House of Representatives of Liberia

The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the bicameral Liberian Legislature. Legislative elections took place on 11 October 2005, and the elected members took office in January 2006.

Candidate eligibility

Citizens of Liberia who have attained the age of 25 years are eligible to contest elections and become members of the House of Representatives.

Electoral system

The simple majority (or First Past the Post) voting system is used in electing members to both chambers of the Liberian Legislature. In House elections, the candidate with a plurality of votes (not necessarily an absolute majority) wins. House members serve a six-year term.

County representation

The 64 House seats are distributed among Liberia's fifteen counties based on its total number of registered voters. Each county is guaranteed by law to have at least two seats. The current seat distribution among the counties is as follows:

Bomi - 3 Bong - 6 Gbarpolu - 3 Grand Bassa - 4 Grand Cape Mount - 3

Grand Gedeh - 3 Grand Kru - 2 Lofa - 4 Margibi - 4 Maryland - 3

Montserrado - 14 Nimba - 7 River Cess - 2 River Gee - 3 Sinoe - 3

2005 election results

More info: Liberia elections, 2005

Leadership structure

A Speaker, who is elected by fellow House members, is the body's presiding officer. He is assisted by a Deputy Speaker and other officers whose purpose is to ensure that the House functions properly. On 13 January 2006, 63 out of 64 House members met to elect their leaders. The results are as follows:

Speaker of the House
Results	Political Affiliation	Number of Votes
Edwin Snowe	Independent	48
Dusty Wolokollie	Unity Party	13
Abstentions		2
Total		63

Deputy Speaker of the House
Results	Political Affiliation	Number of Votes
Tokpah John Mulbah	Congress for Democratic Change	38
Others/Abstentions		25
Total		63

The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and other officers may be removed from office by resolution of a two-thirds majority of House members.

Snowe resigned in February 2007, and on April 6 2007 Alex Tyler was elected Speaker, receiving 32 votes against 27 votes for Edward Ford.

See also

• Liberia
• Senate of Liberia
• Legislature of Liberia
• National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia - the country's unicameral legislative body during the transition period (October 2003-January 2006)
• Legislative Branch
• List of national legislatures