Good question. Vox Populi is a Latin phrase which translates to “voice of the people”. This phrase is posted directly above the House floor, to remind all of what our system of government is about. We are directly responsible to you, the citizen.
The House of Representatives is comprised of 75 men and women from all across the state. Every two years, you and 36,000 of your friends and neighbors vote for whom you wish to represent you and your district here in the House.
The Utah Legislature meets yearly in General Session, which starts on the 4th Monday of January.
Who keeps us in order?
Your representatives elect leaders to ensure that doesn’t happen. On the first day of the beginning of each two-year term, the House elects a presiding officer, the Speaker of the House. In January 2011, the House elected the first female to this position. The distinction belongs to Rep. Rebecca Lockhart, R- Provo.
Each party also elects its own leadership.
- Majority Leader Rep. Brad Dee, R- Ogden
- Minority Leader Rep. David Litvack, D- Salt Lake City
A quick note on some upcoming changes
During 2011, the state underwent a process known as redistricting. Basically, every ten years, state governments are required to redraw district boundaries using data from the federal census. The Utah Constitution requires that the Legislature redraw these districts, based on population shifts. This ensures equal representation.
So how does this affect you? When we vote in November of 2012, we will be voting based on the new districts that have been signed into law. Fortunately, the Lt. Governor has created an awesome website to help you find out what district you will reside in. Click here to begin.
Now we return to vox populi. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please let us, or your representative know. Here’s a link to all the representatives, including how to contact them. We’re all over the web, so you can let us know your thoughts, or keep up with what we’re doing.
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