We, the people of this State which state shall henceforth be known as the state of Rhode Island, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and to transmit the same, unimpaired, to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this Constitution of government.
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
There shall
be one hundred (100) members of the house of representatives,
provided, however, that commencing in 2003 there
shall be seventy-five (75) members of the house of
representatives. The house of representatives shall be constituted on the basis of
population and the representative districts shall be as nearly equal in population and as compact
in territory as possible. The general assembly shall, after any new census taken by authority of the United States, reapportion the representation to
conform to the Constitution of the state and the Constitution of the United States.
The house of representatives shall have authority
to elect its speaker, clerks, and other officers.
The senior member from the City of Newport,
if any be present, shall preside in the organization of the house.