Arizona Senate
The Arizona State Senate is part of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members each representing an average of 219,859 constituents (2009 figures). Members serve two-year terms with term limits that limit Senators to four terms for a total of eight years. Members of the Republican Party are currently the majority in the Senate. There is currently 16 women serving in the Senate after Raquel Teran was appointed, making it the first time a majority of the body was composed of female members.
Arizona Senate | |
|---|---|
| 55th Arizona Legislature | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | 4 terms (8 years) |
| History | |
New session started | January 14, 2019 |
| Leadership | |
President | |
President pro tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 30 senators |
 | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority |
Length of term | 2 years |
| Authority | Article 4, Arizona Constitution |
| Salary | $24,000/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 3, 2020 (30 seats) |
Next election | November 8, 2022 (30 seats) |
| Redistricting | Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission |
| Meeting place | |
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| State Senate Chamber Arizona State Capitol 1700 W. Washington St. Phoenix, Arizona • 85007 | |
| Website | |
| Arizona State Senate | |
As with the Arizona House of Representatives, members to the Senate are elected from the same legislative districts as House members, however one Senator represents the constituency, while for the House there are two Representatives per district. This districting system is similar to those of the Idaho and Washington State Senate. In political science, this type of legislative district is called a multi-member district.
Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.
The Senate convenes in the adjacent legislative chambers at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.
Leadership of the Senate
Arizona, along with Oregon, Maine, New Hampshire and Wyoming, is one of the five U.S. states to have abolished the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the nominal senate president in many states. As a result, the Senate elects its own presiding officer, the President of the Senate, who presides over the body, appoints members to all of the Senate's committees and to joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. The Senate President also appoints a President pro tempore, who serves for the duration of a session of the legislature, to preside in their absence, and may appoint a temporary President pro tempore in the absence of the President and President pro tempore.[1]
The current President of the Senate is Republican Karen Fann of District 1, the Senate Majority Leader is Rick Gray of District 21. The current Minority Leader is Rebecca Rios of District 27 with Lupe Contreras of District 19 as the Assistant Minority Leader.[2]
Leadership information
| Position | Name | Party | Residence | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President of the Senate | Karen Fann | Republican | Prescott | District 1 |
| President Pro Tempore | Vince Leach | Republican | Gilbert | District 11 |
| Majority Leader | Rick Gray | Republican | Sun City | District 21 |
| Majority Whip | Sonny Borrelli | Republican | Lake Havasu City | District 5 |
| Minority Leader | Rebecca Rios | Democratic | Apache Junction | District 27 |
| Assistant Minority Leader | Lupe Contreras | Democratic | Cashion | District 19 |
| Minority Whip | Lisa Otondo | Democratic | Yuma | District 4 |
| Minority Whip | Jamescita Peshlakai | Democratic | Cameron | District 7 |
Current composition
| 14 | 1 | 16 |
| Democratic | Republican |
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| 2011–12 | 21 | 9 | 29 | 1 |
| 2013–14 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 0 |
| Begin 2015 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 0 |
| End 2016 | 18 | 12 | ||
| 2017–19 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 0 |
| 2019-21 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 55.2% | 44.8% | ||
Current members, 2021–2023
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† Member was originally appointed.
Committees
The current standing committees of the Arizona Senate are as follows:
| Committee | Chair | Vice Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Appropriations | David Gowan | Vince Leach |
| Commerce | J. D. Mesnard | Michelle Ugenti-Rita |
| Education | Paul Boyer | T. J. Shope |
| Ethics | Sine Kerr | N/A |
| Finance | David Livingston | Vince Leach |
| Government | Kelly Townsend | Michelle Ugenti-Rita |
| Health and Human Services | Nancy Barto | Tyler Pace |
| Judiciary | Warren Petersen | Wendy Rogers |
| Natural Resources, Energy & Water | Sine Kerr | T. J. Shope |
| Rules | Karen Fann | Rick Gray |
| Transportation and Technology | Tyler Pace | T. J. Shope |
Past composition of the Senate
See also
References
- Senate Rule 2: The President
- "Member Roster". Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- "Open Letter Raises Questions About Wendy Rogers Candidacy – Arizona Daily Independent".
External links
55th Legislature (2021-present)
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