Washington House of Representatives | |
---|---|
Washington State Legislature | |
Type | |
Type | |
Term limits
|
None |
History | |
New session started
|
January 9, 2017 |
Leadership | |
Speaker pro Tempore
|
|
Majority Leader
|
|
Minority Leader
|
|
Structure | |
Seats | 98 |
Political groups
|
Majority
Minority
|
Length of term
|
2 years |
Authority | Article II, Washington State Constitution |
Salary | $42,106/year + per diem |
Elections | |
Last election
|
November 8, 2016 (98 seats) |
Next election
|
November 6, 2018 (98 seats) |
Redistricting | Washington State Redistricting Commission |
Meeting place | |
House of Representatives Chamber Washington State Capitol Olympia, Washington |
|
Website | |
Washington State Legislature |
Majority
Minority
The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, and along with the Washington State Senate makes up the legislature of the US state of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 districts, each of which elects one Senator and two members of the House. All members of the House are elected to a two-year term without term limits. The House meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia.
The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker and the Speaker Pro Tem are nominated by the majority party caucus followed by a vote of the full House. As well as presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leadership position, and controls the flow of legislation. In the absence of the Speaker the Speaker Pro Tem assumes the role of Speaker. Other House leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the House.
The current Speaker of the House is Democrat Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) of the 43rd Legislative District. The Speaker Pro Tempore is Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines) of the 33rd Legislative District. The Majority Leader is Pat Sullivan (D-Covington) of the 47th Legislative District. The Republican Minority Leader is Dan Kristiansen (R-Snohomish) of the 39th Legislative District.