The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It consists of 141 delegates elected from 47 districts. The House of Delegates Chamber is in the Maryland State House on State Circle in Annapolis. The State House also houses the Maryland State Senate and the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland. Each delegate has offices in Annapolis, in the nearby Casper R. Taylor Jr. House Office Building.

History

17th century

The Maryland House of Delegates originated as the Lower House of the General Assembly of the Province of Maryland in 1650, when it was an English colony, when the Assembly (legislature) became a bicameral body.[2] The Lower House often fought with the Upper House for political influence in the colony. The Upper House consisted of the Governor and his Council, all personally appointed by Lord Baltimore and Proprietor of the Province, and thus tended to protect his interests in Maryland. Conversely, the Lower House tended to push for political change in the colony, claiming to be the true elected representatives of the people.

In this context, the Lower House continually fought for more power by asserting exclusive rights in certain legislative areas, such as levying taxes and originating money bills. This reflected similar attitudes in the other colonies on the East Coast of North America with the beginnings and growth of representative government during the 17th century, as each province's representatives constantly agitated for more rights, powers, and respect from the Proprietors, Governors, and even the King and Parliament in London.

The Governor also had some measure of control over the Lower House in the late seventeenth century. Despite the fact that each county was entitled to elect four delegates, the governor selected only two of these to sit in the Lower House. This enabled the Governor to control the Lower House's membership.

In 1689, the transfer of Maryland from a proprietary colony to a royal colony temporarily quieted the disputes between the Lower House and the Governor and Council. Appointed by the crown, the royal governors allowed the Lower House substantial latitude with its legislative agenda. The first General Assembly under Royal Authority, in 1692, passed 85 acts in a single session. The Lower House immediately acted to remove the Governor's influence over the election of delegates. Now, elected delegates could attend the session without the need for a special writ from the Governor. At the same time, standing or continuing committees were established. These eliminated the Lower House's reliance on ad hoc committees and created the first modern legislature in Maryland. During this period, the Lower House became known as the "House of Delegates".

18th century

The Maryland Constitution of 1776 formally established the modern House of Delegates. Initially, representation was based on geography as the voters of each county elected four delegates, and two each were elected from the towns of Annapolis and Baltimore.[2] These delegates served one-year terms (increased to two years in 1845, and four years in 1922, as it is today).

19th century

Beginning with the 1838 elections, each county elected at least three and up to six delegates depending on its population. Baltimore City elected the same number of delegates as did the most populous county, but after 1840, the Town of Annapolis was then considered part of Anne Arundel County. Reapportionment was required after every federal census in an attempt to achieve equal representation.

Modern era

The current pattern for distribution of seats in the House of Delegates began with the legislative apportionment plan of 1972 and has been revised every ten years thereafter. The plan created 47 legislative districts, many of which cross county boundaries to delineate districts relatively equal in population. Each legislative district sends three delegates for a total of 141 members of the House. Some of the larger districts are divided into delegate sub-districts to provide local representation to areas not large enough to constitute an entire legislative district.[2] In a special session on May 1, 2019, Delegate Adrienne Jones became the first woman and the first African American to be elected Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates.[3]

Powers and functions

The powers and functions of the Maryland House of Delegates are outlined in the Maryland Constitution. Along with the State Senate, the House has the power to approve laws, establish executive departments, levy taxes, and propose state constitutional amendments. Both houses also have the power to elect the state treasurer and to appoint a new Governor if the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor are simultaneously vacant. In addition, the House of Delegates has the sole power to impeach members of the executive branch, including the Governor. Once the House of Delegates has passed articles of impeachment, the person impeached stands trial before the State Senate.

Organization

The House of Delegates utilizes a number of different organizational structures. Much of the work of drafting and reviewing bills is done by six standing committees: Appropriations, Economic Matters, Environment and Transportation, Health and Government Operations, Judiciary, and Ways and Means. Each of these committees is then divided further into sub-committees by issue area. An additional continuing committee, Executive Nominations, has the responsibility for confirming appointments of the Governor. Delegates also divide themselves into a variety of legally recognized work groups, Joint and Special Committees, caucuses, and geographic delegations. The two largest caucuses are those of the Democratic and Republican Parties.

Smaller caucuses might group Delegates by identity, such as the Women's Caucus,[4] notably the first women's legislative caucus founded in the United States.[5] The Asian-American and Pacific Islander caucus,[6] or Legislative Black Caucus are other examples. Delegates may also organize by issue or area of experience, such as the Veterans' Caucus.[7] In addition, delegates from a certain county, smaller towns, or Baltimore City might organize its delegate delegation into a caucus-style group, such as the Baltimore City Delegation or the Western Maryland Delegation.

Composition

Map of Maryland house of delegates electoral districts:
3 sub-districts2 sub-districts1 sub-district
  3 dem.
  2 dem., 1 rep.
  1 dem., 2 rep.
  3 rep.
  2 dem.
  1 dem., 1 rep.
  2 rep.
  1 dem.
  1 rep.
  1 ind.
AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
DemocraticRepublicanGrnIndVacant
2007–2010 Session1043601[8]1410
2011–2014 Session9843001410
2015–2018 Session[9]9150001410
October 15, 2018[10]9249001410
November 19, 2018[11]9149101410
2019–2022 Session9942001410
2023–2025 Session10239001410
Latest voting share72.3%27.7%

Leadership

Current leadership in the Maryland House of Delegates.[12]

PositionNamePartyDistrict
Speaker of the House Adrienne A. JonesDemocratic10
Speaker Pro Tempore Dana SteinDemocratic11B
Majority Leader David MoonDemocratic20
Majority Whip Jazz LewisDemocratic24
Minority Leader Jason C. BuckelRepublican1B
Minority Whip Jesse PippyRepublican4

List of current delegates

DistrictDelegatePartySinceResidenceCounties represented
1AJim HinebaughRepublican2023OaklandAllegany, Garrett
1BJason C. BuckelRepublican2015CumberlandAllegany
1CTerry BakerRepublican2023HancockAllegany, Washington
2AWilliam J. WivellRepublican2015SmithsburgFrederick, Washington
William ValentineRepublican2023Emmitsburg
2BBrooke GrossmanDemocratic2023HagerstownWashington
3Kenneth P. KerrDemocratic2019FrederickFrederick
Kris FairDemocratic2023Frederick
Karen SimpsonDemocratic2023Frederick
4Barrie CilibertiRepublican2015FrederickCarroll, Frederick
Jesse PippyRepublican2019Frederick
April Fleming MillerRepublican2023Middletown
5April RoseRepublican2015WestminsterCarroll, Frederick
Chris TomlinsonRepublican2023Manchester
Christopher BouchatRepublican2023Woodbine
6Robin Grammer Jr.Republican2015EssexBaltimore County
Robert B. LongRepublican2015Dundalk
Richard W. MetzgarRepublican2015Essex
7AKathy SzeligaRepublican2011Perry HallBaltimore County
Ryan NawrockiRepublican2023Middle River
7BLauren ArikanRepublican2019JarrettsvilleHarford
8Harry BhandariDemocratic2019OverleaBaltimore County
Nick AllenDemocratic2023Carney
Carl W. JacksonDemocratic2019Rosedale
9AChao WuDemocratic2023ClarksvilleHoward, Montgomery
Natalie ZieglerDemocratic2023Clarksville
9BCourtney WatsonDemocratic2019Ellicott CityHoward
10Adrienne A. JonesDemocratic1997WoodstockBaltimore County
N. Scott PhillipsDemocratic2023Randallstown
Jennifer White HollandDemocratic2023Randallstown
11ACheryl PasteurDemocratic2023Owings MillsBaltimore County
11BJon S. CardinDemocratic2019PikesvilleBaltimore County
Dana SteinDemocratic2007Pikesville
12AJessica M. FeldmarkDemocratic2019ColumbiaHoward
Terri L. HillDemocratic2015Columbia
12BGary SimmonsDemocratic2023Glen BurnieAnne Arundel
13Vanessa AtterbearyDemocratic2015FultonHoward
Jennifer R. TerrasaDemocratic2019Columbia
Pam GuzzoneDemocratic2023Columbia
14Anne KaiserDemocratic2003Silver SpringMontgomery
Pamela E. QueenDemocratic2016Olney
Bernice Mireku-NorthDemocratic2023Silver Spring
15Linda FoleyDemocratic2021PotomacMontgomery
David Fraser-HidalgoDemocratic2013Boyds
Lily QiDemocratic2019Gaithersburg
16Sarah WolekDemocratic2023BethesdaMontgomery
Marc KormanDemocratic2015Bethesda
Sara N. LoveDemocratic2019Bethesda
17Ryan SpiegelDemocratic2023GaithersburgMontgomery
Julie Palakovich CarrDemocratic2019Rockville
Joe VogelDemocratic2023Rockville
18Emily ShettyDemocratic2019KensingtonMontgomery
Jared SolomonDemocratic2019Chevy Chase
Aaron KaufmanDemocratic2023Chevy Chase
19Charlotte CrutchfieldDemocratic2019Silver SpringMontgomery
Bonnie CullisonDemocratic2011Silver Spring
Vaughn StewartDemocratic2019Rockville
20Lorig CharkoudianDemocratic2019Takoma ParkMontgomery
David MoonDemocratic2015Silver Spring
Jheanelle WilkinsDemocratic2017Silver Spring
21Benjamin S. BarnesDemocratic2007College ParkAnne Arundel, Prince George's
Mary A. LehmanDemocratic2019Laurel
Joseline Peña-MelnykDemocratic2007College Park
22Anne HealeyDemocratic1991HyattsvillePrince George's
Ashanti MartinezDemocratic2023New Carrollton
Nicole A. WilliamsDemocratic2019Greenbelt
23Adrian BoafoDemocratic2023BowiePrince George's
Marvin E. Holmes Jr.Democratic2003Upper Marlboro
Kym TaylorDemocratic2023Bowie
24Tiffany T. AlstonDemocratic2023GreenbeltPrince George's
Andrea HarrisonDemocratic2019Greenbelt
Jazz LewisDemocratic2017Glenarden
25Karen TolesDemocratic2022SuitlandPrince George's
Kent RobersonDemocratic2023Clinton
Denise RobertsDemocratic2024Lanham
26Veronica L. TurnerDemocratic2019Temple HillsPrince George's
Kris ValderramaDemocratic2007Fort Washington
Jamila WoodsDemocratic2023Clinton
27AKevin HarrisDemocratic2023BrandywineCharles, Prince George's
27BJeffrie Long Jr.Democratic2023CheltenhamCalvert, Prince George's
27CMark N. FisherRepublican2011Prince FrederickCalvert
28Debra M. DavisDemocratic2019Indian HeadCharles
Edith J. PattersonDemocratic2015Pomfret
C. T. WilsonDemocratic2011White Plains
29AMatthew MorganRepublican2015MechanicsvilleSt. Mary's
29BBrian M. CrosbyDemocratic2019Great MillsSt. Mary's
29CTodd MorganRepublican2023St. Mary's CityCalvert, St. Mary's
30AShaneka HensonDemocratic2019AnnapolisAnne Arundel
Dana JonesDemocratic2020Annapolis
30BSeth A. HowardRepublican2015West RiverAnne Arundel
31Brian ChisholmRepublican2019Severna ParkAnne Arundel
Nic KipkeRepublican2007Pasadena
Rachel MuñozRepublican2021Severna Park
32J. Sandy BartlettDemocratic2019LaurelAnne Arundel
Mark S. ChangDemocratic2015Glen Burnie
Mike RogersDemocratic2019Laurel
33AAndrew PruskiDemocratic2023GambrillsAnne Arundel
33BStuart Schmidt Jr.Republican2023CroftonAnne Arundel
33CHeather BagnallDemocratic2019ArnoldAnne Arundel
34ASteven C. JohnsonDemocratic2019AberdeenHarford
Andre Johnson Jr.Democratic2023Edgewood
34BSusan K. McComasRepublican2003Bel AirHarford
35AMike GriffithRepublican2020Bel AirCecil, Harford
Teresa E. ReillyRepublican2015Whiteford
35BKevin HornbergerRepublican2015North EastCecil
36Steven J. ArentzRepublican2013QueenstownCaroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's
Jefferson L. GhristRepublican2015Ridgely
Jay JacobsRepublican2011Rock Hall
37ASheree Sample-HughesDemocratic2015SalisburyDorchester, Wicomico
37BChristopher T. AdamsRepublican2015HebronCaroline, Dorchester, Talbot, Wicomico
Tom HutchinsonRepublican2023Woolford
38ACharles J. OttoRepublican2011Princess AnneSomerset, Wicomico, Worcester
38BCarl Anderton Jr.Republican2015DelmarWicomico
38CWayne A. HartmanRepublican2019Ocean CityWicomico, Worcester
39Gabriel AceveroDemocratic2019Montgomery VillageMontgomery
Lesley LopezDemocratic2019Germantown
W. Gregory WimsDemocratic2023Boyds
40Marlon AmpreyDemocratic2021BaltimoreBaltimore City
Frank M. Conaway Jr.Democratic2007Baltimore
Melissa WellsDemocratic2019Baltimore
41Dalya AttarDemocratic2019BaltimoreBaltimore City
Malcolm RuffDemocratic2023Baltimore
Samuel I. RosenbergDemocratic1983Baltimore
42ANino MangioneRepublican2019SparksBaltimore County
42BMichele GuytonDemocratic2019PhoenixBaltimore County
42CJoshua StonkoRepublican2023ManchesterCarroll
43ARegina T. BoyceDemocratic2019BaltimoreBaltimore City
Elizabeth EmbryDemocratic2023Baltimore
43BCathi ForbesDemocratic2019TowsonBaltimore County
44AEric EbersoleDemocratic2015CatonsvilleBaltimore County
44BSheila RuthDemocratic2020CatonsvilleBaltimore County
Aletheia McCaskillDemocratic2023Woodlawn
45Stephanie M. SmithDemocratic2019BaltimoreBaltimore City
Jackie AddisonDemocratic2023Baltimore
Caylin YoungDemocratic2023Baltimore
46Luke ClippingerDemocratic2011BaltimoreBaltimore City
Robbyn LewisDemocratic2017Baltimore
Mark EdelsonDemocratic2023Baltimore
47ADiana M. FennellDemocratic2015BrentwoodPrince George's
Julian IveyDemocratic2019Cheverly
47BDeni TaverasDemocratic2023HyattsvillePrince George's

Committees

CommitteeChairpersonsSubcommittees
AppropriationsMaggie McIntosh (DBaltimore), Chair

Mark S. Chang (DGlen Burnie), Vice Chair

  • Capital Budget Subcommittee
  • Education & Economic Development Subcommittee
  • Health & Social Services Subcommittee
  • Public Safety & Administration Subcommittee
  • Transportation & the Environment Subcommittee
  • Oversight Committee on Pensions
  • Oversight Committee on Personnel
Economic MattersC. T. Wilson (DWhite Plains), Chair

Brian M. Crosby (DGreat Mills), Vice Chair

  • Alcoholic Beverages Subcommittee
  • Banking, Consumer Protection & Commercial Law Subcommittee
  • Business Regulation Subcommittee
  • Property & Casualty Insurance Subcommittee
  • Public Utilities Subcommittee
  • Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee
  • Workers' Compensation Subcommittee
Environment & TransportationKumar P. Barve (DRockville), Chair

Dana Stein (DPikesville), Vice Chair

  • Environment Subcommittee
  • Housing & Real Property Subcommittee
  • Land Use & Ethics Subcommittee
  • Local Government & Bi-County Agencies Subcommittee
  • Motor Vehicle & Transportation Subcommittee
  • Natural Resources, Agriculture & Open Space Subcommittee
Health & Government OperationsJoseline Peña-Melnyk (DCollege Park), Chair

Ariana Kelly (DBethesda), Vice Chair

  • Government Operations & Health Facilities Subcommittee
  • Health Occupations & Long-Term Care Subcommittee
  • Insurance & Pharmaceuticals Subcommittee
  • Public Health & Minority Health Disparities Subcommittee
JudiciaryLuke Clippinger (DBaltimore), Chair

David Moon (DSilver Spring), Vice Chair

  • Civil Law & Procedure Subcommittee
  • Criminal Law & Procedure Subcommittee
  • Family Law Subcommittee
  • Juvenile Law Subcommittee
  • Law Enforcement Officers Public Information Work Group
  • Public Safety Subcommittee
Rules & Executive NominationsAnne Healey (DHyattsville), Chair

Marvin E. Holmes Jr. (DUpper Marlboro), Vice Chair

Ways & MeansVanessa Atterbeary (DFulton), Chair

Alonzo T. Washington (DGreenbelt), Vice Chair

  • Early Childhood Subcommittee
  • Education Subcommittee
  • Election Law Subcommittee
  • Local Revenues Subcommittee
  • Racing & Gaming Subcommittee
  • Revenues Subcommittee

See also

References

  1. ^ "Report of the General Assembly Compensation Commission" (PDF). Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Maryland State Archives (June 17, 2004). "Maryland House of Delegates – ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS". Retrieved June 12, 2007.
  3. ^ "Baltimore County Del. Adrienne Jones elected speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates". The Baltimore Sun. May 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "Maryland General Assembly Caucuses - Women Legislators of Maryland". msa.maryland.gov.
  5. ^ Maryland State archives, accessed June 30, 2017
  6. ^ "Maryland General Assembly Caucuses - Maryland Legislative Asian-American & Pacific-Islander Caucus". msa.maryland.gov.
  7. ^ "Maryland General Assembly Caucuses - Maryland Veterans Caucus". msa.maryland.gov.
  8. ^ For organizational purposes, the Independent caucused with the Republicans.
  9. ^ The Baltimore Sun (November 5, 2014). "Republicans ride GOP wave to gain General Assembly seats". Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  10. ^ "Anne Arundel delegate who came out as bisexual during conversion therapy debate changes parties". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  11. ^ "OUTGOING DELEGATE SWITCHES TO GREEN PARTY". The Montgomery County Sentinel. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  12. ^ Maryland Manual On-Line (March 3, 2017). "Maryland House of Delegates – Organizational Structure". Retrieved April 19, 2017.

Further reading

Legislative District Maps, which are updated every ten years

External links