California State Senate

California State Senate
California State Senate
	California State Legislature
Type
Type	Upper house of the California State Legislature
Term limits	Elected before 2012:; 2 terms (8 years); Elected 2012 and after:; 3 terms (12 years)
History
New session started	December 5, 2016
Leadership
President of the Senate	Gavin Newsom (D) ; Since January 10, 2011
President pro tempore	Toni Atkins (D) ; Since March 21, 2018
Majority Leader	Bill Monning (D) ; Since December 17, 2014
Minority Leader	Patricia Bates (R) ; Since April 12, 2017
Structure
Seats	40
Political groups	Majority Democratic (26) Minority Republican (14)
Length of term	4 years
Authority	Article 4, California Constitution
Salary	$104,118/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 8, 2016 (20 seats)
Next election	November 6, 2018 (20 seats)
Redistricting	California Citizens Redistricting Commission
Motto
	Senatoris est civitatis libertatem tueri; ("It is a senator's duty to protect the liberty of the people.")
Meeting place
	State Senate Chamber; California State Capitol; Sacramento, California
Website
	www.sen.ca.gov

Coordinates: 38°34′36″N 121°29′37″W / 38.57667°N 121.49361°W / 38.57667; -121.49361

The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. Due to the state's large population and relatively small legislature, the State Senate has the largest population per representative ratio of any state legislative house. In the United States House of Representatives, California is apportioned 53 representatives, each representing approximately 704,566 people,^[1] while in the State Senate, each of the 40 Senators represents approximately 931,349 people,^[2] with the result that California state senators each actually represent more voters than California's representatives to the United States Congress do. Each member represents a population roughly equivalent to the state of Delaware. As a result of Proposition 140 in 1990 and Proposition 28 in 2012, members elected to the legislature prior to 2012 are restricted by term limits to two four-year terms (eight years), while those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years in the legislature in any combination of four-year state senate or two-year state assembly terms.^[3]

The State Senate convenes at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

In the current session, Democrats control 26 seats, one seat short of a two-thirds supermajority of the chamber. Republicans control 14 seats.

History

Prior to 1967, state legislative districts were drawn according to the "Little Federal Model" by which Assembly seats were drawn to according to population and Senate seats were drawn according to county lines. The guidelines were that no Senate district would include more than three counties and none would include less than one complete county. This led to the situation of a populous county such as Los Angeles County (1960 population of 6 million) being accorded the same number of state senators (one) as less populous counties such as Humboldt County (1960 pop. 104,000). In Reynolds v. Sims, the United States Supreme Court compelled all states to draw up districts with equal population. As such, boundaries were changed to comply with the ruling.

Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote. The President pro tempore is elected by the majority party caucus, followed by confirmation of the full senate. Other leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses according to each party's strength in the chamber.

The current president pro tem is Democrat Toni Atkins (39th–San Diego). The minority leader is Republican Patricia Bates (36th–Laguna Niguel).

Meeting chamber

The red tones of the California State Senate Chamber are based on the British House of Lords, which is outfitted in a similar color. The dais rests along a wall shaped like an "E", with its central projection housing the rostrum. The Lower tier dais runs across the entire chamber, there are several chairs and computers used by the senate officers, the most prominent seat is reserved for the secretary who calls the roll. The higher tier is smaller, with three chairs, the two largest and most ornate chairs are used by the President Pro Tempore (right chair) and the Lieutenant Governor (left chair). The third and smallest chair, placed in the center, is used by the presiding officer (acting in place of the Pro Tem) and is rarely sat in as the president is expected to stand. There are four other chairs flanking the dais used by the highest non-member officials attending the senate, a foreign dignitary or state officer for example. Each of the 40 senators is provided a desk, microphone and two chairs, one for the senator, another for guests or legislative aides. Almost every decorating element is identical to the Assembly Chamber. Along the cornice appears a portrait of George Washington and the Latin quotation: senatoris est civitatis libertatem tueri ("It is a senator's duty to protect the liberty of the people").

Composition

Composition of the California State Senate

Democratic Party

Republican Party


26	14
Democratic	Republican

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total

	Democratic	Republican		Vacant
End of previous legislature	26	13	39	1

Begin	27	13	40	0
February 22, 2018^[4]	26	13	39	1
June 25, 2018^[5]	25	14	39	1
August 13, 2018^[6]	26	14	40	0
Latest voting share	7001650000000000000♠65%	7001350000000000000♠35%

Officers

Position		Name	Party	District
	Lieutenant Governor	Gavin Newsom	Democratic
	President pro tempore	Toni Atkins	Democratic	39th–San Diego
	Majority leader	Bill Monning	Democratic	17th–Carmel
	Majority whip	Nancy Skinner	Democratic	9th–Berkeley
	Majority caucus chair	Connie Leyva	Democratic	20th–Chino
	Majority caucus vice chair	Mike McGuire	Democratic	2nd–Healdsburg
	Minority leader	Patricia Bates	Republican	36th–Laguna Niguel
	Minority caucus chair	Jim Nielsen	Republican	4th–Gerber
	Minority whip	Ted Gaines	Republican	1st–El Dorado Hills
Secretary		Daniel Alvarez
Sergeant-at-Arms		Jodie Barnett
Chaplain		Sister Michelle Gorman

The Secretary, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Chaplain are not members of the Legislature.

Members

	Name	Party	Residence	First elected	Term limited	Notes
1	Ted Gaines	Republican	El Dorado Hills	2011	2020
2	Mike McGuire	Democratic	Healdsburg	2014	2026
3	Bill Dodd	Democratic	Napa	2016	2024
4	Jim Nielsen	Republican	Gerber	2013	2022	Previously served from 1978 to 1990.
5	Cathleen Galgiani	Democratic	Stockton	2012	2020
6	Richard Pan	Democratic	Sacramento	2014	2022
7	Steve Glazer	Democratic	Orinda	2015	2028
8	Tom Berryhill	Republican	Modesto	2010	2018
9	Nancy Skinner	Democratic	Berkeley	2016	2024
10	Bob Wieckowski	Democratic	Fremont	2014	2022
11	Scott Wiener	Democratic	San Francisco	2016	2028
12	Anthony Cannella	Republican	Ceres	2010	2018
13	Jerry Hill	Democratic	San Mateo	2012	2020
14	Andy Vidak	Republican	Hanford	2013	2026
15	Jim Beall	Democratic	San Jose	2012	2020
16	Jean Fuller	Republican	Bakersfield	2010	2018
17	Bill Monning	Democratic	Carmel	2012	2020
18	Robert Hertzberg	Democratic	Van Nuys	2014	2022
19	Hannah-Beth Jackson	Democratic	Santa Barbara	2012	2020
20	Connie Leyva	Democratic	Chino	2014	2026
21	Scott Wilk	Republican	Santa Clarita	2016	2024
22	Ed Hernandez	Democratic	West Covina	2010	2018
23	Mike Morrell	Republican	Rancho Cucamonga	2014	2020
24	Kevin de León	Democratic	Los Angeles	2010	2018	President pro tempore from October 15, 2014, to March 21, 2018
25	Anthony Portantino	Democratic	La Cañada Flintridge	2016	2024
26	Ben Allen	Democratic	Santa Monica	2014	2026
27	Henry Stern	Democratic	Canoga Park	2016	2028
28	Jeff Stone	Republican	Temecula	2014	2026
29	Ling Ling Chang	Republican	Diamond Bar	2018	2024
30	Holly Mitchell	Democratic	Los Angeles	2013	2022
31	Richard Roth	Democratic	Riverside	2012	2024
32	Vanessa Delgado	Democratic	Montebello	2018	2018	Won special election. Term will be brief as she failed to win primary for the general election.
33	Ricardo Lara	Democratic	Bell Gardens	2012	2020
34	Janet Nguyen	Republican	Fountain Valley	2014	2026
35	Steven Bradford	Democratic	Gardena	2016	2024
36	Patricia Bates	Republican	Laguna Niguel	2014	2022	Minority leader
37	John Moorlach	Republican	Costa Mesa	2015+	2028
38	Joel Anderson	Republican	Alpine	2010	2018
39	Toni Atkins	Democratic	San Diego	2016	2024	President pro tempore since March 21, 2018
40	Ben Hueso	Democratic	San Diego	2013	2022

: elected in a special election
: elected in a recall election

Seating chart

Past composition of the Senate

Committees

Current committees include:^[7]

Standing

Senate Committee on Agriculture
Senate Committee on Appropriations
- Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Fiscal Oversight and Bonded Indebtedness
Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions
Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review
- Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education
- Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources
- Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services
- Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration and General Government
- Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections
Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development
Senate Committee on Education
- Senate Education Subcommittee on Sustainable School Facilities
Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments
Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications
Senate Committee on Environmental Quality
Senate Committee on Governmental Organizations
Senate Committee on Governance and Finance
Senate Committee on Health
Senate Committee on Human Services
Senate Committee on Insurance
Senate Committee on Judiciary
Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations
Senate Committee on Legislative Ethics
Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water
- Senate Natural Resources and Water Subcommittee on Urban Rivers
Senate Committee on Public Employment and Retirement
Senate Committee on Public Safety
Senate Committee on Rules
Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing
Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs

Joint

Joint Committee on Arts
Joint Committee on Fairs, Allocation and Classification
Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture
Joint Committee on Legislative Audit
Joint Committee on Rules
Joint Legislative Budget
Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management

Offices

Senate Office of Research
Senate Office of Demographics
Senate Office of Floor Analysis
Senate Office of International Relations
Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes

References

↑ "Apportionment Data". United States Census Bureau.
↑ "Senate Roster". State of California.
↑ "Article 4. Legislative". California Constitution. California Legislative Counsel. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
↑ Tony Mendoza (D–32) was pressured to resign due to accusations of sexual harassment.
↑ Josh Newman (D–29) was successfully recalled and replaced by Republican Ling Ling Chang.
↑ Vanessa Delgado (D–32) was elected to replace Tony Mendoza.
↑ "California Senate Committees". Open States. Sunlight Foundation. 2014-04-09. Retrieved 2014-04-09.

External links

Official website of the California State Senate
Map of the state senate districts
California legislative district maps from 1849 to the present

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "Apportionment Data". United States Census Bureau.

[2] "Senate Roster". State of California.

[Article_4-3] "Article 4. Legislative". California Constitution. California Legislative Counsel. Retrieved December 1, 2012.

[4] Tony Mendoza (D–32) was pressured to resign due to accusations of sexual harassment.

[5] Josh Newman (D–29) was successfully recalled and replaced by Republican Ling Ling Chang.

[6] Vanessa Delgado (D–32) was elected to replace Tony Mendoza.

[OpenStates-7] "California Senate Committees". Open States. Sunlight Foundation. 2014-04-09. Retrieved 2014-04-09.

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List of current U.S. state legislators

Members of the California State Senate
President of the Senate: Gavin Newsom (D) President pro Tempore: Toni Atkins (D) Majority Leader: Bill Monning (D) Minority Leader: Patricia Bates (R)
Ted Gaines (R) Mike McGuire (D) Bill Dodd (D) Jim Nielsen (R) Cathleen Galgiani (D) Richard Pan (D) Steve Glazer (D) Tom Berryhill (R) Nancy Skinner (D) Bob Wieckowski (D) Scott Wiener (D) Anthony Cannella (R) Jerry Hill (D) Andy Vidak (R) Jim Beall (D) Jean Fuller (R) Bill Monning (D) Robert Hertzberg (D) Hannah-Beth Jackson (D) Connie Leyva (D) Scott Wilk (R) Ed Hernandez (D) Mike Morrell (R) Kevin de León (D) Anthony Portantino (D) Ben Allen (D) Henry Stern (D) Jeff Stone (R) Ling Ling Chang (R) Holly Mitchell (D) Richard Roth (D) Vanessa Delgado (D) Ricardo Lara (D) Janet Nguyen (R) Steven Bradford (D) Patricia Bates (R) John Moorlach (R) Joel Anderson (R) Toni Atkins (D) Ben Hueso (D)
Democratic (26) Republican (14) California State Legislature California State Assembly California State Senate