Type Lower House New session started January 10, 2017 | Term limits None | |
 | ||
Speaker of the House Jay Lucas (R)
Since December 2, 2014 Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope (R)
Since December 2, 2014 Majority Leader Gary Simrill (R)
Since December 6, 2016 | ||
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections.
Unlike many legislatures, seating on the floor is not divided by party, but is arranged by county delegation. This is a legacy of the original apportionment of the chamber. Until 1964, each county was a legislative district, with the number of representatives determined by the county's population.
Past compositions
(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.