Written by Andrew Horn of Amherst, NH.
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“Members take their seats!” bellows Paul C. Smith, Clerk of the House, two minutes after 10 a.m. The Clerk serves as chairperson of the House until a Speaker is elected.
The Clerk bangs his gavel five times. “The House will be in order!”
“Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye!” The first “Hear ye!” makes the hairs on the back of my neck stick up. “This day: December 4, 2024, the first Wednesday in December, being the day designated by the Constitution, Part 2, Article 3 for the assembling of the body, the 169th General Court of the State of New Hampshire at the Capitol in the city of Concord. I do hereby convene the 2025 House of Representatives and call the House to order.”
Applause.
The Clerk introduces Rev. Jean Beniste to lead the body in prayer. The Reverend introduces himself, an immigrant from Haiti serving as an Episcopal priest in Concord. “Let us take a moment of reflection and reverence as we gather in this place of service and governance,” he begins. “To the Divine of all faith, be you called God, the Almighty, the Great Spirit, or by other names, we ask for your guidance in our deliberations. Grant us wisdom to make decisions that reflect unity, justice, compassion, and peace. And fill our hearts with humility so we may listen deeply and respect the diverse voices and perspectives around us. Help us act with integrity and courage as we seek the common good of all. May we be reminded in this moment of reflection that we are all interconnected, part of the same human family. … May the peace be upon you all.”
The Clerk calls on a representative-elect to lead the body in the Pledge of Allegiance. A Goffstown High School chorus sings the national anthem.
Applause.
There are announcements of leaves of absence. There are announcements of the guests of legislators in the room, which takes five minutes. The House members-elect stand, turn, and applaud the people in the gallery. The Clerk reads a resignation letter from a representative-elect.
“We will now begin the process of the roll call,” says the Clerk. “This roll call is done alphabetically by county. I will begin with Belknap County. If you have a similar or same name as another member from a different county, please be mindful of what county I am announcing when I say your name. If there are two with the same name in the same county, I will say the first name first. … You will find your oath slips either in front of you in your seat pockets or underneath you. If you look to your front, and you do not have an oath slip there, then please check underneath your seat because it is likely there. If there is a problem, in a little while and for whatever reason you don’t have that oath slip—which I will find that extremely hard to believe because myself and Paul Bryant put them there yesterday afternoon—then we will print a new one for you. Do not sign them until I tell you to please.”
The Clerk calls each member’s name, each member responding “here.” This takes 16 minutes, then there is silence as the staff tallies the number present. A staff member places one of the ballot boxes for the Speaker election on a table. Murmurs in the House as they wait.
“With 389 members-elect having answered the call, a quorum is present,” says the Clerk. The Clerk names a committee to retrieve the governor and Executive Council so that they may administer the oath of office. The body applauds the name of each committee member, for each has served in the House for many years. The murmur of the House returns. The murmur has grown louder.
Representatives’ Oath of Office
The Sergeant-at-Arms announces the Executive Council, and they stand behind the Clerk at the dais.
“Mr. Chair, His Excellency, Governor Christopher T. Sununu,” the Sergeant-at-Arms says. Mr. Sununu (R) will be governor until January 8th when Kelly Ayotte (R) will be sworn in. After eight years, he chose not to run for a fifth two-year term.
“Good morning. I was taking a pic— I gotta get my picture,” says Mr. Sununu. The governor takes a picture with his phone. “I just want to remember that Jason Osbourne didn’t wear a tie.” Rep. Osbourne is the past and likely future Majority Leader.
The body laughs.
“Naw, I’m just kidding. I’m just kidding. … There is really no place—no place in this entire country—where you have a legislative body so dedicated to service, regardless of party, political affiliation, philosophy. Uh, we all know you ain’t doin’ it for the paycheck,” says Mr. Sununu.
The body laughs again. State Representatives are paid only $100 per year for their service.
Mr. Sununu continues. “… The largest of its kind anywhere to be found. And if you do the math, 400 representatives for only 1.4 million people, it is truly the most representative body of government on the face of planet Earth, and that’s an amazing thing to take a lot of [inaudible]”
Applause.
Mr. Sununu continues. “I think it gives everybody a lot of confidence that even when we don’t get it exactly right, and every once in a while government doesn’t get it exactly right, it’s still way better than everybody else. So that’s the important part.”
Mr. Sununu administers the oath of office to the body, echoing back and forth between dais and chamber. Mr. Sununu raises his right hand, as does the chamber. Mr. Sununu never looks down at notes, only out into the chamber.
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Part Three coming soon…