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New Mexico Legislature

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Title: New Mexico Legislature  
Author: World Heritage Encyclopedia
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Subject: Government of New Mexico, Nate Gentry, Michael Sanchez, Steven Neville, Don Tripp
Collection: Bicameral Legislatures, Government of New Mexico, New Mexico Legislature
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New Mexico Legislature

The State Legislature of New Mexico
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Houses Senate
House of Representatives
Leadership
John Sanchez (R)
Since January 1, 2011
Mary Kay Papen (D)
Since January 15, 2013
Senate Majority Leader
Michael Sanchez (D)
Since January 18, 2005
Don Tripp (R)
Since January 20, 2015
House Majority Leader
Nate Gentry (R)
Since January 20, 2015
Structure
Seats 112
Political groups
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Independent Party
Elections
Last election
November 2014
Next election
November 2016
Meeting place
State Capitol, Santa Fe
Website
http://nmlegis.gov/

The New Mexico Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of New Mexico. It is a bicameral body made up of the New Mexico House of Representatives and the New Mexico Senate.

Contents

  • Session structure and operations 1
  • Districting 2
    • Redistricting 2.1
    • Term limits 2.2
  • Party summary 3
    • State Senate 3.1
    • House of Representatives 3.2
    • History 3.3
  • External links 4
  • References 5

Session structure and operations

The Legislature meets in regular session on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year. The New Mexico Constitution limits the regular session to 60 calendar days, every other year it is 30 days.[1] The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate, while the Speaker of the House is elected from that body in a closed door majority member caucus. Both have wide latitude in choosing committee membership in their respective houses and have a large impact on lawmaking in the state.

Only the Governor may call the Legislature into special sessions, unlike other states where the legislature may call itself into session. The Governor may call as many sessions as he or she wishes. The New Mexico Constitution does not limit the duration of each special session; lawmakers may consider only those issues designated by the Governor in his or her "call," or proclamation convening the special session (though other issues may be added by the Governor during a session).[2]

Any bill passed by the Legislature takes effect 90 days after its passage unless two-thirds of each house votes to give the bill either immediate effect or earlier effect. The Legislature, of course, may provide for an effective date that is after the 90th day.

Districting

The legislature consists of 70 representatives and 42 senators. Each member of the House represents roughly 25,980 residents of New Mexico. Each member of the Senate represents roughly 43,300 residents. Currently the New Mexico Legislature has split majorities. The Democratic Party holds a majority in the Senate, while the Republican Party holds the majority in the House. The Republican Party also holds the Governor's office.

Redistricting

A legislative committee is assigned by the governor to meet every 10 years based on the outcome of the US Census to redistrict the boundaries of districts for the state legislature, and congressional districts.[3]

Term limits

Currently, there are no term limits for legislators. The longest current member of the legislature has served since the 1970s. House members are elected every 2 years, while Senate members are elected every 4 years.[4]

Party summary

State Senate

Senate Party standings
  24 Democrats
  18 Republicans
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature 27 15 42 0
Jan 1, 2015 - Mar 14, 2015 25 17 42 0
Mar 14, 2015 - Apr 5, 2015 24 17 41 1
Apr 5, 2015 – Present 24 18 42 0

House of Representatives

House Party standings
  37 Republicans
  33 Democrats
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Democratic Ind Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature 38 0 32 70 0
Begin 33 0 37 70 0

History

Session Years House Senate Governor
Total Democrats Republicans Others Total Democrats Republicans Others
1st 1912–1914 49 16 30 3 24 7 16 1 William W. McDonald
2nd 1915-1916 49 14 33 2 24 7 16 1
3rd 1917-1918 49 19 30 - 24 10 14 - Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca
Washington E. Lindsey
4th 1919-1920 49 15 34 - 24 9 15 - Octaviano Larrazolo
5th 1921-1922 49 15 34 - 24 9 15 - Merritt C. Mechem
6th 1923-1924 49 33 16 - 24 9 15 - James F. Hinkle
7th 1925-1926 49 28 21 - 24 11 13 - Arthur T. Hannett
8th 1927-1928 49 18 31 - 24 11 13 - Richard C. Dillon
9th 1929-1930 49 12 37 - 24 6 18
10th 1931-1932 49 28 21 - 24 8 16 - Arthur Seligman
11th 1933-1934 49 41 8 - 24 20 4 -
42 7 - Andrew W. Hockenhull
12th 1935-1936 49 38 12 - 24 18 6 - Clyde Tingley
13th 1937-1938 49 47 2 - 24 23 1 -
14th 1939-1940 49 42 7 - 24 23 1 - John E. Miles
15th 1941-1942 49 40 9 - 24 21 3 -
16th 1943-1944 49 33 16 - 24 21 3 - John J. Dempsey
17th 1945-1946 49 30 19 - 24 18 6 -
18th 1947-1948 49 30 19 - 24 18 6 - Thomas J. Mabry
19th 1949-1950 49 36 13 - 24 19 5 -
Session Years House Senate Governor
Total Democrats Republicans Others Total Democrats Republicans Others
20th 1951-1952 55 46 9 - 24 18 6 - Edwin L. Mechem
21st 1953-1954 55 27 28 - 31 22 9 -
22nd 1955-1956 55 51 4 - 32 23 9 - John F. Simms
23rd 1957-1958 66 43 23 - 32 24 8 - Edwin L. Mechem
24th 1959-1960 66 60 6 - 32 24 8 - John Burroughs
25th 1961-1962 66 59 7 - 32 28 4 - Edwin L. Mechem
Tom Bolack
26th 1963-1964 66 55 11 - 32 28 4 - Jack M. Campbell
27th 1965-1966 77 59 18 - 32 28 4 -
28th 1967-1968 70 45 25 - 42 25 17 - David F. Cargo
29th 1969-1970 70 44 26 - 42 25 17 -
30th 1971-1972 70 48 22 - 42 28 14 - Bruce King
31st 1973-1974 70 51 19 - 42 30 12 -
50 20 -
32nd 1975-1976 70 51 19 - 42 29 13 - Jerry Apodaca
30 12 -
33rd 1977-1978 70 48 22 - 42 33 9 -
34th 1979-1980 70 41 29[5] - 42 33 9 - Bruce King
32 10 -
35th 1981-1982 70 41 29[6] - 42 22 20 -
23 19 -
36th 1983-1984 70 46 24 - 42 23 19 - Toney Anaya
47 23 -
37th 1985-1986 70 43 27[7] - 42 21 21[8] -
20 22 -
42 20[9] 22
38th 1987-1988 70 47 23 - 42 21[10] 21 - Garrey Carruthers
46 24 - 42 21 21[11]
39th 1989-1990 70 45 25 - 42 26 16 -
25 17 -
Session Years House Senate Governor
Total Democrats Republicans Others Total Democrats Republicans Others
40th 1991-1992 70 49 21 - 42 26 16 - Bruce King
41st 1993-1994 70 53 17 - 42 27 15 -
42nd 1995-1996 70 46 24 - 42 27 15 - Gary Johnson
43rd 1997-1998 70 42 28 - 42 25 17 -
44th 1999-2000 70 40 30 - 42 25 17 -
45th 2001-2002 70 42 28 - 42 24 18[12] -
46th 2003-2004 70 43 27 - 42 24 18 - Bill Richardson
47th 2005-2006 70 42 28 - 42 24 18 -
48th 2007-2008 70 42 28 - 42 24 18 -
49th 2009-2010 70 45 25 - 42 27 15[13] -
50th 2011-2012 70 36 33 1 42 27 15[14] - Susana Martinez
51st 2013-2014 70 38 32 - 42 25 17 -
52nd 2015-2016 70 33 37 - 42 24 18 -
Session Years Total Democrats Republicans Others Total Democrats Republicans Others Governor
House Senate

External links

  • New Mexico Legislature official website

References

  1. ^ http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/lcsdocs/sessionsdates.pdf
  2. ^ http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/statutes.aspx
  3. ^ http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/redcensus/
  4. ^ http://crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/2000s/2007/note200703.pdf
  5. ^ Coalition of 11 Democrats and 29 Republicans controlled the House Majority
  6. ^ Coalition of 10 Democrats and 27 Republicans controlled the House Majority
  7. ^ Coalition of 10 Democrats and 26 Republicans controlled the House Majority
  8. ^ Coalition of 4 Democrats and 21 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority until one of the Democrats switched parties in late 1985, giving the Republicans outright control
  9. ^ Coalition of 4 Republicans and 19 Democrats controlled the Senate Majority in the 37th Session's special legislative session in September 1986.
  10. ^ Coalition of 3 Republicans and 21 Democrats controlled the Senate Majority
  11. ^ Coalition of 5 Democrats and 18 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority beginning in January 1988
  12. ^ Coalition of 3 Democrats and 18 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority
  13. ^ Coalition of 8 Democrats and 15 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority
  14. ^ Coalition of 8 Democrats and 15 Republicans controlled the Senate Majority
Legislatures of the United States
United States Congress
State legislatures
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