Kansas House of Representatives facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kansas House of Representatives |
|
|---|---|
| Kansas State Legislature | |
 |
|
| Type | |
| Type | |
|
Term limits
|
None |
| History | |
|
New session started
|
January 14, 2019 |
| Leadership | |
|
Speaker of the House
|
Ron Ryckman Jr. (R)
Since January 14, 2019 |
|
Speaker pro Tempore
|
Blaine Finch (R)
Since January 14, 2019 |
|
Majority Leader
|
Daniel Hawkins (R)
Since January 14, 2019 |
|
Minority Leader
|
Tom Sawyer (D)
Since January 14, 2019 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 125 |
 |
|
|
Political groups
|
|
|
Length of term
|
2 years |
| Authority | Article 2, Kansas Constitution |
| Salary | $88.66/day + per diem |
| Elections | |
|
Last election
|
November 6, 2018 (125 seats) |
|
Next election
|
November 3, 2020 (125 seats) |
| Redistricting | Kansas Reapportionment Commission |
| Meeting place | |
| House of Representatives Chamber Kansas State Capitol Topeka, Kansas |
|
| Website | |
| Kansas House of Representatives | |
The Kansas House of Representatives is a very important part of the government in Kansas. It's like one of the two main groups of lawmakers who make rules and laws for the state. The other group is called the Kansas Senate. Together, these two groups form the Kansas State Legislature.
Contents
Understanding the Kansas House of Representatives
The Kansas House of Representatives is where elected officials from all over Kansas meet to discuss and create new laws. These laws affect everyone living in the state.
What is the House?
The House of Representatives has 125 members. Each member is chosen by voters from a specific area in Kansas. These members work for two years at a time.
- Most of the members belong to the Republican Party. There are 84 Republican members.
- The other members are from the Democratic Party. There are 41 Democratic members.
These lawmakers meet in Topeka, Kansas, which is the capital city of Kansas. Their meetings happen inside the Kansas State Capitol building.
How the House Works
The House is often called the "lower house." This is because it's one of two parts of the state's lawmaking body. The other part, the Senate, is sometimes called the "upper house." Both houses must agree on a bill before it can become a law.
Important Leaders in the House
The House has several important leaders who help guide its work:
- Speaker of the House: This person is the main leader of the House. They are chosen by the members. The Speaker makes sure meetings run smoothly and helps decide what topics are discussed.
- Speaker pro Tempore: This leader helps the Speaker and takes their place if the Speaker is not available.
- Majority Leader: This person leads the political party that has the most members in the House. They help organize their party's plans.
- Minority Leader: This person leads the political party that has fewer members in the House. They speak for their party's ideas and concerns.
These leaders are elected by the members of their own political parties.
Making Laws in Kansas
The main job of the Kansas House of Representatives is to create and pass laws. These laws cover many different things, like schools, roads, and public safety.
- A new idea for a law starts as a "bill."
- Members discuss and vote on these bills.
- If a bill passes in the House, it then goes to the Senate for their approval.
- If both the House and Senate agree, the bill goes to the Governor of Kansas. The Governor can sign it into law or veto it.
Images for kids
-
The Kansas House of Representatives in 1905
