House Resolution 5

A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE HOUSE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE FOR THE UPDATING OF THE OFFICIAL COMPOSITE OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHEN CHANGES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OCCUR DURING A FOUR-YEAR TERM OF OFFICE.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi State Capitol, an edifice that has served the State of Mississippi as the seat of state government since its completion in 1903, is the home of many legislative archives that publicly document different aspects of the history of our state; and

WHEREAS, within the hallways of the Capitol and entrance leading into the chamber of the House of Representatives, composites of the photographs of the House members elected at the beginning of each term of office display for the public those state representatives chosen from the various House districts across the state at specific times in the state's history; and

WHEREAS, whenever a vacancy occurs in the House of Representatives due to the death or resignation of a member and a special election is held to fill the vacant House seat for the remainder of the existing term of office, the House composite ceases to correctly reflect the membership of the House of Representatives at that point in time; and

WHEREAS, a historically accurate presentation to the public of the membership of the Mississippi House of Representatives demands that a process be established to ensure that the composite for a given term of office is appropriately revised as changes in the House membership occur during that legislative term:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby direct the House Management Committee to develop a process whereby the official composite of the photographs of members of the House of Representatives is updated to reflect changes in the House membership as such changes occur during a term of office and more specifically, that the following revisions to the composite be made:

(a) For each member of the House who does not serve an entire term of office, the insertion of a notation of the specific years of service by that House member into the appropriate composite for the relevant term of office; and

(b) For each member of the House who is elected in a special election to fill a vacancy in the House, the insertion of that member's photograph along with a notation of the specific years of service by that House member into the appropriate composite for the relevant term of office.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House Management Committee is directed to implement the requirements of this resolution effective with the legislative term of office commenced in January 2016.