THE ALABAMA

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OVERVIEW

The Alabama House of Representatives is comprised of 105 members. Each member represents a district of approximately 40,000 people. The members of the House are elected to four-year terms. Members of the House must be 21 at the time of their election, and must have been citizens of Alabama for three years, having lived in their respective districts for at least one year immediately preceding their election. The Speaker of the House is a member of the body and is elected by his colleagues to serve as the presiding officer.

All revenue raising matters must originate in the House just as in the Congress of the United States. It takes a quorum to conduct business, and a majority of a quorum can pass any bill except a constitutional amendment, which requires a three-fifths vote of all those elected. An appropriation to a non-government organization such as a private college requires a two-thirds vote of those elected.

Members of the House are paid a salary of ten dollars a day plus expenses other than travel in the amount fixed by joint resolution of the legislature.

On the seal of the House is found the Latin phrase "Vox Populi." Translated, it means "voice of the people." The House of Representatives is designed to be the one governmental body that is the closest to the people.

It is our hope that the following web pages will be of use as you endeavor to know more about Alabama's House.

For comments, suggestions, or questions relating to the content of the House of Representatives portion of this website, please contact Clay Redden. Please Note: Messages of a political nature, including those relative to specific legislation, should be directed to individual Members, via telephone, postal correspondence or e-mail, if such Member has an e-mail address posted on their home page or the general e-mail address found on the House alphabetical listing page. Such messages cannot be answered or disseminated through use of the e-mail address listed above.