Florida Senate
| Florida Senate | |
|---|---|
| Florida State Legislature | |
 |
|
| Type | |
| Type | Upper House |
| Term limits | 2 terms (8 years) |
| History | |
| New session started | March 5, 2013 |
| Leadership | |
| President of the Senate | Don Gaetz, (R) Since November 6, 2012 |
| President pro tempore | Garrett Richter, (R) Since November 6, 2012 |
| Majority Leader | Lizbeth Benacquisto, (R) Since November 6, 2012 |
| Minority Leader | Chris Smith, (D) Since November 6, 2012 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 40 |
| Political groups | Republican Party (26) Democratic Party (14) |
| Length of term | 4 years |
| Authority | Article I, Section 1, Florida Constitution |
| Salary | $29,697/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election | November 6, 2012 (40 seats) |
| Next election | November 4, 2014 (20 seats) |
| Redistricting | Legislative Control |
| Motto | |
| In God We Trust | |
| Meeting place | |
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|
| State Senate Chamber Florida Capitol Tallahassee, Florida |
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| Website | |
| Florida State Senate | |
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032.
The Senate convenes at the State Capitol in Tallahassee. Senators serve four-year terms, and are restricted by term limits, confining them to two consecutive four-year terms (eight years).
Contents |
Terms, qualification and districts[edit]
The Florida Constitution requires state senators to be elected to staggered, four-year terms or two-year terms during reapportionment.[1] Except during reapportionment, senators in odd-numbered districts are elected in U.S. presidential election years, and senators in even-numbered districts are elected with Florida's statewide offices. To reflect the results of the U.S. Census and revisions in electoral district boundaries, senators are up for re-election in those years ending in the digit 2. Thus, senators in even-numbered districts were elected to two-year terms in 2012, and senators in odd-numbered districts will be elected to two-year terms in 2022.
State senators must be at least 21 years of age, an elector and resident of their electoral district.[1] They take immediate office following their election.[1]
Electoral districts are organized by population. State senate districts do not consist of three state house; the boundaries are independent.
Powers and process[edit]
The Florida Constitution authorizes the state legislature to create and amend the laws of the U.S. state of Florida.[1] State senators propose legislation in the forms of bills drafted by a nonpartisan, professional staff.[2] Successful legislation must undergo committee review, three readings on the floor of each house, with appropriate voting majorities, as required, and either be signed into law by the governor or enacted through a veto override approved by two-thirds of the membership of each legislative house.[2]
The entire Florida Legislature meets every year in a session beginning on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March and lasting 60 calendar days. [3] Special sessions may be called either by the governor or by the leaders of both chambers acting jointly.
Composition[edit]
| Affiliation | Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| End of previous legislature | 28 | 12 | 40 | 0 |
| Begin (November 2012) | 26 | 14 | 40 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 65% | 35% | ||
Leadership[edit]
| Position | Name | Party | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| President of the Senate | Don Gaetz | Republican | 1 |
| President pro tempore | Garrett Richter | Republican | 23 |
| Majority Leader | Lizbeth Benacquisto | Republican | 30 |
| Minority Leader | Chris Smith | Democratic | 31 |
| Minority Leader pro tempore | Maria Sachs | Democratic | 34 |
Members, 2012–2014[edit]
District map[edit]
See also[edit]
- Florida Legislature
- Florida House of Representatives
- Florida Senate Majority Office
- Government of Florida
- Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
- The Florida Channel
- List of Presidents of the Florida Senate
- American Legislative Exchange Council members
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Florida Constitution Online (accessed May 22, 2013)
- ^ a b Senate Handbook, 2012-2014, Florida Senate (accessed May 22, 2013)
- ^ Florida Senate (accessed May 22, 2013)
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Florida State Senators |
- The Florida Senate official government website
- State Senate of Florida at Project Vote Smart
- Florida Senate at Ballotpedia
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