Georgia State Senate

For the current session, see 151st Georgia General Assembly.
Georgia State Senate
Georgia General Assembly
Type
Type Upper House
Term limits None
New session started January 10, 2011
Leadership
President Casey Cagle, (R)
since January 8, 2007
President pro tempore Tommie Williams, (R)
since January 12, 2009
Majority Leader Chip Rogers, (R)
since January 12, 2009
Minority Leader Steve Henson, (D)
since June 20, 2011
Structure
Members 56
Political groups Republican Party (36)
Democratic Party (19)
Length of term 2 years
Authority Article III, Georgia Constitution
Salary $17,342/year + per diem
Elections
Last election November 2, 2010
(56 seats)
Next election November 6, 2012
(56 seats)
Redistricting Legislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Georgia Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia
Website
Georgia State Senate

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

Contents

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 Tommie Williams.

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
End of previous legislature 34 22 56 0
Begin 34 22 56 0
August 2009[1] 21 55 1
September 15, 2009[2] 33 54 2
November 3, 2009[3] 34 55 1
November 9, 2009[4] 20 54 2
December 1, 2009[5] 21 55 1
February 2, 2010[6] 22 56 0
March 19, 2010[7] 21 55 1
May 11, 2010[8] 22 56 0
November 30, 2010[9] 35 21
End of previous legislature 35 21 56 0
Begin 36 20 56 0
May 2011[10] 19 55 1
August 16, 2011[11] 20 56 0
October 2, 2011[12] 35 55 1
October 4, 2011[13] 34 54 2
Latest voting share 63% 37%

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 Earl “Buddy” Carter Republican 2009 Pooler
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 Doug Stoner Democratic 2004 Smyrna
7 Greg Goggans Republican 2004 Douglas
8 Tim Golden Republican 1998 Valdosta
9 Don Balfour Republican 1992 Snellville
10 Emanuel Jones Democratic 2004 Decatur
11 John Bulloch Republican 2002 Ockhocknee
12 Freddie Powell Sims Democratic 2008 Dawson
13 John Crosby Republican 2008 Tifton
14 George Hooks Democratic 1990 Americus
15 Ed Harbison Democratic 1992 Columbus
16 Ronnie Chance Republican 2004 Tyrone
17 Rick Jeffares Republican 2010 Locust Grove
18 Cecil Staton Republican 2004 Macon
19 Tommie Williams Republican 1998 Lyons
20 Ross Tolleson Republican 2002 Perry
21 Chip Rogers Republican 2004 Woodstock
22 Hardie Davis Democratic 2010 Augusta
23 Jesse Stone Republican 2010 Waynesboro
24 Bill Jackson Republican 2007 Appling
25 Johnny Grant Republican 2004 Milledgeville
26 Miriam Paris Democratic 2011 Macon
27 Jack Murphy Republican 2006 Cumming
28 Vacant
29 Joshua McKoon Republican 2010 Columbus
30 Bill Hamrick Republican 1999 Carrollton
31 Bill Heath Republican 2004 Bremen
32 Judson Hill Republican 2004 Marietta
33 Steve Thompson Democratic 1990 Marietta
34 Valencia Seay Democratic 2003 Riverdale
35 Donzella James Democratic 2009 College Park
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 Miller Republican 2010 Atlanta
41 Steve Henson Democratic 2002 Tucker
42 Jason Carter Democratic 2010 Decatur
43 Ronald Ramsey, Sr. Democratic 2006 Decatur
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 Vacant
51 Steve Gooch Republican 2010 Dahlonega
52 Barry Loudermilk Republican 2010 Cassville
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
  • Education and Youth
  • Ethics
  • Finance
  • Health and Human Services
  • Higher Education
  • Insurance and Labor
  • Interstate Cooperation
  • Judiciary
  • Natural Resources and the Environment
  • Public Safety and Homeland Security
  • Reapportionment and Redistricting
  • Regulated Industries and Utilities
  • Retirement
  • Rules
  • Science and Technology
  • Special Judiciary
  • State and Local Governmental Operations
  • State Institutions and Property
  • Transportation
  • Veterans and Military Affairs

See also

References

  1. ^ Democrat Kasim Reed (District 35) resigns.
  2. ^ Republican Eric Johnson (District 1) resigns.
  3. ^ Republican Buddy Carter wins special election to succeed Johnson.
  4. ^ Democrat Ed Tarver (District 22) resigns.
  5. ^ Democrat Donzella James wins special election to succeed Reed.
  6. ^ Democrat Hardie Davis (D-22) wins special election to succeed Tarver
  7. ^ Democrat David Adelman (D-42) is confirmed as United States Ambassador to Singapore. [1]
  8. ^ Democrat Jason Carter elected to succeed Adelman.
  9. ^ Democrat Tim Golden (District 8) switches to the Republican Party.
  10. ^ Democrat Robert Brown resigned to run for Mayor of Macon.
  11. ^ Democrat Miriam Paris elected to succeed Brown.
  12. ^ Republican Jim Butterworth (District 50) resigned after being appointed Adjutant General.
  13. ^ Republican Mitch Seabaugh (District 28) resigned after being appointed deputy state treasurer.

External links

Members of the Georgia State Senate
151st General Assembly (2011–2012)
President: Casey Cagle (R) • President Pro Tempore: Tommie Williams (R) • Majority Leader: Chip Rogers (R) • Minority Leader: Steve Henson (D)
   
  1.    Buddy Carter (R)
  2.    Lester G. Jackson (D)
  3.    William T. Ligon, Jr. (R)
  4.    Jack Hill (R)
  5.    Curt Thompson (D)
  6.    Doug Stoner (D)
  7.    Greg Goggans (R)
  8.    Tim Golden (R)
  9.    Don Balfour (R)
  10.    Emanuel Jones (D)
  11.    John Bulloch (R)
  12.    Freddie Sims (D)
  13.    John Crosby (R)
  14.    George Hooks (D)
  1.    Ed Harbison (D)
  2.    Ronnie Chance (R)
  3.    Rick Jeffares (R)
  4.    Cecil Staton (R)
  5.    Tommie Williams (R)
  6.    Ross Tolleson (R)
  7.    Chip Rogers (R)
  8.    Hardie Davis (D)
  9.    Jesse Stone (R)
  10.    Bill Jackson (R)
  11.    Johnny Grant (R)
  12.    Miriam Paris (D)
  13.    Jack Murphy (R)
  14. Vacant
  1.    Joshua McKoon (R)
  2.    Bill Hamrick (R)
  3.    Bill Heath (R)
  4.    Judson Hill (R)
  5.    Steve Thompson (D)
  6.    Valencia Seay (D)
  7.    Donzella James (D)
  8.    Nan Grogan Orrock (D)
  9.    Lindsey Tippins (R)
  10.    Horacena Tate (D)
  11.    Vincent Fort (D)
  12.    Fran Millar (R)
  13.    Steve Henson (D)
  14.    Jason Carter (D)
  1.    Ronald Ramsey, Sr. (D)
  2.    Gail Davenport (D)
  3.    Renee S. Unterman (R)
  4.    Bill Cowsert (R)
  5.    Frank Ginn (R)
  6.    David Shafer (R)
  7.    Butch Miller (R)
  8. Vacant
  9.    Steve Gooch (R)
  10.    Barry Loudermilk (R)
  11.    Jeff Mullis (R)
  12.    Charlie Bethel (R)
  13.    Gloria S. Butler (D)
  14.    John Albers (R)
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