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Arizona Senate

 

Arizona Senate

Arizona State Senate
Arizona Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
4 terms (8 years)
Leadership
Structure
Seats 30
Political groups

Governing party

Opposition party

Length of term
2 years
Authority Article 4, Arizona Constitution
Salary $24,000/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 4, 2014
(30 seats)
Next election
November 8, 2016
(30 seats)
Redistricting Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Arizona State Capitol
Phoenix, Arizona
Website
Arizona State Senate

The Arizona Senate is part of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members with each representing an average of 219,859 constituents (2009 figures). Members serve two-year terms with term limits that limit Senators to four terms for a total of eight years. Members of the Republican Party are currently in the majority in the Senate.

As with the 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. In political science, this type of legislative district is called a multi-member district.

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 adjacent legislative chambers at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.

Contents

  • Leadership of the Senate 1
    • Leadership information 1.1
  • Current composition 2
    • Current members, 2015–2017 2.1
  • Committees 3
  • See also 4
  • References 5
  • External links 6

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, the nominal senate president in many states. As a result, the Senate elects its own presiding officer, the President of the Senate, who presides over the body, appoints members to all of the Senate's committees and to joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. The Senate President also appoints a President pro tempore, who serves for the duration of a session of the legislature, to preside in his absence, and may appoint a temporary President pro tempore in the absence of the President and President pro tempore.[1]

The current President of the Senate is Republican Andy Biggs of District 12, The Senate Majority Leader is John McComish of District 18, Of the Senate Minority Leader is Anna Tovar of District 19.

Leadership information

Position Name Party Residence District
President of the Senate Andy Biggs Republican Gilbert District 12
President pro tempore Gail Griffin Republican Hereford District 14
Majority Leader John McComish Republican Phoenix District 18
Majority Whip Adam Driggs Republican Phoenix District 28
Minority Leader Anna Tovar Democratic Tolleson District 19
Assistant Minority Leader Lynne Pancrazi Democratic Yuma District 4
Minority Whip Steve Gallardo Democratic Phoenix District 29

Current composition

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
End of previous legislature 21 9 30 1
Begin 17 13 30 0
July 12, 2013[2] 12 29 1
July 31, 2013[3] 13 30 0
August 20, 2013[4] 16 29 1
September 11, 2013[5] 17 30 0
January 13, 2014[6] 12 29 1
January 21, 2014[7] 13 30 0
End of previous legislature 30
Begin 17 13 30 0
Latest voting share 56.7% 43.3%

Current members, 2015–2017

District Senator Party Residence Assumed office on
1 Steve Pierce Rep Prescott 2009
2 Andrea Dalessandro Dem Green Valley 2014†
3 Olivia Cajero Bedford Dem Tucson 2011
4 Lynne Pancrazi Dem Yuma 2012
5 Kelli Ward Rep Lake Havasu City 2013
6 Sylvia Allen Rep Heber 2015†
7 Carlyle Begay Dem Ganado 2013†
8 Barbara McGuire Dem Kearny 2013
9 Steve Farley Dem Tucson 2013
10 David Bradley Dem Tucson 2013
11 Steve Smith Rep Maricopa 2011
12 Andy Biggs Rep Gilbert 2011
13 Don Shooter Rep Yuma 2011
14 Gail Griffin Rep Hereford 2011
15 Nancy Barto Rep Phoenix 2011
16 Dave Farnsworth Rep Mesa 2013†
17 Steve Yarbrough Rep Chandler 2011
18 Jeff Dial Rep Chander 2011
19 Lupe Contreras Dem Cashion 2015
20 Kimberly Yee Rep Phoenix 2013
21 Debbie Lesko Rep Peoria 2009
22 Judy Burges Rep Sun City West 2012
23 John Kavanagh Rep Fountain Hills 2007
24 Katie Hobbs Dem Phoenix 2013
25 Bob Worsley Rep Mesa 2013
26 Ed Ableser Dem Tempe 2013
27 Catherine Miranda Dem Phoenix 2006
28 Adam Driggs Rep Phoenix 2011
29 Martin Quezada Dem Phoenix 2012
30 Robert Meza Dem Phoenix 2011

† Member was originally appointed.

Committees

Current committees include:[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Senate Rule 2: The President
  2. ^ Democrat Jack Jackson, Jr. (District 7) resigned to take a job in the Obama administration. [5]
  3. ^ Democrat Carlyle Begay appointed to succeed Jackson
  4. ^ Republican Rich Crandall resigned to become Director of Education in Wyoming. [6]
  5. ^ Republican Dave Farnsworth appointed to succeed Crandall
  6. ^ Democrat Linda J. Lopez (District 2) resigned to focus on running a private foundation. [7]
  7. ^ Democrat Andrea Dalessandro appointed to succeed Lopez. [8]
  8. ^ "Arizona Senate Committees". Open States.  

External links

  • Arizona State Senate official government website
  • Billhop – Arizona legislative wiki
  • Project Vote Smart – State Senate of Arizona
Legislatures of the United States
United States Congress
State legislatures
Other legislatures
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