents.
Elections and composition
Members of the Idaho Legislature were originally elected by county, but in recent times districts apportioned by population have replaced representation by county.Today members of the Idaho Legislature are elected from 35 districts throughout the state. Some districts include several counties, while others are located entirely within a single county. Ada County
Ada County, Idaho
Ada County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census, the county had a population of 392,365. The county seat and largest city is Boise, which is also the state capital. Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle,...
, the state's largest by population, currently has eight legislative districts within its boundaries.
All 105 members are elected simultaneously every two years on the same day as the federal election day
Election Day (United States)
Election Day in the United States is the day set by law for the general elections of public officials. It occurs on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The earliest possible date is November 2 and the latest possible date is November 8...
in early November.
Districts are reapportioned every 10 years. The next reapportionment is expected to occur after the 2010 census and take effect as of the 2012 election.
In the 1980s voters elected legislators from two districts, a smaller local district and a larger "floterial" district
Floterial district
A floterial district is a legislative district that includes in its boundaries several separate districts which independently would not be entitled to additional representation but whose conglomerate population entitles the area to another seat in a legislative body undergoing...
which often encompassed an entire region of the state. Legislative seats in floterial districts were last contested in 1990. Today floterial districts are prohibited by the Idaho Constitution.
Current Legislature
Currently both houses of the Idaho Legislature are controlled by the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
with large majorities. In the 2011 61st Legislature the Senate is composed of seven Democrats and 28 Republicans. The House is composed of 13 Democrats and 57 Republicans.
In terms of single party strength the Idaho Senate is tied with Utah for the fourth most Republican controlled senate in the nation behind Wyoming (26-4), New Hampshire (19-5), and South Dakota (30-5). The Idaho House is the second most Republician controlled lower house in the nation only trailing Wyoming (50-10).
Location and time of operation
The Idaho Legislature normally convenes at the Idaho State CapitolIdaho State Capitol
In 1863, Lewiston, Idaho was the original Idaho State Capitol site until Boise was made the capitol in 1890 which is also when President Benjamin Harrison signed Idaho into statehood. The story behind Boise becoming the capitol is government workers sneaked in and stole the state seal from Lewiston...
in downtown Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
. The Legislature meets annually from January until mid-March, although sessions have been known to last into May. The Governor of Idaho may also call special sessions at any time.
The Idaho State Capitol Commission was created by Governor Phil Batt
Phil Batt
Philip Eugene Batt was the 29th Governor of Idaho from 1995 to 1999.Batt was an onion and hops farmer from Wilder...
in 1998. The Commission undertook the leading role of extensively remodeling the capitol building starting in 2007. The 2008 and 2009 sessions of the Idaho Legislature met in converted courtrooms in the old Ada County
Ada County, Idaho
Ada County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census, the county had a population of 392,365. The county seat and largest city is Boise, which is also the state capital. Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle,...
Courthouse. The capitol building was official re-opened and re-dedicated on January 9, 2010.