Rhode Island's General Assembly was the first legislature among the 13 original American colonies to consider independence from England; the state was the first to formally break ties with the King. In that spirit of independence, the Rhode Island House of Representatives carries on today. The House is the lower chamber in Rhode Island's bicameral legislature, the Senate is the upper. Its 75 members are lead by the Speaker, and elected to two-year terms with no term limits. While in office members consider and pass legislation that becomes the state's laws. The House shares an annual budget of about $36 million with the Senate.