Arizona Senate

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The Arizona Senate is the upper house for the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members representing an equal amount of constituencies across the state, with each district having average populations of 171,021 (2000 figures). Members serve two-year terms with term limits, limiting Senators to four terms (a total of eight years). Members of the Republican Party are currently in the majority in the Senate.

As with the lower 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.

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 adjucent legislative chambers at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.

Contents 1 Leadership of the Senate 1.1 Leadership information 2 Current composition 2.1 Current members, 2005-2006 3 See also 4 External link

[edit] Leadership of the Senate

Arizona, along with Oregon, Maine and Wyoming, is one of the four U.S. states to have abolished the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, a position which for most upper houses of state legislatures and indeed for the U.S. Congress (with the Vice President) is the head of the legislative body.

In the Lieutenant Governor's constitutional absesnce, the President of the Senate presides over the body, appointing members to all of the Senate's committees and joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. In the Senate President's absence, the President Pro Tempore presides.

The current President of the Senate is Republican Ken Bennett of District 1 (Grand Canyon). The Senate Majority Leader is Timothy S. Bee of District 30 (Tucson). The Senate Minority Leader is Linda Aguirre of District 16 (Phoenix).

[edit] Leadership information

Position	Name	Party	Residence	District
President of the Senate	Ken Bennett	Republican	Prescott	District 1
Majority Leader	Timothy S. Bee	Republican	Tucson	District 30
Minority Leader	Linda Aguirre	Democratic	Phoenix	District 16

[edit] Current composition

Affiliation		Members
	Republican Party	18
	Democratic Party	12
Total		30
Majority		6

[edit] Current members, 2005-2006

Senator	District	Party
Ken Bennett	01	Republican
Albert Hale	02	Democratic
Ron Gould	03	Republican
Jack Harper	04	Republican
Jake Flake	05	Republican
Dean Martin	06	Republican
Jim Waring	07	Republican
Carolyn Allen	08	Republican
Bob Burns	09	Republican
Linda Gray	10	Republican
Barbara Leff	11	Republican
Robert Blendu	12	Republican
Richard Miranda	13	Democratic
Bill Brotherton	14	Democratic
Ken Cheuvront	15	Democratic
Linda Aguirre	16	Democratic
Ed Ableser	17	Democratic
Karen Johnson	18	Republican
Chuck Gray	19	Republican
John Huppenthal	20	Republican
Jay Tibshraeny	21	Republican
Thayer Verschoor	22	Republican
Rebecca Rios	23	Democratic
Robert Cannell	24	Democratic
Marsha Arzberger	25	Democratic
Toni Hellon	26	Republican
Jorge Luis Garcia	27	Democratic
Paula Aboud	28	Democratic
Victor Soltero	29	Democratic
Timothy Bee	30	Republican

[edit] See also

• Arizona State Capitol
• Arizona Legislature
• Arizona House of Representatives

[edit] External link

• Arizona Senate website

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