Maine Legislature

The Maine Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. It is a bicameral body composed of the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate. It meets in the state's capital, Augusta.

Related Topics:
State legislature - U.S. state - Maine - Bicameral - Maine House of Representatives - Maine Senate - Augusta

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The House of Representatives consists of one-hundred and fifty-one members, each chosen from a single-member district. Also, there are two nonvoting Representatives representing the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The Senate includes a varying number of members, which may under the Constitution be thirty-one, thirty-three, or thirty-five; the present number is thirty-five.

Related Topics:
Penobscot - Passamaquoddy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In order to be a member of Representative, be no less than twenty-one years old, have been for five years a citizen of the United States, have been a resident of the State 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. Senatorial qualifications are the same, save that they must be at least twenty-one years old.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Legislative elections are held in November of every even-numbered year. The terms for both Houses are two years.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Assembly is headed by the Speaker, while the Senate is headed by the President.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Legislature has the power to make laws, subject to a veto by the Governor. 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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~