New Mexico House of Representatives facts for kids

Quick facts for kids New Mexico House of Representatives Cámara de representantes de Nuevo México
New Mexico State Legislature
Type
Type	Lower house
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 17, 2023
Leadership
Speaker	Javier Martínez (D) Since January 17, 2023
Majority Leader	Gail Chasey (D) Since January 17, 2023
Minority Leader	Rod Montoya (R) Since April 5, 2024
Structure
Seats	70
Political groups	Majority      Democratic (45) Minority      Republican (25)
Length of term	2 years
Authority	Article IV, New Mexico Constitution
Salary	None + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 8, 2022 (70 seats)
Next election	November 5, 2024 (70 seats)
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber New Mexico State Capitol Santa Fe, New Mexico

The New Mexico House of Representatives (Spanish: Cámara de representantes de Nuevo México) is an important part of the New Mexico State Legislature. It's like the "lower house" of the state's lawmaking body. Its main job is to create and vote on new laws for the people of New Mexico.

There are 70 members in the House. Each member represents a specific area, or "district," in New Mexico. This means they speak for about 25,980 people in their district. The most recent elections for these representatives happened on November 8, 2022.

What the House Does

The New Mexico House of Representatives works together with the New Mexico Senate to make laws for the state. When a new idea for a law comes up, it usually starts as a "bill" in either the House or the Senate. Members discuss these bills, make changes, and then vote on them. If a bill passes both the House and the Senate, it goes to the Governor to be signed into law.

How Members Are Chosen

People in New Mexico vote for their representatives every two years. This means that the members of the House are always working to represent the current needs and ideas of their communities. These elections are a key way for citizens to have a say in how their state is run.

Who Is in the House?

The New Mexico House of Representatives has 70 members. These members belong to different political groups, or "parties." The party with the most members is called the "majority party," and the other is the "minority party."

Currently, the Democratic Party has 45 members, making it the majority. The Republican Party has 25 members, forming the minority. This mix of parties helps make sure many different viewpoints are heard when new laws are being discussed.

A map showing the districts of the New Mexico House of Representatives.

House Leaders and Their Roles

The New Mexico House of Representatives has special leaders who help guide the work. These leaders are chosen by the members of the House. They make sure meetings run smoothly and that important issues are addressed.

What Do the Leaders Do?

• Speaker of the House: This is the most powerful position in the House. The Speaker leads the meetings, decides which bills are discussed, and helps keep order. Think of them as the main referee and leader for the whole team.
• Majority Floor Leader: This person is chosen by the majority party. Their job is to help their party's members work together and push for laws that their party supports. They also help plan what bills will be voted on.
• Minority Floor Leader: This person is chosen by the minority party. They speak for their party's views and try to influence laws. They often point out different ideas or concerns that the minority party has.
• Whips: Both the majority and minority parties have "whips." Whips make sure that members of their party are present for votes and that they understand what they are voting on. They help keep everyone in line with their party's goals.

Images for kids

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  The official seal of the New Mexico House of Representatives.

See also

• New Mexico Legislature
• New Mexico Senate