House of Representative Directory - National Democratic Institute

Introduction: Overview of the Legislature
Liberia's Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary are three
separate branches of government, each with specific
constitutional functions, duties, and responsibilities.
This constitutional arrangement provides for checks
and balances of power among the three branches.
Legislative institutions are complex and multifaceted
organizations. They are a principal forum for debate on
public policy issues and proposed laws, and a place for
compromise and consensus building. Moreover,
legislatures reflect in their rank a broad spectrum of
the country's political opinion and are central to
democratic government, as long as they are visible,
accessible, and accountable to the citizenry.
Liberia's Legislature, like other legislatures around the
world, strives to fulfill the following three functions:
representation of Liberia's citizens, lawmaking, and
oversight over the executive branch of government.
These functions are facilitated by effective selfmanagement
and by infrastructure that strives to meet
the needs of the Legislature.
The Liberian Legislature consists of two separate
houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives,
both of which must pass legislation before it can be
sent to the President to be signed into law. For the 53rd
Legislature, there are 30 members of the Senate and 73
members of the House of Representatives. They
assemble in regular sessions beginning on the second
working Monday in January. The Legislature is
scheduled to go on an annual break at the end of
August every year.
According to the Constitution of Liberia, the Senate is
composed of two Senators elected by the registered
voters in each of the 15 counties. Beginning with
elections to the 53rd Legislature, all Senators serve
staggered nine-year terms.
Members of the House of Representatives are elected
to six year-terms by the voters of their districts. The
number of Representatives in each county reflects the
county's registered voters. All members of the House of
Representatives must compete for re-election every six
years.
The Vice President of the Republic is the President of
the Senate and presides over its deliberations without
the right to vote, except in the case of a tie. In the
absence of the President of the Senate, the President
Pro-Tempore will preside. The President Pro-Tempore
is elected by the Senate, from among its 30 Senators,
once every six years.
Rep. Larry P. Younquoi
Constituency: Nimba County-District # 8
Political Party: Alliance for Peace and Democracy (APD)
Occupation: Demographer
Member Since: 2012; Second working Monday in January
Term Expires: 2018; Second working Monday in January
Committees: Chair – Planning and Economic Affairs
Member – Banking and Currency; Good Governance
and Government Reform
Office: Room # 22, Ground Floor
Office Contact: 0886547921/0777547921
Email Address: lyounquoi@gmail.com
Rep. Matthew G. Zarzar
Constituency: Sinoe County –District # 3
Political Party: Unity Party (UP)
Occupation: Educator/Administrator
Member Since: April, 2012
Term Expires: 20118; Second working Monday in January
Committees: Member - Peace, Religious and National
Reconciliation
Office: Room # 037, Ground Floor
Office Contact: 0886401272
Email Address: m20zarzar@yahoo.com
Rep. Ballah G. Zayzay
Constituency: Margibi County – District # 2
Political Party: Unity Party (UP)
Occupation: Farmer
Member Since: 2008; Second working Monday in January
Term Expires: 2018; Second working Monday in January
Committees: Chair – Internal Affairs
Member – Peace, Religious and National Reconciliation;
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Transport
Office: Room # 228, 2nd Floor
Office Contact: 0880894627/0886516945
Email Address: bgzayzay@gmail.com
6 27