LEGISLATURE
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Louis L. GOLDSTEIN, President of the Senate
JOHN C. LUBER, Speaker of the House of Delegates

The legislative powers of the State of Maryland are vested in the General
Assembly, which consists of two distinct branches, the Senate and the House
of Delegates (Const. 1867, Art. III, sec. 1). The General Assembly at
the present time consists of 152 members: 29 Senators and 123 members
of the House of Delegates, all elected by the counties and the six Legislative
Districts of Baltimore City. Each county and each of the Legislative
Districts of the city of Baltimore is entitled to one Senator. The number
of Delegates for each county varies from two to six and each Legislative
District is entitled to six delegates. This membership formerly was
determined by a formula based upon population (set forth in the Con-
stitution); but by the terms of a Constitutional amendment adopted in
1950, the membership of the House of Delegates was frozen at its then cur-
rent number (III, 5).

Every Senator or Delegate must be a citizen of the State and a resident
of it for at least three years preceding the date of his election; and the last
year thereof, he must have resided in the county or the Legislative Dis-
trict of Baltimore City which he represents. A Senator must be at least
twenty-five years of age at the time of his election, and a Delegate at least
twenty-one. No member of Congress or any person holding a civil or
military office under the United States Government nor any clergyman or
minister shall be eligible for election to the General Assembly (III, 9, 10,
11 ). The term of each Senator and Delegate shall be for four years from the
date of his election (XVII). The Governor shall appoint to any vacancy
that occurs in either House through death, resignation, or disqualification
a person whose name is submitted to him in writing by the State Central
Committee of the party to which the person holding the vacated seat be-
longed. The person so appointed must be affiliated with that party. All
persons so appointed shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term
(III, 13, amended November 1936). Each House shall elect its own officers,
shall be judge of its own members, and shall establish rules for the
conduct of its business.

The General Assembly meets annually. Sessions in odd-numbered
years begin the first Wednesday in January and are limited to ninety
days; the sessions meeting in even-numbered years begin the first Wed-
nesday of February and are limited to thirty days. The sessions in even-
numbered years are limited to the consideration of budgetary matters,
matters in the general public welfare, and legislation of an emergency
nature. The Governor may call special sessions at any time he deems it
necessary (III, 14, amended).

The General Assembly must pass at each regular session a budget bill
which shall contain the budget for the State government for the next
fiscal year. Upon the passage of the bill by both Houses, it becomes law
without further action (III, 52).

The General Assembly has power to pass such laws as are necessary for
the welfare of the State, and in addition, it has the power to pass public
local laws for counties and special taxing areas. The Home Rule Amend-
ment of 1954 (XI-E) almost entirely prohibits the General Assembly from
passing local legislation for incorporated cities and towns, although the
Assembly retains its power to pass a general Statewide law that affects them.
The General Assembly may establish such departments of the State
government as are necessary for its efficient operation and may establish
special taxing districts or areas within the State for the purpose of ad-
ministering a special function or functions. The General Assembly may