Mississippi House of Representatives

Membership, qualifications, and apportionment

Article 4, Section 36 of the Mississippi Constitution specifies that the state legislature must meet for 125 days every four years and 90 days in other years. The Mississippi House of Representatives has the authority to determine rules of its own proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and expel a member with a two-thirds vote of its membership. Bills must undergo three readings in each house, unless two-thirds of the house dispenses with the rules. They cannot be amended to a new purpose. Amendments to bills must be approved by both houses.

The governor has the power to veto legislation, but legislators can override the veto with a two-thirds decision. From 1890 to 2020, State representatives were authorized under the Mississippi Constitution to elect the Governor of Mississippi if no candidate had received 62 of the 122 electoral votes (one per district) and more than 50% of the popular vote. This occurred only once, in 1999, when Ronnie Musgrove had the most votes statewide, but was one electoral vote and 2936 votes (0.38%) shy of a majority: Musgrove was elected on the first ballot.

Leadership

The permanent position of Speaker pro tempore was established in a House vote on January 9, 1987. (It had been previously used in temporary situations if the Speaker was not available.) The Speaker Pro Tempore acts as Speaker in the Speaker's absence. The Speaker Pro Tempore also serves ex officio as the Chair of the House Management Committee and as a member of the House Rules Committee. The current Speaker pro tempore is Republican Manly Barton.

Salary

State representatives earn $23,500 per year.

Current composition

The following composition reflects the balance of power after the 2023 elections. Republicans secured a majority for the fourth time since 2011, the first year when Republicans won the majority of seats in the State House since 1870. The 2023 elections were marked by new leadership, as the past speaker Phillip Gunn retired, allowing his chief lieutenant, then-Speaker Pro Tempore Jason White to become the new speaker. The 2023 elections saw the seating of 25 new members.

State representatives are elected every four years by the qualified electors of the district for which they are running. Candidates are required to be at least 21 years of age and a resident of the state and district for which they are campaigning.

List of members

List of speakers

The House has elected a speaker 63 times since 1817:

List of speakers pro tempore

Source for session dates:

Before the position was made permanent, Buddie Newman served as Speaker pro tempore in three different stints between 1974 and 1975.

Past composition of the House of Representatives

Main article: Political party strength in Mississippi

Notes

References

References

1. [http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/htms/cp_rules.pdf Constitutional Provisions The Legislature And Legislation Rules of Procedure], Mississippi Legislature (accessed May 31, 2013)
2. Breen, Dallas. (2021-01-06). "Mississippi Voted Out Its Electoral College-Like Election Process".
3. (1987-01-10). "House vote trims speaker's power".
4. (1975-05-11). "Three times in 2 years".
5. Delbert Hosemann, State of Mississippi. (2012). "Mississippi Official and Statistical Register Blue Book 2008-2012".
6. https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/house/Barton.xml
7. "Comparison of state legislative salaries".
8. Wilkinson, Kaija. (2011-11-10). "GOP takes House; Busby leads Jones as of last count, but margin still very thin".
9. Corder, Frank. (2024-01-02). "Mississippi Legislature Gavels in for New Term".
10. [http://www.mscode.com/msconst/4/4-34.html Article 4, Section 34], Mississippi Constitution (accessed May 31, 2013)
11. [http://www.mscode.com/msconst/4/4-41.html Article 4, Section 41] {{Webarchive. link. (June 23, 2012 , Mississippi Constitution (accessed May 31, 2013))
12. [[Andy Stepp]] (District 23) dies in office. [https://mississippitoday.org/2024/12/05/andy-stepp-calhoun-county-death-mississippi-legislature-obituary/]
13. [[Charles Young Jr.]] (District 82) dies in office. [https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2024/12/20/mississippi-legislature-charles-young-jr-dies-obituary/77101363007/]
14. Republican [[Perry Van Bailey]] and Democrat [[Gregory Elliott]] are elected to fill the two vacancies in special elections.[https://www.270towin.com/news/2025/04/22/live-results-april-22-connecticut-mississippi-state-house-special-elections_1721.html]
15. Democrat [[Orlando Paden]] (District 26) resigned after being elected mayor of [[Clarksdale, Mississippi. Clarksdale]].[https://www.supertalk.fm/state-rep-orlando-paden-voted-to-replace-chuck-espy-as-clarksdale-mayor/]
16. Democrat [[Otha Williams]] is elected to succeed Paden and Democrat [[Justin Crosby]] defeats Republican representative [[Jon Ray Lancaster]] (District 22) in a special election prompted by redistricting.[https://magnoliatribune.com/2025/11/04/democrats-pick-up-seats-in-mississippi-house-senate-due-to-court-ordered-special-redistricting-elections/]
17. Watson, Michael. (2021). "2020-2024 Statistical Register". Mississippi Secretary of State.
18. (Jan 1828). "Journal of the House of Representatives of the state of Mississippi". Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi.
19. Mississippi. Legislature. (1980-01-01). "Hand book : biographical data of members of Senate and House, personnel of standing committees [1980]". Mississippi Legislature Hand Books.
20. (1975-05-11). "Three times in 2 years".
21. (1988). "Mississippi Legislature 1988 Handbook".
22. "house/1984-88.tif - House of Representatives (1948-2016)".
23. (1987-01-21). "Past week very eventful with rules changes, Allain's eventful speech".
24. Eric Clark, State of Mississippi. (2004). "Mississippi Official and Statistical Register Blue Book 2000-2004".
25. (2000-06-06). "Clark".
26. "house/1992-96.tif - House of Representatives (1948-2016)".
27. (1991-11-06). "1992 MS Legislature".
28. Eric Clark, State of Mississippi. (2008). "Mississippi Official and Statistical Register Blue Book 2004-2008".
29. Delbert Hosemann, State of Mississippi. (2014). "Mississippi Official and Statistical Register Blue Book 2012-2016".
30. Delbert Hosemann, State of Mississippi. (2017). "Mississippi Official and Statistical Register Blue Book 2016-2020".
31. "2020-2024 Mississippi Blue Book {{!}} Michael Watson Secretary of state".