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A legislator (or lawmaker) is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people. Legislatures may be supra-national (for example, the United Nations General Assembly), national (for example, the United States Congress), regional (for example, the National Assembly for Wales), or local (for example, local authorities).

The political theory of the separation of powers requires legislators to be different individuals from the members of the executive and the judiciary. Certain political systems adhere to this principle, others do not. In the United Kingdom, for example, the executive is formed almost exclusively from legislators (members of Parliament) although the judiciary is mostly independent (until reforms in 2005, the Lord Chancellor uniquely was a legislator, a member of the executive (indeed, the Cabinet), and a judge).

In continental European jurisprudence and legal discussion, "the legislator" (le législateur) is the abstract entity that has produced the laws. When there is room for interpretation, the intent of the legislator will be questioned, and the court is supposed to rule in the direction it judges to best fit the legislative intent, which can be difficult in the case of conflicting laws or constitutional provisions.

United States legislatures[link]

• United States Congress - Member of Congress (M.C.)
  • United States Senate - Senator
  • United States House of Representatives - Member of Congress (i.e. Congressman, Congresswoman or Representative)

State legislatures[link]

• State legislature --
  See also: List of state legislatures in the United States
  • State Senate - State Senator or (colloquially) Senator
  • State House of Representatives - State Representative or (colloquially) Representative

United Kingdom legislatures[link]

• Parliament of the United Kingdom
  • House of Lords - Lord
  • House of Commons - Member of Parliament (MP)
• Scottish Parliament - Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
• National Assembly for Wales - Assembly Member/Aelod y Cynulliad (AM/AC)
• Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly - Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)

Canadian legislatures[link]

• Parliament of Canada
  • Canadian Senate - Senator
  • House of Commons - Member of Parliament (MP)

Provincial and territorial legislators[link]

• Legislative Assemblies of British Columbia; Alberta; Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut; and the Nova Scotia House of Assembly - Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
• Legislative Assembly of Ontario - Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)
• National Assembly of Quebec - Member of the National Assembly (MNA)
• Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly - Member of the House of Assembly (MHA)

Australian legislatures[link]

• Parliament of Australia
  • Australian Senate - Senator
  • House of Representatives - Member of Parliament (MP)

Mike Bost (born December 30, 1960) is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 115th district where he has served since 1995.

Bost was a firefighter before entering politics and becoming a full-time state legislator and business owner. He graduated from Murphysboro High School, attended the University of Illinois Certified Firefighter II Academy, and served in the United States Marine Corps (1979–82). He and his wife Tracy have three children and six grandchildren.

Bost sponsors many firearm bills in support of the right to bear arms. He was a passionate opponent of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. In May 2012, upset over a bill to overhaul state pensions, Bost screamed and threw papers on the Illinois House floor because the House was only given twenty minutes to review and vote on a two-hundred page bill.^[1][2]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Illinois General Assembly - Representative Mike Bost (R) 115th District Official IL House website
  • Bills Committees
• State Representative Mike Bost
• Project Vote Smart - Representative Mike J. Bost (IL) profile
• Follow the Money - Mike Bost
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 1996 campaign contributions
• Illinois State Representative Mike Bost Official Campaign Website
• Illinois House Republican Caucus - Mike Bost profile

David B. Albo (born April 18, 1962) is a Republican politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He represents the 42nd District of the Virginia House of Delegates and has been a member since 1994.^[1]

Personal[link]

Dave Albo grew up in Springfield, Virginia.^[2] He graduated from Fairfax County public schools—Rolling Valley Elementary through West Springfield High School.^[1] He has a Bachelors degree in economics from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law.^[1]

Political career[link]

Albo was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1994. He is the most senior Northern Virginia majority party delegate in the House of Delegates.^[3] Albo is Chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee and a member of the General Laws and Privileges and Elections committees.,^[1] and a member of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.^[4] Since becoming Chairman of the House of Delegates Courts of Justice committee in 2006 Mr. Albo has overseen the writing of all of the Virginia civil procedure changes including; the creation of the Bill of Complaint as the primary civil pleading, the revision of the jurisdictional limits of the courts, and the modernization of evidentiary law.  In addition, Albo has overseen or drafted most of Virginia’s criminal law changes such as; the elimination of parole, the major revision of the DUI/DWI laws, and most of Virginia’s anti- gang laws. Albo’s complete legislative record is available as part of his House of Delegates bio.^[5]

Professional career[link]

Albo was an assistant city attorney for the City of Fairfax from 1990–1994, before going into private practice. During the period from 1988 to 1994 Albo was appointed by the courts to serve as guardian ad litem for abused and neglected children. Albo served as President of the West Springfield Civic Association from 1989 to 1993. Now Albo is a partner at a law firm that he co-founded, Albo & Oblon, LLP. The firm specializes in employment law, government contracts, business/civil litigation, and traffic law. Albo is a trial lawyer, practicing in the area of employment law and traffic defense law.^[6] In 2010 Albo was recognized as one of the “Leaders in the Law” by the Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly for his leadership in improving Virginia’s justice system, changing Virginia law, and his important contributions to Virginia’s legal community.^[7] He is a Member of Advisory Board of Pets2Vets (“P2V”), an organization helps place therapeutic pets with veterans diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder “PTSD”.^[8]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• [1]
• Virginia Public Access Project entry

Diezani Alison-Madueke
Diezani Alison-Madueke at the World Economic Forum on Africa in 2012
Federal Minister of Transportation
In office 26 July 2007 – 17 December 2008
Preceded by	Precious Sekibo
Succeeded by	Ibrahim Bio
Federal Minister of Mines & Steel Development
In office 23 December 2008 – 17 March 2010
Preceded by	Sarafa Tunji Ishola
Succeeded by	Musa Mohammed Sada
Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 April 2010
Preceded by	Rilwanu Lukman
Personal details
Born	December 6, 1960 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Diezani K. Alison-Madueke (born December 6, 1960) became Nigeria's minister of transportation on July 26, 2007. She was moved to Mines and Steel Development in 2008, and in April 2010 was appointed Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Background[link]

Diezani K. Agama was born on December 6, 1960 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Her father was Chief Frederick Abiye Agama. She studied architecture in England and then at Howard University in the United States.^[1] She graduated from Howard with a Bachelor's on 8 December 1992.^[2] She returned to Nigeria and joined Shell Petroleum Development Corporation that year. In 2002, she attended Cambridge University for her MBA.^[1] In April 2006, Shell appointed her its first female Executive Director in Nigeria.^[3]

Since 1999 she has been married to Admiral Allison Madueke (retired), one-time Chief of Naval Staff who was at various times governor of Imo and Anambra State.^[1]

In September 2011 Alison-Madueke was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Management Sciences by the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.^[4]

Federal cabinet positions[link]

Diezani Alison-Madueke has held three significant positions in the Nigerian federal government. She was appointed Transport Minister in July 2007. On December 23, 2008, she was named as Minister of Mines and Steel Development.^[5] After Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan became acting President in February 2010, he dissolved the cabinet on 17 March 2010, and swore in a new cabinet on 6 April 2010 with Alison-Madueke as Minister for Petroleum Resources.^[6]

Minister of Petroleum Resources[link]

As Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alison-Madueke has pledged to transform Nigeria's oil and gas industry so that all Nigerians benefit.^[7]

In April 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Nigerian Content Act, which aims to increase the percentage of petroleum industry contracts that are awarded to indigenous Nigerian businesses - a reaction to the domination of the sector by foreign operators.^[8]

One of the most controversial policies introduced under Alison-Madueke is the government's plan to remove state subsidies on fuel prices. Alison-Madueke has supported the discontinuation of the subsidy on the grounds that it "poses a huge financial burden on the government, disproportionately benefits the wealthy, [and] encourages inefficiency, corruption and diversion of scarce public resources away from investment in critical infrastructure."^[9]

Firsts[link]

Alison-Madueke is the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria, and in October 2010 she became the first woman to head a country delegation at the annual OPEC conference. She was also the first female Minister of Transportation, and the first woman to be appointed to the board of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria.^[10]

On working in male-dominated sectors, Alison-Madueke said she warned the young women she mentored while at Shell to "change their mode of thinking."^[11]

Controversy[link]

In June 2008 Alison-Madueke was subject to a Senate probe after it emerged that as Transport Minister she had paid 30.9 billion naira ($263 million) to contractors between December 26 and 31, 2007. However, she has never been charged or tried for these allegations and has strongly denied any wrongdoing.^[12]

In September 2008 there was an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap Alison-Madueke at her house in Abuja.^[13]

In October 2009, the Senate of Nigeria indicted Diezani Alison-Madueke and recommended prosecution for the alleged transfer of 1.2 billion naira into the private account of a toll company without due process and in breach of concession agreement. However, the allegations have never been taken to law, and the Minister maintains her innocence.^[14]

A May 2010 report in Huhuonline.com noted that Diezani Alison-Madueke was both the Minister of Petroleum Resources and head of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. It claimed that she was using these positions to prevent a court-ordered lien being placed on an oil field operated by a company chaired by her husband, Retired Rear Admiral Allison-Madueke.^[15]

References[link]

Zachary Wyatt (born October 7, 1984) is a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Wyatt represents the 2nd District, encompassing Adair county, Putnam county, and a part of Sullivan county. Due to Missouri House redistricting following the 2010 U.S. Census the 2nd district will be divided into two newly-numbered districts. Representative Wyatt had originally filed to run for the 3rd district, which includes most of his former 2nd district territory. However in early April 2012 he announced his intention to withdraw once a suitable Republican replacement can be named. Wyatt stated his withdraw was prompted by his acceptance into a marine biology program at the University of Hawaii, and his desire to take full advantage of his veterans education benefits.^[1]

Personal life[link]

Zachary Wyatt was born October 7, 1984 in Kirksville, Missouri to parents Randall "Randy" Wyatt and Frances "Fran" Wyatt (née Quint). He has one sibling, older brother Nicholas Wyatt, a U.S. Navy veteran. Raised in rural western Adair county, Wyatt graduated from Adair County R-1 High School in Novinger, Missouri in 2003. Following graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving until March 2010. While in the USAF, Wyatt earned an Associate of Arts degree in information technology from the Community College of the Air Force, as well as an Associate of Arts degree in Russian language and a Chechen translating certificate from the Defense Language Institute. While in the Air Force Wyatt also served as an airborn Russian/Chechen/Ukrainian linguist on RC-135 and C-130 aircraft monitoring communications.^[2]

Political life[link]

Zachary Wyatt developed an interest in politics as a teen, an interest that was further enhanced when he had the opportunity to serve as a legislative intern for Missouri United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond in 2007. According to Wyatt: "It was at this time I first realized my call in life was to serve Missouri through politics." ^[3]

Despite not having run for or held public office before, Wyatt declared his candidacy for Missouri's 2nd District State Representative. In an election upset, Wyatt defeated two-term incumbent Representative Rebecca McClanahan by a margin of 60.6% to 39.4% ^[4][5] In addition to the state legislature, Wyatt was also elected president of Novinger Renewal in 2010. Novinger Renewal is a community betterment group working for the historic preservation and revitalization of Novinger, Missouri.^[6]

Legislative Assignments[link]

Representative Wyatt serves on the Veterans, International Trade and Job Creation, Special Standing Committee on Renewable Energy, and Agri-Business committees. Wyatt also serves as vice-chair of the Rural Communities Development Committee. Summer 2011, Representative Wyatt was appointed to the Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture. He also will serve on the Missouri Arts Trust Board.^[7]

2011 Legislative Session[link]

Representative Wyatt sponsored 14 pieces of legislation in the session. The bills dealt with economic development, veterans, education, and lower taxes. Three of the bills were signed into law.

2012 Legislative session[link]

Among the bills introduced during the session by Representative Wyatt were legislation to establish renewable energy in Missouri state parks, changes allowing more freedom in living arrangements for the developmentally disabled, and a constitutional amendment altering the state's judicial commission.^[8][9]

Wyatt vs. Judge Steele[link]

One key piece of legislation was HR 333 sponsored by Representative Wyatt. The resolution called for the impeachment of Missouri Circuit Judge Russel E. Steele, the first such action in Missouri since 1968. The impeachment is based on allegations of possible judicial misconduct, willful neglect of duties as a jurist, and official corruption.^[10] The resolution received bi-partisan support, being co-sponsored by Representatives Andrew Koenig (R), Paul Curtman (R), and Sylvester Taylor (D).^[11] In response to HR 333 Steele issued a press release stating "I trust that the media and the people will see this effort for what it truly is, politics at it's worst" and that the Missouri Commission on the Retirement, Removal, and Discipline of Judges, as well as an Adair County grand jury, had already investigated the charges in 2006.^[12] The resolution has been forwarded to the House Judiciary Committee and is awaiting further action.

"Don't Say Gay" bill[link]

In April and May 2012 Representative Wyatt expressed deep opposition to Missouri House Bill 2051, commonly known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill.^[13] The bill would put strict limits on the discussion of sexual orientation in Missouri schools, limiting it only to classes on health and sexual reproduction. The bill gained nationwide attention from various news outlets and The Colbert Report. On May 2, 2012 Wyatt held a press conference at the Missouri State Capitol outlining his opposition. During the course of the event he read a statement announcing that he was gay.^[14] The revelation meant that Wyatt is the only currently-serving gay Republican legislator in the United States,^[15] something addressed in a May 3, 2012 interview on the MSNBC program The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell. Asked by O'Donnell why he was a Republican, considering the partys stance on LGBT issues Wyatt replied "I'm not a one-issue person" and that he is a firm believer in a balanced budget and small government.^[16]

Electoral history[link]

References[link]

v t e Members of the Missouri House of Representatives 96th General Assembly (2011–2012) Speaker of the House: Steven Tilley (R) Speaker pro Tempore: Shane Schoeller (R) Majority Leader: Tim Jones (R) Minority Leader: Mike Talboy (D)        Craig Redmon (R)    Zachary Wyatt (R)    Casey Guernsey (R)    Mike Thomson (R)    Glen Klippenstein (R)    Lindell Shumake (R)    Mike Lair (R)    Tom Shively (D)    Paul Quinn (D)    Jay Houghton (R)    Ed Schieffer (D)    Doug Funderburk (R)    Chuck Gatschenberger (R)    Kathie Conway (R)    Chrissy Sommer (R)    Mark A. Parkinson (R)    Vicki A. Schneider (R)    Anne Zerr (R)    Kurt Bahr (R)    Jeanie Riddle (R)    John W. Cauthorn (R)    Randy Asbury (R)    Stephen Webber (D)    Chris Kelly (D)    Mary Stil (D)    Joe Aull (D)    Pat Conway (D)    Delus Johnson (R)    Galen Higdon (R)    Nick Marshall (R)    Jay Swearingen (D)    Ronald Schieber (R)    Jerry Nolte (R)    Myron Neth (R)    T.J. Berry (R)    Bob Nance (R)    Mike Talboy (D)    Ryan Silvey (R) Vacant    John J. Rizzo (D) Vacant    Leonard Hughes IV (D)    Gail McCann Betty (D)    Jason Kander (D)    Jason R. Holsman (D)    Kevin McManus (D)    Jeff Grisamore (R)    Gary L. Cross (R)    Tom McDonald (D)    Michael R. Brown (D)    Ira Anders (D)    Noel Torpey (R)    Brent Lasater (R)    Jeannie Lauer (R)    Sheila Solon (R)    Mike Cierpot (R)    Karla May (D)    Penny Hubbard (D)    Jeanette Mott Oxford (D)    Jamilah Nasheed (D)    Chris Carter (D)    Don Phillips (R)    Tishaura Jones (D)    Susan Carlson (D)    Michele Kratky (D)    Genise Monticello (D)    Mike Colona (D)    David Sater (R)    Tommy Pierson (D)    Sharon Pace (D)    Clem Smith (D)    Rory Ellinger (D)    Stacey Newman (D)    Steve Webb (D)    Bert Atkins (D)    Churie Spreng (D)    Eileen McGeoghegan (D)    Margo McNeil (D)    Mary Nichols (D)    Sylvester Taylor (D)    Rochelle Walton Gray (D)    Jill Schupp (D)    Jake Zimmerman (D)    Don Gosen (R)    Cloria Brown (R)    Cole McNary (R)    John Diehl (R)    Andrew Koenig (R)    Tim Jones (R)    John McCaherty (R)    Jeanne Kirkton (D)    Sue Allen (R)    Dwight Scharnhorst (R)    Rick Stream (R)    Mike Leara (R)    Scott Sifton (D)    Gary Fuhr (R)    Dave Hinson (R)    Bart Kormon (R)    Marsha Haefner (R)    Tim Meadows (D)    Paul Wieland (R)    Ron Casey (D)    Joe Fallert (D)    Paul Curtman (R)    Steven Tilley (R)    Linda Black (D)    Jacob Hummel (D)    Scott Dieckhaus (R)    Ben Harris (D)    Charles Schlottach (R)    Tom Loehner (R)    Mike Bernskoetter (R)    Jay Barnes (R)    Rodney Schad (R)    Wanda Brown (R)    Caleb Jones (R)    Stanley Cox (R)    Sandy Crawford (R)    Scott Largent (R)    Denny Hoskins (R)    Michael McGhee (R)    Chris Molendorp (R)    Rick Brattin (R)    Barney Fisher (R)    Mike Kelley (R)    Tom Flanigan (R)    Charlie Davis (R)    Bill White (R)    Bill Reiboldt (R)    Bill Lant (R)    Don Ruzicka (R)    Sue Entlicher (R)    Thomas Long (R)    Charlie Denison (R)    Eric Burlison (R)    Melissa Leach (R)    Sarah Lampe (D)    Shane Schoeller (R)    Lincoln Hough (R)    Kevin Elmer (R)    Raymond Weter (R)    Lyle Rowland (R)    Tony Dugger (R)    Lyndall Fraker (R)    Darrel Pollock (R)    Don Wells (R)    David A. Day (R)    Keith Frederick (R)    Jason Smith (R)    Ward Franz (R)    Paul Fitzwater (R)    Steve Cookson (R)    Todd Richardson (R)    Diane Franklin (R)    Shelley Keeney (R)    Donna Lichtenegger (R)    Wayne Wallingford (R)    Billy Pat Wright (R)    Ellen Brandom (R)    Steve Hodges (D)    Terry Swinger (D)    Kent Hampton (R)    Republican (105)    Democratic (55) Vacant (3) Missouri General Assembly Missouri House of Representatives Missouri State Senate