| South Carolina State Senate | |
|---|---|
| South Carolina General Assembly | |
| Type | |
| Type | Upper House |
| Term limits | None |
| New session started | January 4, 2011 |
| Leadership | |
| President of the Senate | Ken Ard, (R) since January 12, 2011 |
| President Pro Tem of the Senate | Glenn F. McConnell, (R) since January 2, 2001 |
| Majority Leader | Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., (R) since May 26, 2005 |
| Minority Leader | John C. Land III, (D) since January 2, 2001 |
| Structure | |
| Members | 46 |
| Political groups | Republican Party (26) Democratic Party (19) |
| Length of term | 4 years |
| Authority | Article III, South Carolina Constitution |
| Salary | $10,400/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election | November 4, 2008 (23 seats) |
| Next election | November 6, 2012 (23 seats) |
| Redistricting | Legislative Control |
| Meeting place | |
| State Senate Chamber South Carolina State House Columbia, South Carolina |
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| Website | |
| South Carolina State Senate | |
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives. It consists of 46 senators elected from single member districts for four-year terms at the same time as United States Presidential elections.
The South Carolina Constitution of 1895 provided for each county to elect one senator for a four-year term. The election of senators was staggered so that half of the state Senate was elected every two years. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1964 for the case Reynolds v. Sims, the state Senate was reapportioned in 1966 as a temporary measure into 27 districts with 50 members for two-year terms. In 1967, the state Senate was again reapportioned, this time into 20 districts with 46 members for four-year terms. The number of districts was reduced to 16 in 1972 and in 1984, they were eliminated with the creation of single member districts.
Contents |
| Affiliation | Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| 2005-2008 Legislature | 27 | 19 | 46 | 0 |
| 2009-2012 Legislature | 27 | 19 | 46 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 58.7% | 41.3% | ||
| South Carolina Senate Officers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Name | Party |
| Lieutenant Governor / President of the Senate | Ken Ard | Republican |
| President Pro Tempore | Glenn F. McConnell | Republican |
| Majority Leader | Harvey S. Peeler, Jr. | Republican |
| Minority Leader | John C. Land, III | Democratic |
Except as noted, all Senators were elected in November 2008. All terms expire in November 2012.
| Year | Democratic Party |
Republican Party |
Independent / Other |
Majority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1865 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 31 |
| 1868 | 6(a) | 25 | 0 | 19 |
| 1870 | 5 | 26 | 1 | 22 |
| 1872 | 5 | 28 | 0 | 23 |
| 1874 | 0 | 26 | 7(b) | 19 |
| 1876 | 15 | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| 1878 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 28 |
| 1880 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 30 |
| 1902- 1906 |
41 | 0 | 0 | 41 |
| 1908 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
| 1910 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 43 |
| 1912- 1914 |
44 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| 1916- 1918 |
45 | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| 1920- 1964 |
46 | 0 | 0 | 46 |
| 1966 | 43 | 6 | 1 | 37 |
| 1968 | 43 | 3 | 0 | 40 |
| 1972 | 43 | 3 | 0 | 40 |
| 1976 | 43 | 3 | 0 | 40 |
| 1980 | 39 | 5 | 0 | 34 |
| 1984 | 36 | 10 | 0 | 26 |
| 1988 | 35 | 11 | 0 | 24 |
| 1992 | 30 | 16 | 0 | 14 |
| 1996 | 25 | 21 | 0 | 4 |
| 2000 | 22(c) | 24(c) | 0 | 2 |
| 2004 | 20 | 26(d) | 0 | 6 |
| 2008 | 19 | 27 | 0 | 8 |
(a) The election of a Democrat from Abbeville was declared void and the seat remained vacant.
(b) All 7 were members of the Conservative Party of South Carolina.
(c) After the 2000 elections, the Senate was evenly split between 23 Democrats and 23 Republicans. A Democrat, J. Verne Smith of Greer, switched to the Republicans to break the tie.
(d) Republicans gained an additional seat in a 2007 special election. The current party makeup is 27 Republicans and 19 Democrats.
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