The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate.
In the 2011–2012 session (based on the results of the 2010 elections), the Republican Party holds a 68–52 majority over the Democratic Party (including one member elected as an Independent who caucused with the Republicans and later changed his registration to Republican). In the 2007–2008 and 2009–2010 sessions, Democrats held a 68–52 majority.
The qualifications to be a member of the House are found in the state Constitution: "Each Representative, at the time of his election, shall be a qualified voter of the State, and shall have resided in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately preceding his election." Elsewhere, the constitution specifies that no elected official shall be under twenty-one years of age, and that no elected officials may deny the existence of God, although the latter provision is not enforced.
Prior to the Constitution of 1868, the lower house of the North Carolina Legislature was known as the North Carolina House of Commons.
Read more about North Carolina House Of Representatives: 2011–2012 Composition
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