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30-581: On March 29, 1916, the Mississippi Legislature created the Mississippi State Highway Commission. Originally consisting of three members, the commission held its first meeting on April 14 to discuss the disbursement of federal funds and coordinate a highway planning program with the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads . In 1920, Governor Lee M. Russell expanded the commission with five additional members. In 1930,

60-453: A bicameral legislature of the state, composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives , in which all lawmaking authority is vested. The constitution requires the legislature to convene in regular annual sessions, with most lasting for 90 days and sessions on every fourth year lasting for 125 days, though the legislature can extend their sessions with the approval of two-thirds of its members. The governor may also at their discretion call

90-905: A chairman among their own members. The commissioners' individual salaries are $ 78,000 per year, but are set to increase to $ 95,000 annually in 2024. The Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at its offices in Jackson . The Central District commissioner keeps an office in Jackson, while the Northern District commissioner keeps an office in Tupelo and the Southern District commissioner maintains one in Hattiesburg . The current commissioners are: Mississippi Legislature The Mississippi Legislature

120-417: A limited immunity from arrest during a legislative session and 15 days before or after a session except in cases of "treason, felony, theft, or breach of the peace". In the event of a vacancy in a legislative seat in between regular elections, the governor issues a writ of election to enable a contest to be held to fill the seat for the remainder of its term. The Constitution of Mississippi provides for

150-601: A majority: Musgrove was elected on the first ballot. The permanent position of Speaker pro tempore was established in a House vote on January 9, 1987. (It had been previously used in temporary situations if the Speaker was not available.) The Speaker Pro Tempore acts as Speaker in the Speaker's absence. The Speaker Pro Tempore also serves ex officio as the Chair of the House Management Committee and as

180-572: A member of the House Rules Committee. The current Speaker pro tempore is Republican Manly Barton. State representatives earn $ 23,500 per year. The following composition reflects the balance of power after the 2023 elections. Republicans secured a majority for the fourth time since 2011, the first year when Republicans won the majority of seats in the State House since 1870. The 2023 elections were marked by new leadership, as

210-478: A total compensation of $ 40,000 to $ 50,000 per year from salary, per diem payments, and other reimbursements and payments, with several collecting around $ 70,000 per year. All legislators swear a state constitutionally-prescribed oath of office, which requires them to declare allegiance to the state and federal constitutions, pledge to be responsible in the exercise of their duties, and promise not to engage in vote trading . The constitution provides legislators with

240-425: A two-thirds vote of the membership of his or her chamber. Legislative proceedings are open to the public unless a closed session for secrecy is deemed necessary, and each house has the power to punish public observers for disorderly and disruptive behavior. Each house keeps an official journal to record its proceedings, including votes on bills. A bill may originate in either house, and be amended or rejected in

270-509: Is responsible for election of the state librarian. During instances of rebellion or foreign invasion, the legislature may suspend the writ of habeas corpus . The House of Representatives is empowered to impeach any state official with the agreement of two-thirds of its members and subject them to a trial in the Senate, which can remove an official from office with the agreement of two-thirds of its members. The legislature can pass amendments to

300-493: Is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Mississippi . The bicameral Legislature is composed of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives , with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi State Senate , with 52 members. Both representatives and senators serve four-year terms without term limits . The Legislature convenes at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson . From 1800 until 1833,

330-612: Is the only popularly-elected state transportation board in the United States. Per state law, the commission is responsible for developing an intermodal transport policy for the state. It oversees all aeronautical, highway, port, railroad, and public transit in Mississippi. The commission appoints the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation to oversee daily administrative matters in

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360-717: Is to comprise no more than 122 members elected for four-year terms. To qualify as a member of the House candidates must be at least 21 years old, a resident of Mississippi for at least four years, and a resident in the district for at least two years. Elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Article 4, Section 36 of the Mississippi Constitution specifies that the state legislature must meet for 125 days every four years and 90 days in other years. The Mississippi House of Representatives has

390-413: The House must be at least 21 years old, while candidates for the Senate must be at least 25 years old. Each house has the authority to judge the qualifications of its own members. The Mississippi Legislature is a citizen legislature ; most legislators have full-time occupations unrelated to their official roles. Members receive a base salary of $ 23,000 per year. As of April 2022, most legislators garnered

420-572: The Mississippi Transportation Commission and the Mississippi Department of Transportation . Dick Hall was the longest-tenured transportation commissioner, serving from 1999 until 2019. Willie Lee Simmons , the first black person to serve on the commission, assumed office in 2020. The Mississippi Transportation Commission is a part of the executive branch of Mississippi's state government . It

450-410: The Senate pro tempore . The presiding officers determine the leadership of legislative committees in their own houses. In the event of a tied vote in a joint session , the lieutenant governor is empowered to cast a tie-breaking vote. The constitution gives the state legislature the authority to determine rules of its own proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and expel a member with

480-516: The Senate and the Ways and Means Committee and Appropriations Committee in the House often exercise significant influence over legislation. Mississippi judges have usually deferred to the legislature on legal questions involving its internal decisions and operations; such things are not subject to regular judicial review . In 2011, 63% of the seats in the legislature had candidates with no significant opposition in upcoming elections. In 2023, that figure

510-481: The agency, with their choice subject to the approval of the Mississippi State Senate . A majority vote of the commission is required to disburse money from the state's Emergency Road and Bridge Repair fund. The Mississippi Transportation Commission is led by three commissioners. One commissioner is elected by voters in each of the state's three Supreme Court districts, and the commissioners elect

540-440: The attendance of absent members. Each house elects their own officers. The House of Representatives is led by a speaker, who is elected among the preexisting membership in the House. The Senate is led by the lieutenant governor , who is popularly elected by voters in statewide elections and is ex officio president of the Senate. Second to these officers in their respective houses are the speaker pro tempore and president of

570-444: The authority to determine rules of its own proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and expel a member with a two-thirds vote of its membership. Bills must undergo three readings in each house, unless two-thirds of the house dispenses with the rules. They cannot be amended to a new purpose. Amendments to bills must be approved by both houses. The governor has the power to veto legislation, but legislators can override

600-471: The last three days of a session. Most bills are passed by a simple majority vote of each chamber. Any revenue bill or measure that alters the assessment of taxable property requires the approval of three-fifths of legislators present and voting. Every bill passed by both houses is signed by the presiding officers of each house. The Mississippi Legislature has the power to write state laws and craft appropriations to fund state government. All bills passed by

630-720: The legislative body of the Mississippi Territory and the state of Mississippi was known as the "General Assembly". Thereafter, it was known as "the Legislature of the State of Mississippi". During the Reconstruction era , the legislature met for biennial sessions. In 1890, constitutional revisions allowed the body to regularly convene only once every four years. In 1910, the legislature reverted to biennial meetings, and in 1968 it began meeting annually. In 1977,

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660-495: The legislature become law unless vetoed by the governor, though the body may override the veto with the approval two-thirds of the members of each House. The legislature has the power to convene hearings to investigate any matter it desires. Unable to compel testimony from any individual in such instances, or prosecute crimes, or enforce any other desired outcome, such hearings are usually held only to gather information to aid in policy-making and budgeting decisions. The legislature

690-415: The legislature into a special session to a consider a specific issue of the governor's choosing. Since 1903, the legislature has met in the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson . One house cannot adjourn its proceedings for over three days without the agreement of the other. A basic majority of one house's members constitutes a quorum to do business, though a smaller group can convene and vote to compel

720-675: The legislature passed the Stansel Act, restoring the commission as a body consisting of three popularly elected commissioners. In the 1980s, Governor William Allain pushed for the State Highway Department to be reorganized—with the highway commissioners to be appointed by the governor and not popularly elected—but his proposal failed due to legislative opposition. In July 1992, the State Highway Commission and State Highway Department were reorganized as

750-412: The other, and must be read by its title on three different days in each house, unless two-thirds of the house vote to suspend the rules. The Mississippi Constitution prohibits amending a bill to change its original purpose. Bills amended in the second house, must return it to the first for a vote to accept amendments. All bills must be considered by a committee in each house. No bills can be introduced in

780-470: The past speaker Phillip Gunn retired, allowing his chief lieutenant, then-Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White to become the new speaker. The 2023 elections saw the seating of 25 new members. State representatives are elected every four years by the qualified electors of the district for which they are running. Candidates are required to be at least 21 years of age and a resident of the state and district for which they are campaigning. The House has elected

810-748: The state constitution was amended to require that legislative districts be apportioned equally in terms of population. The Mississippi Legislature has 174 elected members, with 122 members of the Mississippi House of Representatives and 52 members of the Mississippi Senate . Members are elected to four-year terms to represent districts. Among the states, Mississippi has the 14th largest lower house and fifth largest upper house. House districts are drawn such that each encompasses about 24,000 people, while Senate districts are drawn such that each encompasses about 55,000 people. Candidates for

840-468: The state constitution with the approval of two-thirds of the members of each house, subject to ratification in a popular referendum. Bills typically have to be passed out of committee before being passed by the legislature. A chair of a committee can choose not to bring up the bill for a vote before the committee or a full house and thus let it expire. The chairs of the Finance Committee in

870-563: The veto with a two-thirds decision. From 1890 to 2020, State representatives were authorized under the Mississippi Constitution to elect the Governor of Mississippi if no candidate had received 62 of the 122 electoral votes (one per district) and more than 50% of the popular vote. This occurred only once, in 1999 , when Ronnie Musgrove had the most votes statewide, but was one electoral vote and 2936 votes (0.38%) shy of

900-484: Was 85%. That year the Associated Press stated that this "raises questions about the ability of American voters to hold their elected representatives accountable." Mississippi House of Representatives The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature , the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi . According to the state constitution of 1890, it

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