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Not to be confused with the as of yet unestablished upper house of the Parliament of the country of Georgia, anticipated by the constitution of 1995, which is also styled the "Senate".
For the current session, see 157th Georgia General Assembly.

Georgia State Senate
Georgia General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 11, 2021
Leadership
Burt Jones (R)
since January 9, 2023
President pro tempore
John F. Kennedy (R)
since January 9, 2023
Majority Leader
Steve Gooch (R)
since January 9, 2023
Gloria Butler (D)
since January 11, 2021
Structure
Seats56
Political groups
Majority

Minority

Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle III, Georgia Constitution
Salary$17,342/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(56 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(56 seats)
RedistrictingLegislative control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Georgia Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia
Website
legis.ga.gov/senate

The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly, in the U.S. state of Georgia. The Georgia State Senate and the lower house of the General Assembly, the Georgia House of Representatives, comprise the bicameral legislature of the state. Together, the Senate and the House maintain authority under Article III. of the 1983 Constitution of Georgia to enact laws "necessary and proper for the welfare of the state", although state law is subordinate to the state constitution, the United States Constitution, and federal law.

Like most upper houses in the United States, the Senate has the exclusive power to confirm various appointments made by the Governor of Georgia, and to try cases of impeachment brought by the House. The Senate is often considered a springboard for those ultimately seeking higher office; all of the state's most recent governors have served in the State Senate.

The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly, with the lower house being the Georgia House of Representatives. Both bodies are constitutionally required to convene annually at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.[1] The General Assembly begins each yearly session on the second Monday in January.[1] From that date of convention, sessions last for 40 legislative days.[1]

The General Assembly may call for special sessions by a three-fifths vote of the members in each chamber.[1] Special sessions in Georgia may span a maximum of 40 days.[1]

Membership requirements

The Georgia State Senate consists of 56 members, each representing a single-member legislative district of equal size with the others. State senators serve a term length of two years, with elections being held in even-numbered years. Senators officially assume their positions on the second Monday in January following their election.

To serve in the Senate, an individual must have attained the age of 25.[1] The person must also be a qualified voter who has resided in the state of Georgia for at least two years.[1] Unlike most states, senators are not required to have lived in their districts for a specific period of time before running.

Leadership

The formal President of the State Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, who is elected statewide every four years. Other important figures in the Senate include the President pro tempore (who is elected by all members of the Senate), as well as the Majority Leader, Majority Whip, and Majority Caucus Chair (each of whom are elected by the majority of what is currently the Republican caucus).[1]

The minority party is headed by the Minority Leader, who is elected by the minority party caucus.[1]

Compensation

The current salary for state senators is $17,342.[2] The Majority Leader and Minority Leader earn an additional $400 per month.

Officers

The presiding officer of the Senate is the president of the Senate. A president pro tempore, usually a high-ranking member of the majority party, acts as president in case of the temporary disability of the president. In case of the death, resignation, or permanent disability of the President or in the event of the succession of the president to the executive power, the President pro tempore becomes President. The Senate also has as an officer, the secretary of the Senate.

As of January 2023, the majority and minority leadership is as follows:

Office Officeholder Party
Lt. Governor and senate president Burt Jones[3] Republican
President pro tempore John F. Kennedy[4][5] Republican
Majority leader Steve Gooch[5] Republican
Majority whip Randy Robertson[5] Republican
Majority caucus chairman Jason Anavitarte[5] Republican
Majority caucus vice-chairman Matt Brass[5] Republican
Majority caucus treasurer Dean Burke[5] Republican
Minority leader Gloria Butler[6] Democratic
Minority whip Harold V. Jones II[6] Democratic
Minority caucus chair Elena Parent[6] Democratic
Minority caucus vice-chair Sonya Halpern[6] Democratic
Minority caucus vice-chair of fundraising and campaigns David Lucas[6] Democratic
Minority caucus secretary Nan Orrock[6] Democratic

List of committees

Composition

Map of current partisan composition of legislative districts for the State Senate:
  Democratic senator
  Republican senator

According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members. Elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.

Senators must be at least 25 years old, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Georgia for two years and their senatorial district for one year (preceding the election). The highest position in the Senate is the President of the Senate, a position currently held by Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. The second-highest position is president pro tempore, currently held by Senator Butch Miller.

↓
33 23
Republican Democratic
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
End of 155th Assembly 35 21 56 0
End of 156th Assembly 34 22 56 0
Beginning of 157th Assembly 33 23 56 0
Latest voting share 59% 41%

Past composition of the Senate

Main article: Political party strength in Georgia (U.S. state)

List of current senators

As of February 2023, the Georgia State Senate is composed of 56 members:[8]

District Senator Party Since Residence Counties represented
1 Ben Watson Republican 2015 Savannah Bryan, Chatham, Liberty
2 Derek Mallow Democratic 2023 Savannah Chatham
3 Mike Hodges Republican 2023 Brunswick Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, McIntosh
4 Billy Hickman Republican 2020 Statesboro Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Tattnall
5 Sheikh Rahman Democratic 2019 Lawrenceville Gwinnett
6 Jason Esteves Democratic 2023 Atlanta Cobb, Fulton
7 Nabilah Islam Democratic 2023 Lawrenceville Gwinnett
8 Russ Goodman Republican 2021 Cogdell Brooks, Clinch, Cook, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Thomas
9 Nikki Merritt Democratic 2021 Grayson Gwinnett
10 Emanuel Jones Democratic 2005 Ellenwood DeKalb, Henry
11 Sam Watson Republican 2023 Moultrie Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas
12 Freddie Sims Democratic 2009 Dawson Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Dougherty, Mitchell, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, Webster
13 Carden Summers Republican 2020 Cordele Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Lee, Sumter, Tift, Turner, Wilcox, Worth
14 Josh McLaurin Democratic 2023 Sandy Springs Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb
15 Ed Harbison Democratic 1993 Columbus Chattahoochee, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Schley, Talbot, Taylor
16 Marty Harbin Republican 2015 Tyrone Fayette, Lamar, Pike, Spalding
17 Brian Strickland Republican 2018 McDonough Henry, Newton, Rockdale
18 John F. Kennedy Republican 2015 Macon Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Monroe, Peach, Upson
19 Blake Tillery Republican 2017 Vidalia Appling, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Liberty, Long, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler
20 Larry Walker III Republican 2015 Kathleen Bleckley, Houston, Laurens, Peach, Pulaski
21 Brandon Beach Republican 2013 Alpharetta Cherokee, Fulton
22 Harold V. Jones II Democratic 2015 Augusta McDuffie, Richmond
23 Max Burns Republican 2021 Sylvania Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Warren
24 Lee Anderson Republican 2017 Grovetown Columbia, Elbert, Hart, Lincoln, Oglethorpe, Richmond, Taliaferro, Wilkes
25 Rick Williams Republican 2023 Milledgeville Baldwin, Bibb, Butts, Greene, Jasper, Jones, Morgan, Putnam, Walton
26 David Lucas Democratic 2013 Macon Baldwin, Bibb, Hancock, Houston, Jones, Twiggs, Washington, Wilkinson
27 Greg Dolezal Republican 2019 Cumming Forsyth
28 Matt Brass Republican 2017 Newnan Carroll, Coweta, Fulton, Heard, Troup
29 Randy Robertson Republican 2019 Cataula Harris, Meriwether, Muscogee, Troup
30 Tim Bearden Republican 2024 Carrollton Carroll, Douglas, Paulding
31 Jason Anavitarte Republican 2021 Dallas Haralson, Paulding, Polk
32 Kay Kirkpatrick Republican 2017 Marietta Cobb, Fulton
33 Michael Rhett Democratic 2015 Marietta Cobb
34 Valencia Seay Democratic 2003 Riverdale Clayton, Fayette
35 Donzella James Democratic 2009 College Park Douglas, Fulton
36 Nan Orrock Democratic 2007 Atlanta Fulton
37 Ed Setzler Republican 2023 Acworth Cobb
38 Horacena Tate Democratic 1999 Atlanta Cobb, Fulton
39 Sonya Halpern Democratic 2021 Atlanta Fulton
40 Sally Harrell Democratic 2019 Chamblee DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett
41 Kim Jackson Democratic 2021 Stone Mountain DeKalb, Gwinnett
42 Elena Parent Democratic 2015 Atlanta DeKalb
43 Tonya Anderson Democratic 2017 Lithonia DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale
44 Gail Davenport Democratic 2011 Jonesboro Clayton, DeKalb
45 Clint Dixon Republican 2021 Buford Gwinnett
46 Bill Cowsert Republican 2007 Athens Clarke, Oconee, Walton
47 Frank Ginn Republican 2011 Royston Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison
48 Shawn Still Republican 2023 Norcross Fulton, Gwinnett
49 Shelly Echols Republican 2023 Alto Hall
50 Bo Hatchett Republican 2021 Cornelia Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, Rabun, Stephens, Towns
51 Steve Gooch Republican 2011 Dahlonega Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, Union, White
52 Chuck Hufstetler Republican 2013 Rome Bartow, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon
53 Colton Moore Republican 2023 Trenton Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker
54 Chuck Payne Republican 2017 Dalton Gordon, Murray, Pickens, Whitfield
55 Gloria Butler Democratic 1999 Stone Mountain DeKalb, Gwinnett
56 John Albers Republican 2011 Roswell Cherokee, Fulton

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Book of the States (53 ed.). The Council of State Governments. January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Salzer, James. "Georgia Senate rejects big pay raise for the General Assembly, state officials". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Prabhu, Maya T. (January 12, 2023). "Lt. Gov. Burt Jones assigns Senate committee chairs". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  4. ^ "Senator John F. Kennedy Elected President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate". Middle Georgia CEO. January 11, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Prabhu, Maya T. (November 11, 2022). "Georgia Senate Republicans elect new leadership". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Williams, Dave (November 28, 2022). "Georgia Senate Democrats reelect Gloria Butler minority leader". Capitol Beat.
  7. ^ "Ethics Committee". Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "Senators (2023-24 Regular Session)". Georgia State Senate. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Senate

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