Georgia State Senate

For the current session, see 153rd Georgia General Assembly.

Coordinates: 33°44′57″N 84°23′18″W / 33.749052°N 84.388331°W / 33.749052; -84.388331

Georgia State Senate
Georgia General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
 None
History
New session started
 January 12, 2015
Leadership
President
Casey Cagle (R)
Since January 8, 2007
David Shafer (R)
Since January 14, 2013
Majority Leader
Bill Cowsert (R)
Since November 17, 2014
Minority Leader
Steve Henson (D)
Since June 20, 2011
Structure
Seats 56
Political groups
Length of term
 2 years
Authority Article III, Georgia Constitution
Salary $17,342/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
 November 4, 2014
(56 seats)
Next election
 November 8, 2016
(56 seats)
Redistricting Legislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Georgia Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia
Website
www.senate.ga.gov

The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly (the state legislature of Georgia, USA).

Composition

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 Casey Cagle. The second highest position is that of President Pro Tempore, currently held by Senator David Shafer.

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
End of previous legislature 38 18 56 0
Begin 38 18 56 0
December 1, 2015[1] 39 17 56 0
Latest voting share 69.6% 30.4%

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.

Members of the Senate

District Senator Party First elected Residence
1 Ben Watson Republican 2014 Savannah
2 Lester G. Jackson Democratic 2008 Savannah
3 William T. Ligon, Jr. Republican 2010 Brunswick
4 Jack Hill Republican 1990 Reidsville
5 Curt Thompson Democratic 2004 Tucker
6 Hunter Hill Republican 2012 Atlanta
7 Tyler Harper Republican 2012 Ocilla
8 Ellis Black Republican 2014 Valdosta
9 P.K. Martin IV Republican 2014 Lawrenceville
10 Emanuel Jones Democratic 2004 Decatur
11 Dean Burke Republican 2013 Bainbridge
12 Freddie Powell Sims Democratic 2008 Dawson
13 Greg Kirk Republican 2014 Americus
14 Bruce Thompson Republican 2013 White
15 Ed Harbison Democratic 1992 Columbus
16 Marty Harbin Republican 2014 Tyrone
17 Rick Jeffares Republican 2010 McDonough
18 John F. Kennedy Republican 2014 Macon
19 Tommie Williams Republican 1998 Lyons
20 Ross Tolleson Republican 2002 Perry
21 Brandon Beach Republican 2012 Alpharetta
22 Harold V. Jones II Democratic 2014 Augusta
23 Jesse Stone Republican 2010 Waynesboro
24 Bill Jackson Republican 2007 Appling
25 Burt Jones Republican 2012 Jackson
26 David Lucas Democratic 2012 Macon
27 Michael Williams Republican 2014 Cumming
28 Mike Crane Republican 2011 Newnan
29 Joshua McKoon Republican 2010 Columbus
30 Mike Dugan Republican 2013 Carrollton
31 Bill Heath Republican 2004 Bremen
32 Judson Hill Republican 2004 Marietta
33 Michael "Doc" Rhett Democratic 2014 Marietta
34 Valencia Seay Democratic 2003 Riverdale
35 Donzella James Democratic 2009 Atlanta
36 Nan Orrock Democratic 2006 Atlanta
37 Lindsey Tippins Republican 2010 Marietta
38 Horacena Tate Democratic 1998 Atlanta
39 Vincent Fort Democratic 1996 Atlanta
40 Fran Millar Republican 2010 Atlanta
41 Steve Henson Democratic 2002 Tucker
42 Elena Parent Democratic 2014 Atlanta
43 JaNice Van Ness Republican 2015 Conyers
44 Gail Davenport Democratic 2010 Jonesboro
45 Renee Unterman Republican 2002 Buford
46 Bill Cowsert Republican 2006 Athens
47 Frank Ginn Republican 2010 Danielsville
48 David Shafer Republican 2001 Duluth
49 Butch Miller Republican 2010 Gainesville
50 John Wilkinson Republican 2011 Toccoa
51 Steve Gooch Republican 2010 Dahlonega
52 Chuck Hufstetler Republican 2012 Rome
53 Jeff Mullis Republican 2000 Chickamauga
54 Charlie Bethel Republican 2010 Dalton
55 Gloria Butler Democratic 1999 Stone Mountain
56 John Albers Republican 2010 Roswell

List of Committees

  • Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
  • Appropriations
  • Banking and Financial Institutions
  • Economic Development & Tourism
  • Education and Youth
  • Ethics
  • Finance
  • Government Oversight
  • Health and Human Services
  • Higher Education
  • Insurance and Labor
  • Interstate Cooperation
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary Non-Civil
  • Natural Resources and the Environment
  • Public Safety
  • Reapportionment and Redistricting
  • Regulated Industries and Utilities
  • Retirement
  • Rules
  • Science and Technology
  • Special Judiciary
  • State and Local Governmental Operations
  • State Institutions and Property
  • Transportation
  • Urban Affairs
  • Veterans, Military, & Homeland Security

See also

References

  1. ↑ JaNice Van Ness won a special election to succeed Ronald Ramsey in District 43.
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