Alabama State Senate

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Alabama State Senate


General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   None
2012 session start:   February 7, 2012
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Del Marsh, (R)
Majority Leader:   J. T. Waggoner, (R)
Minority leader:   Roger Bedford, (D)
Structure
Members:  35
   Democratic Party (12) Republican Party (22) Independent (1)
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:   Art IV, Alabama Constitution
Salary:   $3,948/month + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010 (35 seats)
Next election:  November 4, 2014 (35 seats)
Redistricting:  Alabama Legislature has control
Meeting place:

Contents

The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama State Legislature, the state legislature of Alabama. There are 35 state senators; they represent 35 districts each composed of an average of 136,564 residents as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 127,060.[2]

Alabama's senators serve without term limits for four-year terms.[3]

The criteria for senators under Article IV, Section 47, of the Alabama Constitution include: at least 25 years of age at the time of their election, a citizen and resident of the State of Alabama for at least 3 years, and resident of their district for at least one year prior to election.

The Lieutenant Governor of Alabama is the ex officio President of the Senate, and can cast a vote on senatorial business in the case of a tie.[4]

During 2010, the Senate was in session from January 12th to April 22nd.[5]

Sessions

Section 48 of Article IV of the Alabama Constitution initially set the rules for the timing and length of sessions for the Alabama State Legislature, which the Senate is a part of. However, these rules have since been changed by state statute.

The Alabama Legislature convenes in regular annual sessions on the first Tuesday in February, except during the first year of the four-year term, when the session begins on the first Tuesday in March. In the last year of a four-year term, the legislative session begins on the second Tuesday in January. The length of the regular session is limited to 30 meeting days within a period of 105 calendar days. There are usually two meeting or "legislative" days per week, with other days devoted to committee meetings.

The Governor of Alabama can call, by proclamation, special sessions of the Alabama legislature. The governor must list the subjects on which legislation will be debated upon. These sessions are limited to 12 legislative days within a 30 calendar day span. In a regular session, bills may be enacted on any subject. In a special session, legislation must be enacted only on those subjects which the governor announces on their proclamation or "call." Anything not in the "call" requires a two-thirds vote of each house to be enacted.[6]

Bills can be prefiled before sessions, starting at the end of the previous session and ending at the beginning of the session for which they are being filed. The exception to this is for sessions beginning in March every 4 years. [7]

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate will be in session from February 7 to mid-May.

Major issues

According to State Senator Slade Blackwell (R), there are several topics that will be major issues in the 2012 session.[8]

  • Prison overcrowding: Alabama's prison system is 193 percent overcrowded, which is the highest in the nation. Blackwell said the current system must be changed.[8]
  • Charter schools: Alabama is one of a handful of states that do not allow charter schools. Blackwell said he would like to change that.[8]
  • Economic development and jobs: One early bill that was prefiled would streamline Alabama's tax assessment process. The bill would abolish one division within the Department of Revenue and create a new commission -- the Alabama Tax Appeals Commission.[9]

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the Legislature was in session from March 1-June 9. The Alabama Legislature has a constitutional session length limit of 105 calendar days.[10]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the Senate was in session from January 12th to April 12th.

Elections

2010

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2010

All 35 Alabama state senate seats were up for re-election on November 2, 2010.

The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was April 2, 2010, and the primary election day was June 1, 2010.

During the 2010 election, the total contributions to Senate candidates was $24,925,230. The top 10 contributors were:[11]

Donor Amount
Alabama Republican Party $1,501,385
Tennessee Valley Citizens for Economic Development $1,397,160
Alabama Education Association $868,675
Business Council of Alabama $814,500
Senate Majority PAC $636,985
Alabama Farmers Federation $591,293
Alabama Power Co $375,250
Home Builders Association of Alabama $343,500
Alabama Association of Realtors $339,133
Alabama Trial Lawyers Association $338,930

Qualifications

Under Article IV, Section 47, of the Alabama Constitution, senators must be at least 25 years of age at the time of their election, must be citizens and residents of the State of Alabama for at least 3 years, and residents of their district at least one year, prior to election. [12]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
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If there is a vacancy in the Senate, a special election must be conducted in order to fill the vacant seat. The Governor must call for a special election if the vacancy happened before next scheduled general election and the Senate is in session[13] [14]. The Governor has all discretion in setting the date of the election along with nominating deadlines[14].

Senators

File:Alabama District Map.jpg
Alabama District Map

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of February 2012
     Democratic Party 12
     Republican Party 22
     Independent 1
Total 35

Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the Senate, but can only vote in the event of a tie. The President Pro Tempore is elected from the Senate membership during each organizational session and serves in the absence of the President of the Senate as well leader of the Senate and majority party.[15][16]

Current leadership

Office Representative Party
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Del Marsh Republican
State Senate Majority Leader J. T. Waggoner Republican
State Senate Minority Leader Roger Bedford Democratic

2010 Leadership

Office Representative Party
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Rodger Smitherman Democratic
State Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little Democratic
State Senate Minority Leader J. T. Waggoner Republican

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2010, members of the Alabama State Senate are paid $3,958/month plus $50/day for three days during every week that the legislature is in session. They are also paid a base rate of $10/day for every day in the year, or $3,650/year regardless of when or whether the legislature is in session.[17]

The $3,958/month that Alabama senators are paid as of 2010 for the months when the legislature is in session is an increase over the $2,280/month that they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007.[18]

When the salary and per diem are estimated out across a whole year, legislators make about $53,438/year.[19]

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Alabama's state senators assume office on midnight of the day that they are elected.

Current members

District Representative Party First elected
1 Tammy Irons Democratic 2010
2 Bill Holtzclaw Republican 2010
3 Arthur Orr Republican 2006
4 Paul Bussman Republican 2010
5 Greg Reed Republican 2010
6 Roger Bedford Democratic 1982
7 Paul Sanford Republican 2009
8 Shadrack McGill Republican 2010
9 Clay Scofield Republican 2010
10 Phil Williams Republican 2010
11 Jerry L. Fielding Democratic 2010
12 Del Marsh Republican 1998
13 Gerald Dial Republican 2010
14 Cam Ward Republican 2010
15 Slade Blackwell Republican 2010
16 J. T. Waggoner Republican 1990
17 Scott Beason Republican 2006
18 Rodger Smitherman Democratic 1994
19 Priscilla Dunn Democratic 1998
20 Linda Coleman Democratic 2006
21 Gerald Allen Republican 2010
22 Marc Keahey Democratic 2009
23 Henry Sanders Democratic 1982
24 Bobby Singleton Democratic 2005
25 Dick L. Brewbaker Republican 2010
26 Quinton Ross Democratic 2002
27 Tom Whatley Republican 2010
28 Billy Beasley Democratic 2010
29 Harri Anne Smith Non-partisan 1998
30 Bryan Taylor Republican 2010
31 Jimmy Holley Republican 1998
32 Trip Pittman Republican 2007
33 Vivian Figures Democratic 1997
34 Rusty Glover Republican 2006
35 Ben Brooks Republican 2006

2007-2010 members

District Representative Party First elected
1 Bobby E. Denton Democratic 1978
2 Tom Butler Democratic 1994
3 Arthur Orr Republican 2006
4 Zeb Little Democratic 1998
5 Charles Bishop Republican 2006
6 Roger Bedford, Jr. Democratic 1982
7 Paul Sanford Republican 2009
8 Lowell Barron Democratic 1982
9 Hinton Mitchem Democratic 1978
10 Larry Means Democratic 1998
11 Jim Preuitt Republican 1980
12 Del Marsh Republican 1998
13 Kim Benefield Democratic 2006
14 Henry E. Erwin, Jr. Republican 2002
15 Steve French Republican 1998
16 J. T. Waggoner Republican 1990
17 Scott Beason Republican 2006
18 Rodger Smitherman Democratic 1994
19 Priscilla Dunn Democratic 1998
20 Linda Coleman Democratic 2006
21 Phil Poole Democratic 1994
22 Marc Keahey Democratic 2009
23 Henry Sanders Democratic 1982
24 Bobby Singleton Democratic 2005
25 Larry Dixon Republican 1982
26 Quinton Ross Democratic 2002
27 T.D. Little Democratic 1978
28 Myron Penn Democratic 2002
29 Harri Anne Smith Republican 1998
30 Wendell Mitchell Democratic 1982
31 Jimmy Holley Republican 1998
32 Trip Pittman Republican 2007
33 Vivian Figures Democratic 1997
34 Rusty Glover Republican 2006
35 Ben Brooks Republican 2006

Senate committees

The Alabama Senate has 24 standing committees:

History

James Titus was the first President of the Alabama State Senate. He was elected in 1818.[20]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ Term limits
  4. ↑ Alabama State Legislature
  5. ↑ Alabama Legislature session dates, 2010
  6. ↑ Alabama Legislature web page
  7. ↑ Senate Rule 36
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Shelby County Reporter "Issues for legislative session," January 31, 2012
  9. ↑ Birmingham Business Journal "Bill would streamline Alabama tax assessment process," January 31, 2012
  10. ↑ South Carolina Policy Council "50 State Legislative Session Interactive Map," February 2011
  11. ↑ Follow the Money "Alabama State Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  12. ↑ Alabama State Senate
  13. ↑ Alabama Legislature "Code of Alabama"
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Alabama Legislature "Code of Alabama"
  15. ↑ Alabama State Senate Leadership
  16. ↑ Alabama State Senate Leaders
  17. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
  18. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  19. ↑ Montgomery Adviser "Amendment would tie legislators' salary to median household income," October 27, 2011
  20. ↑ Leadership history of the Alabama State Senate
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