Legislative Process

Citizens Count Editor

The New Hampshire House (400) and Senate (24) make up the largest state legislature in the U.S.

Lawmakers are elected biannually and paid $100 per year, plus mileage reimbursement.

Despite the minimal pay, legislators review more than 1,000 bills every legislative session. Representatives are responsible for attending 20+ legislative sessions, and that doesn't include committee meetings and public hearings.

University of New Hampshire Associate Professor of Political Science Dante Scala said the Legislature "often is made up of older residents who have the time and financial standing to serve."

"They really run because they can. Unlike in states with professional legislatures, the barriers to entry are very low in New Hampshire," Scala said.

It is unlikely that the state will significantly increase the pay for legislators. However, the Legislature has explored decreasing the time commitment for legislators.

Pros

Author

Citizens Count Editor

NH should keep its "citizen legislature" as-is.

Supporters of New Hampshire's "citizen legislature" argue that the large number of lay-person legislators ensures that citizens have maximum access to the legislative process.
Ideally New Hampshire's legislative model also removes any selfish or monetary motive for running for office.

Cons

Author

Citizens Count Editor

NH should make changes to its "citizen legislature."

The low pay and significant time commitment prevents some highly qualified and good-intentioned individuals from running for the Legislature.
The large number of legislators also results in a significant, perhaps excessive, number of bills every year. Each year, advocates for small, simple government argue that too much regulation passes through the Legislature.

Learn More

National Conference of State Legislatures: Legislative Organization

ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CAUSE

Comments

TOPH

August 14, 2014

The NH State House of Representatives is the largest state legislative body in the United States. Each of its 400 members represents an average of 3,309 citizens. If the US House (435 members) offered the same ratio of representation as the NH House, it would have nearly 100,000 members. Instead, there are 435 of them and average of three quarters of a million people each.

Relative to those staggering figures, NH state reps have a good chance to do a great job representing the views of their constituents, don’t you think? And if someone is willing to give two years of their life (assuming one term), for two six-month legislative sessions, plus countless committee, community, town, and constituent meetings in the “off season”, plus and special sessions, AND get paid only $100 per year with little-to-no staff support… Oh, and they theoretically have to campaign at some point (now).

Wow, it’s a miracle there are 400 people who want the job! (Note: There are 900 +/- state-level candidates filed for all of the various up-for-grabs offices in the upcoming 2014 NH election.) How are there this many people who have time to do this? That’s a ton of time away from families and “day” jobs and businesses and commitments!

Just thinking about it makes me want to know who these people are. Don’t you want to get to know your reps better? And the candidates? If they are willing to make the sacrifice of time and effort and money, shouldn’t we have the decency to get to know who they are and cast an informed, affirmative vote? And communicate with them so they can represent us effectively?

To all those who serve (and run), I salute you.

Legislative Process

Comments

Thank you to our sponsors and donors