Maryland Legislative Branch Maryland General Assembly
What is the power function of this branch as a state congress?
What is the structure of Maryland's General Assembly? Who is the Senate President? House President?
Maryland House of Delegates
Term Limits?
Who can be a Delegate?
Im in PG County Maryland who represents my district?
Maryland Senate
Term Limits?
Who can be a Senator?
Who represents your district?
What are its limitations, compared to the national levels of Congress?
Describe the legislative process in Maryland. List the steps of a Maryland bill becoming a state law
The power function of Maryland's Legislative Branch, known as the Maryland General Assembly, is to make and pass laws for the state of Maryland. It has the authority to propose, debate, and vote on legislation that affects the citizens of Maryland.
The structure of Maryland's General Assembly consists of two chambers: the House of Delegates and the Senate. The Senate has 47 members, with each senator representing a specific district within the state. The House of Delegates has 141 members, with each delegate also representing a specific district. The Senate President in Maryland is Bill Ferguson, and the House President is Adrienne Jones.
In the Maryland House of Delegates, there are no term limits. Delegates can serve an unlimited number of terms as long as they are reelected by their constituents.
Any person who is a resident of Maryland for at least one year prior to election and a registered voter in their district can be a Delegate.
To find out who represents your district in PG County, you can visit the Maryland General Assembly's website and use their "Find my Representatives" tool or contact the local Board of Elections.
Similar to the House of Delegates, there are no term limits for Senators in the Maryland State Senate. They can serve an unlimited number of terms, as reelected by their constituents.
To be a Senator in Maryland, one must meet the following qualifications: be a U.S. citizen, be at least 25 years old, be a resident of Maryland and the district they wish to represent for at least one year prior to election, and be a registered voter in their district.
To find out who represents your district in the Maryland State Senate, you can visit the Maryland General Assembly's website and use their "Find my Representatives" tool or contact the local Board of Elections.
In terms of limitations compared to the national levels of Congress, the Maryland General Assembly has jurisdiction over state matters and cannot pass legislation that infringes upon federal law or the U.S. Constitution. They also have limited foreign policy influence and cannot ratify treaties.
The legislative process in Maryland consists of several steps for a bill to become a state law. These steps include:
1. Introduction: A legislator sponsors a bill and introduces it in either the House of Delegates or the Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is assigned to a committee, where it is reviewed, amended, and discussed. The committee holds public hearings to gather input from stakeholders and the public.
3. Floor Action: If the committee approves the bill, it is presented to the full chamber for debate and voting. Amendments can be proposed and discussed.
4. Second Chamber Review: If the bill passes in the chamber where it was introduced, it goes through a similar process in the other chamber. It is assigned to a committee, reviewed, and debated.
5. Conference Committee: If there are differences between the versions passed by each chamber, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences and create a final version of the bill.
6. Final Vote: The final version of the bill is presented to both chambers for a final vote. If it is approved by both chambers, it is sent to the Governor.
7. Governor's Action: The Governor can either sign the bill into law, veto it, or let it become law without signing it. If the Governor vetoes the bill, the General Assembly can override the veto with a certain majority vote in each chamber.
8. Law: If the bill is signed by the Governor or the veto is overridden, it becomes a state law.