The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents.

Although the magistrates and deputies sat together, they voted separately and in 1645 it was decreed that a measure had to have the approval of both groups in order to pass.

The Charter of 1662 reduced the number of deputies per town to no more than two, and also changed the title of the legislature to the General Assembly.

It was in 1698 that the General Assembly divided itself into its current bicameral form, with the twelve assistants (that replaced the magistrates) as the Council (which became the Senate in the 1818 constitution) and the deputies as the House of Representatives, which began electing the Speaker to preside over it.

In addition to presiding over the body, the Speaker is also its chief leadership position and controls the flow of legislation and committee assignments.