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 12, 2021 |
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 8, 2022 (124 seats) |
Next election | November 5, 2024 (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.
In Colonial times, there was a Commons House of Assembly. [1]
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]
Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
Beginning of 2023-25 Session [lower-alpha 1] | 88 | 36 | 124 | 0 |
Expected voting share | 71% | 29% |
South Carolina House of Representatives officers | ||
---|---|---|
Position | Name | Party |
Speaker | Murrell Smith | Republican |
Majority Leader | Davey Hiott | Republican |
Minority Leader | Todd Rutherford | Democratic |
Committee | Chair | [5] | |
---|---|---|---|
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) | ||
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 [6] [7] | 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 [8] | 43 | 81 | 0 | 38 |
2022 [lower-alpha 2] | 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.
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives. It consists of 46 senators elected from single member districts for four-year terms at the same time as United States presidential elections.
Addison Graves "Joe" Wilson Sr. is an American politician and attorney serving as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district since 2001. A member of the Republican Party, his district stretches from Columbia to the Georgia–South Carolina border. He served as the South Carolina state senator from the 23rd district from 1985 to 2001.
Ralph Warren Norman Jr. is an American real estate developer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district since 2017. His district includes most of the South Carolina side of the Charlotte metropolitan area, along with outer portions of the Upstate and Midlands. A member of the Republican Party, Norman served as the South Carolina state representative for the 48th district from 2005 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2017.
South Carolina's 7th congressional district is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in South Carolina, established in 2011 following apportionment of another seat to the state in the redistricting cycle following the 2010 census. It is located in the Pee Dee region, and includes all of Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Marlboro Counties and most of Florence County. The district is represented by Republican Russell Fry who was elected in 2022 and took office on January 3, 2023.
Thomas C. Alexander is an American businessman and politician. Since 2021, he has served as the second President of the South Carolina Senate. A member of the Republican Party, he has represented South Carolina's 1st Senate District since 1994 and has represented parts of Oconee County, specifically the city of Walhalla, for over forty years.
The following table indicates the parties of elected officials in the U.S. state of South Carolina:
South Carolina government and politics covers the three different branches of government, as well as the state constitution, law enforcement agencies, federal representation, state finances, and state taxes. South Carolina is a state in the United States of America and was the eighth admitted to the Union. The state of South Carolina was preceded by the Crown Colony of South Carolina, a constitutional monarchy which was overthrown during the American Revolution. Presently, South Carolina's government is formed as a representative democracy.
Hugh Thompson Rice Jr. is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 7th congressional district from 2013 to 2023. The district serves most of the northeastern corner of the state and includes Myrtle Beach, the Grand Strand, Florence, Cheraw, and Darlington. A Republican, Rice was first elected in 2012 and was a member of the freshman class chosen to sit at the House Republican leadership table. Rice was reelected in 2014, defeating Democratic nominee Gloria Bromell Tinubu in a rematch of the 2012 election.
Dwight A. Loftis is an American politician and insurance agent from South Carolina. A member of the South Carolina Senate since 2019, he previously represented district 19 in the South Carolina House of Representatives for 23 years from 1996 to 2019. He is a member of the Republican party.
The Alliance Party of South Carolina, known as the American Party of South Carolina until 2018, is a third party in the United States.
Karl B. Allen is a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the state's 7th Senate District since 2012. Previously, he served the 25th House District in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2001 to 2012. He is an attorney.
Ivory Torrey Thigpen Jr. is an American politician. He is a member of the Democratic party.
Russell William Fry is an American politician and lawyer serving as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 7th congressional district since 2023.
Lee Hewitt is an American politician. He is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 108th District, serving since 2018. He is a member of the Republican party.
William Scott Cogswell Jr. is an American politician and businessman who is mayor of the city of Charleston. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 110th District from 2016 to 2022. Cogswell was elected mayor in 2023 after defeating incumbent John Tecklenburg and is the first Republican mayor of Charleston since 1877.
Jeffrey A. Bradley is an American politician. He is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 123rd District, serving since 2014. He is a member of the Republican party.
Scott F. Talley is an American politician. He is a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 12th District (Spartanburg), serving since 2016. Previously, he served the 34th House District in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican party.
The 2020 South Carolina State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 2020 United States elections. South Carolina voters elected state senators in all 46 senate districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the South Carolina Senate, with all of the seats up for election each cycle. The primary elections on June 9, 2020, determined which candidates appeared on the November 3, 2020, general election ballot.
The 2022 South Carolina House of Representatives election took place on November 8, 2022, as part of the biennial United States elections. South Carolina voters elected state representatives in all 124 of the state's house districts. Republicans flipped eight seats held by Democrats, while Democrats flipped one seat held by a Republican; with their majority expanded by a net gain of seven seats, Republicans achieved a supermajority in the chamber.
David Vaughan is an American businessman and politician who is serving as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 27th district. He is a Republican.