Kansas House of Representatives

History

On January 29, 1861, President James Buchanan authorized Kansas to become the 34th state of United States, a free state. The ratification of the Kansas Constitution created the Kansas House of Representatives as the lower house of the state legislature.

Members of the Kansas House voted to impeach Governor Charles L. Robinson in 1862, but the impeachment trial did not lead to his conviction and removal of office. The Kansas Senate did vote to impeach the secretary of state and state auditor for the unlawful sale of bonds, but only three state senators voted for the governor's impeachment.

In 1870, the Kansas House of Representatives first met at the Kansas State Capitol, which was not officially completed until 1903.

Populists and Republicans both claimed control of the Kansas House of Representatives in 1893, with the Populists accusing the Republican Party of election fraud. The dispute led to separate Populist-led and Republican-led Houses in 1893 until the Kansas Supreme Court sided with the Republicans and the Populist-led House disbanded.

In 1888, Alfred B. Fairfax became the first African American elected to the House. He served as chairman of the House Committee on Immigration.

In 1918, Minnie J. Grinstead became the first female elected to the House.

In 1966, the state legislature began to hold annual general sessions and a constitutional amendment adopted at the 1974 general election extended the duration of the session held in the even-numbered years to 90 calendar days, subject to extension by a vote of two-thirds of the elected membership of each house.

United States presidential candidate Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican nominee, began his political career with a two-year term in the Kansas House of Representatives after his election in 1950.

Legislative procedure

State representatives introduce a proposed law in the Kansas House of Representatives in the form of a bill, which must be approved by a standing committee, the Committee of the Whole and the entire membership of the chamber. Other state representatives can amend a bill in committee or on the floor of the chamber.

A bill must be approved by both houses of the Kansas Legislature in order to be submitted to the governor, who can sign it into law or veto the bill. State legislators can override the veto with the support of two-thirds majority of both houses.

Party composition

Republicans have controlled the chamber for all but six years since statehood, and without interruption since 1993. The GOP presently holds a supermajority in the chamber. The following is the official make-up for the 2025–2026 session:

Leadership

The Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives is the leader of the chamber and is elected by his fellow state representatives. The speaker presides over the legislative process on the floor of the chamber or appoints a presiding officer. The speaker decides the committee structure. The majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the chamber.

Officers

Members of the Kansas House of Representatives

Committee leadership

2023–2024

Past composition

The Republican Party has controlled the Kansas House in most of Kansas History, with the Democratic control occurring less. Since 1992, the GOP has held most seats. The Democratic Party of Kansas had held most seats in the early 90s, but the party has never gained a trifecta in Kansas political history.

Notes

References

References

1. Ewing, Cortez A. M. (August 1932). "Early Kansas Impeachments". [[Kansas Historical Quarterly]].
2. [http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/kansas-state-capitol/12121 Kansas State Capitol], [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20140528175805/http://www.kshs.org/portal_kansapedia Kansapedia], [http://www.kshs.org Kansas Historical Society]. (accessed July 25, 2013)
3. [http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/cool-things-legislative-war-artifacts/10324 Cool Things – Legislative War Artifacts], [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20140528175805/http://www.kshs.org/portal_kansapedia Kansapedia], [http://www.kshs.org Kansas Historical Society], November 1997. (accessed July 25, 2013)
4. "Alfred Fairfax - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society".
5. Enicks-Knissr, Lori Lynn. (April 2014). ""The Lady from Seward" – Minnie J. Grinstead, the First Woman Elected to the Kansas House of Representatives". Emporia State University.
6. [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/about/legproc.pdf "Kansas Legislative Research Manual Kansas Legislative Procedures,"] {{Webarchive. link. (May 10, 2013 March 12, 2009.)
7. [http://www.kslib.info/government-information/legislative-information/kansas-legislators-past-and-present/dillard-to-dyck.html Kansas Legislators Past & Present-Robert Dole] {{webarchive. link. (November 13, 2013)
8. [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/ksleg/KLRD/about/legproc.pdf Legislative Procedure in Kansas] {{Webarchive. link. (May 10, 2013 , Kansas Legislative Research Department, November 2006. (accessed July 24, 2013))