Maryland General Assembly

Maryland General Assembly
Name	Maryland General Assembly
Legislature	Maryland General Assembly
House type	Bicameral
Houses	Maryland Senate, Maryland House of Delegates
Leader1 type	President of the Senate
Leader1	Bill Ferguson
Party1	(Democratic)
Election1	January 8, 2020
Leader2 type	Speaker of the House
Leader2	Adrienne A. Jones
Party2	(Democratic)
Election2	May 1, 2019
Members	188, 47 Senators, 141 Delegates
House1	Maryland Senate
House2	Maryland House of Delegates
Meeting place	Maryland State House, Annapolis
Website	mgaleg.maryland.gov

Maryland General Assembly. The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland and is the oldest state legislature in continuous operation in the United States. Organized as a bicameral body, it convenes annually in the Maryland State House in Annapolis, the state capital. Comprising the Maryland Senate and the Maryland House of Delegates, it is responsible for enacting state law, approving the state budget, and providing oversight of the executive branch.

History

The origins trace back to the colonial assembly first convened in 1635 under the proprietary rule of the Lords Baltimore. It evolved through the colonial period, the American Revolution, and the adoption of the first Maryland Constitution in 1776, which formally established the modern bicameral legislature. Key historical sessions include the 1783-84 meeting in Annapolis where the Treaty of Paris was ratified, ending the American Revolutionary War, and the 1864 session during the American Civil War which produced a new state constitution abolishing slavery. The assembly has operated continuously from the Maryland State House, the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use.

Structure and composition

The legislature is bicameral, consisting of an upper chamber, the Maryland Senate, with 47 members, and a lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, with 141 members. Senators serve four-year terms, while Delegates serve four-year terms, with all seats subject to election in midterm and presidential election years. Members are elected from legislative districts apportioned by population; each district elects one Senator and three Delegates. The presiding officers are the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, elected from the membership of their respective chambers.

Powers and responsibilities

Constitutional powers include the authority to enact laws on all subjects not preempted by the U.S. Constitution or federal law, levy taxes, and adopt the annual state budget proposed by the Governor of Maryland. It holds the sole power of appropriation for state funds and can override gubernatorial vetoes with a three-fifths vote in each chamber. The assembly also has significant investigative and oversight authority over state agencies and the executive branch, including the power to confirm gubernatorial appointments to key positions such as the Court of Appeals and cabinet secretaries.

Legislative process

Bills may be introduced in either chamber, except revenue bills which must originate in the Maryland House of Delegates. Legislation is typically referred to standing committees such as the Judicial Proceedings Committee or the Ways and Means Committee for review and hearings. After committee approval, bills are debated and voted upon by the full chamber; if passed, they move to the other chamber for a similar process. A bill passed in identical form by both houses is sent to the Governor of Maryland, who may sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The assembly convenes for a 90-day session each year beginning the second Wednesday in January.

Current session and leadership

The current presiding officers are Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Democrat from Baltimore, and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, a Democrat from Baltimore County, who is the first woman and first African American to hold the speakership. The Democratic Party holds a supermajority in both chambers. Key leadership positions include the Majority Leader and Minority Leader in each chamber, with the current Republican minority leaders being Senator Stephen S. Hershey Jr. and Delegate Jason C. Buckel.

Notable legislation

Historically significant acts include the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649, an early law granting religious freedom, and the post-Civil War constitution of 1864. In the 20th century, major legislation included the creation of the University System of Maryland and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Recent landmark laws include the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2019, which set ambitious renewable energy goals, the 2012 approval of same-sex marriage via the Civil Marriage Protection Act, and the 2021 passage of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a comprehensive education reform and funding package.

Category:Maryland General Assembly Category:State legislatures of the United States Category:Government of Maryland