South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives | |
|---|---|
| South Carolina General Assembly | |
 Seal of the South Carolina House of Representatives | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
New session started | January 14, 2025 |
| Leadership | |
Speaker pro tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 124 |
 | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
|
Length of term | 2 years |
| Authority | Article III, South Carolina Constitution |
| Salary | $10,400/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 5, 2024 (124 seats) |
Next election | November 3, 2026 (124 seats) |
| Redistricting | Legislative Control |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| House of Representatives Chamber South Carolina State House Columbia, South Carolina | |
| Website | |
| South Carolina House of Representatives | |
| Rules | |
| Rules of the South Carolina House of Representatives | |
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections.
Unlike many legislatures, seating on the floor is not divided by party, but is arranged by county delegation – a legacy of the original apportionment of the chamber. Until 1964, each of South Carolina's counties was a legislative district, with the number of representatives determined by the county's population. It meets from the second week of January into May.
History
[edit]In Colonial times, there was a Commons House of Assembly.[1]
Qualifications and terms
[edit]Representatives are considered part-time citizen legislators who serve two-year terms. Representatives are elected at-large by their district, and there are no term limits.[2] Representatives must be 21 years of age before they are eligible to become a representative.[3]
Composition
[edit]| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| Beginning of 2023-25 Session[a] | 88 | 36 | 124 | 0 |
| Expected voting share | 71% | 29% | ||
Leadership
[edit]| South Carolina House of Representatives officers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Name | Party |
| Speaker | Murrell Smith | Republican |
| Majority Leader | Davey Hiott | Republican |
| Minority Leader | Todd Rutherford | Democratic |
Current members
[edit]- *Member was originally elected in a special election
Standing Committees
[edit]| Committee | Chair | [6] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subcommittee | |||
| Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs | Bill Hixon (R-83) | ||
| Agriculture | Bill Chumley (R-35) | ||
| Environmental Affairs | Mike Burns (R-17) | ||
| Wildlife | Cal Forrest (R-39) | ||
| Education and Public Works | Shannon Erickson (R-124) | ||
| K-12 | Jeff Bradley (R-123) | ||
| Higher Education | Tim McGinnis (R-56) | ||
| Early Childhood | Stewart Jones (R-14) | ||
| Public Safety | Paula Rawl Calhoon (R-87) | ||
| Transportation | Adam Morgan (R-20) | ||
| Motor Vehicles | Doug Gilliam (R-14) | ||
| Ethics | Jay Jordan (R-63) | ||
| Interstate Cooperation | Mark N. Willis (R-16) | ||
| Invitations and Memorial Resolutions | Dennis Moss (R-29) | ||
| Judiciary | Weston J. Newton (R-45) | ||
| Constitutional Laws | Jay Jordan (R-63) | ||
| Criminal Laws | Jeff Johnson (R-58) | ||
| General Laws | Jason Elliott (R-22) | ||
| Family, Business, and Probate Law | Beth Bernstein (D-78) | ||
| Special Laws | John R. McCravy III (R-13) | ||
| Labor, Commerce and Industry | Bill Sandifer III (R-2) | ||
| Banking And Consumer Affairs | Joseph H. Jefferson (D-63) | ||
| Real Estate | Anne Thayer (R-9) | ||
| Public Utilities | Jay West (R-7) | ||
| Insurance | Kevin Hardee (R-105) | ||
| Administration and Regulations | Carl Anderson (D-103) | ||
| Legislative Oversight | Jeff Johnson (R-58) | ||
| Economic Development, Transportation, and Natural Resources | Travis Moore (R-33) | ||
| Education and Cultural Affairs | Tim McGinnis (R-56) | ||
| Healthcare and Regulatory | Joseph H. Jefferson (D-102) | ||
| Law Enforcement, Criminal and Civil Justice | Chris Wooten (R-69) | ||
| Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs | Sylleste Davis (R-100) | ||
| Medical and Health Affairs | Marvin Smith (R-99) | ||
| Military and Veterans Affairs | Bobby Cox (R-21) | ||
| Municipal and Public Affairs | Joe Bustos (R-112) | ||
| Operations and Management | Patrick Haddon (R-19) | ||
| Regulations and Administration Procedures | Jeff Bradley (R-123) | ||
| Business, Commerce, and Administration | Terry Alexander (D-59) | ||
| Education and Public Works | Max Hyde (R-32) | ||
| Environment and Natural Resources | Mike Burns (R-17) | ||
| Health and Healthcare Industries | Carl Anderson (R-103) | ||
| Rules | Anne Thayer (R-9) | ||
| Ways and Means | Bruce W. Bannister (R-24) | ||
| Constitutional Budget | Chris Murphy (R-98) | ||
| High Education Budget | Nathan Ballentine (R-71) | ||
| Public Education Budget | Bill Whitmire (R-1) | ||
| Business, Commerce, and Administration Budget | Bill Herbkersman (R-118) | ||
| Economic Development Budget | Leon Stavrinakis (D-119) | ||
| Criminal Justice Budget | Phillip Lowe (R-60) | ||
| Transportation and Regulatory Budget | Heather Ammons Crawford (R-68) | ||
| Proviso Budget | Dennis Moss (R-29) | ||
| Economic Development Legislative | Micah Caskey (R-89) | ||
| General Government Legislative | Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-95) | ||
| License, Fee and Other Taxes Legislative | Todd Rutherford (D-74) | ||
| Property Tax Legislative | Lee Hewitt (R-108) | ||
| Sales & Use Tax and Income Tax Legislative | Brandon Michael Newton (R-45) | ||
| Revenue Policy Legislative | Bruce W. Bannister (R-24) | ||
Party composition over time
[edit]| Year | Democratic Party |
Republican Party |
Independent / Other |
Majority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1865 | 0 | 0 | 124 | 124 |
| 1868 | 14 | 110 | 0 | 96 |
| 1870 | 0 | 100 | 24(a) | 76 |
| 1872 | 22 | 102 | 0 | 80 |
| 1874 | 0 | 91 | 33(b) | 58 |
| 1876 | 64 | 60 | 0 | 4 |
| 1878 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 118 |
| 1880 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 116 |
| 1882 | 118 | 6 | 0 | 112 |
| 1884 | 119 | 5 | 0 | 114 |
| 1886 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 116 |
| 1888 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 118 |
| 1890 | 115 | 9 | 0 | 106 |
| 1892 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 116 |
| 1894 | 104 | 3 | 17(c) | 87 |
| 1896– 1900 |
123 | 1 | 0 | 122 |
| 1902– 1960 |
124 | 0 | 0 | 124 |
| 1961 | 123 | 1[7][8] | 0 | 122 |
| 1962 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 124 |
| 1964 | 123 | 1 | 0 | 122 |
| 1966 | 107 | 17 | 0 | 90 |
| 1968 | 119 | 5 | 0 | 114 |
| 1970 | 113 | 11 | 0 | 102 |
| 1972 | 103 | 21 | 0 | 82 |
| 1974 | 108 | 16 | 0 | 92 |
| 1976 | 112 | 12 | 0 | 100 |
| 1978 | 108 | 16 | 0 | 92 |
| 1980 | 108 | 16 | 0 | 92 |
| 1982 | 105 | 19 | 0 | 86 |
| 1984 | 96 | 28 | 0 | 68 |
| 1986 | 92 | 32 | 0 | 60 |
| 1988 | 88 | 36 | 0 | 52 |
| 1990 | 80 | 44 | 0 | 36 |
| 1992 | 74 | 50 | 0 | 24 |
| 1994 | 54 | 70 | 0 | 16 |
| 1996 | 53 | 71 | 0 | 18 |
| 1998 | 57 | 67 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000 | 53 | 71 | 0 | 18 |
| 2002 | 51 | 73 | 0 | 22 |
| 2004 | 50 | 74 | 0 | 24 |
| 2006 | 51 | 73 | 0 | 22 |
| 2008 | 51 | 73 | 0 | 22 |
| 2010 | 48 | 76 | 0 | 28 |
| 2012 | 46 | 78 | 0 | 32 |
| 2014 | 46 | 78 | 0 | 32 |
| 2016 | 44 | 80 | 0 | 36 |
| 2018 | 44 | 80 | 0 | 36 |
| 2020[9] | 43 | 81 | 0 | 38 |
| 2022[b] | 36 | 88 | 0 | 52 |
(a) 21 were members of the Union Reform Party of South Carolina and the other 3 were Independents from Anderson. Two of the Union Reform members from Chesterfield were later replaced by Republicans from a resolution passed in the House.
(b) All 33 were members of the Conservative Party of South Carolina.
(c) All 17 were Independent Democrats.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "General Assembly".
- ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - House of Representatives". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Candidate Qualifications - SCVotes". www.scvotes.org. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online". SC Statehouse.gon. South Carolina Government. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ Democrat Marvin R. Pendarvis resigned on September 16, 2024
- ^ "Standing Committees of the South Carolina House of Representatives". Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ^ Republican Charles Evans Boineau Jr., who was elected in an August 1961 special election
- ^ "University Libraries - University Libraries - University of South Carolina". library.sc.edu. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "South Carolina Election Results". New York Times. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
Additional sources
[edit]- Reynolds, John S. (1969). Reconstruction in South Carolina. Negro University Press. ISBN 0-8371-1638-4.
- Kalk, Bruce H. (2001). The origins of the southern strategy: two-party competition in South Carolina, 1950–1972. Lexington Books. ISBN 0-7391-0242-7.
External links
[edit]- South Carolina House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart – State House of South Carolina links to each Representative
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