FACTS AND TERMS SHEET:
What do specific committees do?
Joint Budget Committee-Statutes charge the Joint Budget Committee with analyzing the
management, operations, programs, and fiscal needs of the departments of state
government. The state Constitution requires a balanced budget. The Committee holds
hearings and reviews the executive budget requests for each state agency and institution.
It’s made up of bi-partisan members of the legislature.
Appropriations Committee- The Senate and House both have an Appropriations
Committee which considers matters concerning the review of pending legislation that has
been determined to have a fiscal impact. The committee generally reviews legislation that
has been referred to it after an initial review and approval by the first committee of
reference.
Finance Committee- generally considers matters related to a broad range of public
finance proposals including legislation that affects the state's revenue and tax structure.
In addition, the committee has legislative oversight responsibility for the Public
Employees' Retirement Association, Department of Revenue, State Treasury, and the
Office of State Planning and Budgeting.
MORE INFORMATION ON COMMITTEES:
House Committees
Senate Committees
FACTS ABOUT THE COLORADO HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Type: Lower house
Length of term: 2 years
Term limits: 4 terms (8 years)
Seats: 65
LEADERSHIP
Speaker of the House- The Speaker, a member of the House, is elected by a majority
party caucus. In addition to being chief spokesman for the majority party, the Speaker
runs the proceedings of House debate and voting, appoints committee members, refers
bills to committees for research and development, and has an influential voice in all
stages of a bill's consideration.
Speaker pro Tempore-The Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives is
selected by the majority party caucus. The duties of this office are primarily to fill the
role of presiding officer of the House in the absence of the Speaker of the House.
Majority Leader- Selected by their own party caucuses, majority leaders act as chief
spokespersons and strategists for their parties. In the House of Representatives, the
majority leader is second in command of his party, after the Speaker of the House.
Minority Leader- A House Minority Leader of a state legislature presides over party
caucuses, directs his or her party strategy in legislative deliberations, assembles party
members for important votes, and serves as party spokesmen
FACTS ABOUT THE COLORADO SENATE
Type: Upper house
Length of term: 4 years
Term limits: 2 terms (8 years)
Seats: 35
Leadership
President- The President, a member of the Senate, is elected by a majority party caucus.
In addition to being chief spokesman for the majority party, the President runs the
proceedings of Senate debate and voting, appoints committee members, refers bills to
committees for research and development, and has an influential voice in all stages of a
bill's consideration.
President pro Tempore- The President Pro Tempore of the Senate is selected by the
majority party caucus. The duties of this office are primarily to fill the role of presiding
officer of the Senate in the absence of the President of the Senate.
Majority Leader- Selected by their own party caucuses, majority leaders act as chief
spokespersons and strategists for their parties. In the Senate, the majority leader is second
in command of his party, after the President of the Senate.
Minority Leader-The Senate Minority Leader is a partisan position. The minority leader
is the floor leader of the minority caucus. The minority leader is often assisted in his/her
role by whips, whose job is to enforce party discipline on votes deemed to be crucial by
the party leadership and to ensure that members do not vote in a way not approved of by
the party.