The Legislative Council consists of the ten elected members of leadership: the President of the Senate, the
Speaker of the House, the Republican and Democratic Floor Leaders for both the House and Senate, and their Assistant
Floor Leaders. The Council Chair and Vice-Chair are elected by the Legislative Council at the beginning of each
legislative biennium. By tradition, the chair alternates every two years between the House and Senate.
The council is responsible for the overall management of the entire Legislature. Its powers and duties are set
forth in statute (3 MRSA §162) and in the Joint Rules that the Legislature adopts at the beginning of each
legislative biennium. Its powers and duties include: preparation of legislative budget requests and provision
for oversight of legislative funds; establishing salary and benefit schedules for all legislative employees, except
as otherwise provided by law; approval of employment practices; appointment of directors of the nonpartisan staff
offices; planning and overseeing projects designed to improve the organization, operation and physical facilities
of the Legislature; assignment of work to legislative committees when the Legislature is not in session, consideration
of requests to introduce bills after cloture (after-deadline bills) and screening all bill requests prior to their
introduction in the Legislature’s second regular session and all special sessions. Policies adopted by the council
are implemented under the direction of the Executive Director of the Legislative Council.
The Legislative Council is required by statute to meet at least once monthly. Information concerning meeting
agendas is available from the Office of the Executive Director of the Legislative Council. A summary of each council
meeting is distributed to all members of the Legislature.