- Delaware Senate
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Delaware State Senate Delaware General Assembly Type Type Upper house Term limits None New session started January 11, 2011 Leadership President of the Senate Matthew P. Denn, (D)
since January 20, 2009President pro Tempore Anthony J. DeLuca, (D)
since July 4, 2010Majority Leader Patricia Blevins, (D)
since July 4, 2010Minority Leader F. Gary Simpson, (R)
since January 8, 2008Structure Members 21 Political groups Democratic Party (14)
Republican Party (7)Length of term 4 years Authority Article III, Section 1, Delaware Constitution Salary $41,680/year + per diem Elections Last election November 2, 2010
(11 seats)Next election November 6, 2012
(10 seats)Redistricting Legislative Control Meeting place State Senate Chamber
Delaware Legislative Hall
Dover, DelawareWebsite Delaware State Senate The Delaware Senate is the upper house of the Delaware General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Delaware. It is composed of 21 Senators, each of whom is elected to a four-year term, except when reapportionment occurs, at which time Senators may be elected to a two-year term. There is no limit to the number of terms that a Senator may serve. The Delaware Senate meets at the Legislative Hall in Dover.
In order to accommodate the ten-year cycle of reapportionment, the terms of office of the several Senators are staggered so that ten Senators are elected to terms of two years at the first biennial general election following reapportionment, followed by two four-year terms, and eleven Senators are elected at the said election for two four-year terms, followed by a two-year term.
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, boards, or justices to the Delaware Supreme Court.
Contents
Qualifications
Senators must be citizens of the United States, have lived in Delaware for three years, and have been a resident of their respective district for at least one year preceding their election. They must also be at least 27 years old at the time of their election.
Senate Leadership
The Lieutenant Governor of Delaware serves as the President of the Senate, but only casts a vote if required to break a tie. In his or her absence, the President Pro Tempore presides over the Senate. The President Pro Tempore is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the entire Senate through a Senate Resolution. The President Pro Tempore is the chief leadership position in the Senate. The other Senate leaders are elected by their respective party caucuses.
The President of the Senate is Delaware Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn. The President Pro Tempore is Anthony J. DeLuca.[1]
The current leadership for the 146th senate is as follows:
- Sen. Patricia Blevins, Majority Leader
- Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, Majority Whip
- Sen. F. Gary Simpson, Minority Leader
- Sen. Liane Sorenson, Minority Whip
Make-up of the Senate
Affiliation Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)Total Democratic Republican Vacant End of previous legislature 15 6 21 0 Begin 14 7 21 0 Latest voting share 66.7% 33.3% Members
District Name Party First Elected Residence Seat up 1 Harris McDowell III Dem 1976 North Wilmington 2014 2 Margaret Henry Dem 1994 East Wilmington 2012 3 Robert Marshall Dem 1978 West Wilmington 2012 4 Michael Katz Dem 2008 Centerville 2012 5 Catherine Cloutier Rep 2000 Heatherbrooke 2014 6 Liane Sorenson Rep 1995 Hockessin 2012 7 Patricia Blevins Dem 1990 Elsmere 2014 8 David Sokola Dem 1990 Newark 2014 9 Karen Peterson Dem 2002 Stanton 2014 10 Bethany Hall-Long Dem 2008 Glasgow 2012 11 Anthony J. DeLuca Dem 1998 Varlano 2012 12 Dorinda Connor Rep 1997 Penn Acres 2014 13 David McBride Dem 1980 Hawk's Nest 2014 14 Bruce Ennis Dem 2007 Clayton 2014 15 David Lawson Rep 2010 2014 16 Colin R. J. Bonini Rep 1994 South Dover 2012 17 Brian Bushweller Dem 2008 North Dover 2012 18 F. Gary Simpson Rep 1999 Milford 2012 19 Joseph W. Booth Rep 2009 Georgetown 2014 20 George Bunting, Jr. Dem 1996 Bethany Beach 2014 21 Robert Venables, Sr. Dem 1988 Laurel 2012 See also
- List of Delaware State Senators
- Delaware State Capitol
- Delaware General Assembly
- Delaware House of Representatives
References
- "Delaware State Senate (lead page of sub-site)". Delaware General Assembly. State of Delaware. http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/Lookup/SenateHome?open&nav=senate. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
- ^ "143rd General Assembly - Senators". Delaware General Assembly. State of Delaware. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LEGISLATURE.NSF/sen?openview&nav=senate. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
External links
- Delaware State Senate official government website
- State Senate of Delaware at Project Vote Smart
- Delaware Senate at Ballotpedia
References
- Harris McDowell III (D)
- Margaret Henry (D)
- Robert I. Marshall (D)
- Michael Katz (D)
- Catherine Cloutier (R)
- Liane Sorenson (R)
- Patricia Blevins (D)
- David Sokola (D)
- Karen Peterson (D)
- Bethany Hall-Long (D)
- Anthony J. DeLuca (D)
- Dorinda Connor (R)
- David McBride (D)
- Bruce Ennis (D)
- David Lawson (R)
- Colin R. J. Bonini (R)
- Brian Bushweller (D)
- F. Gary Simpson (R)
- Joseph W. Booth (R)
- George Bunting, Jr. (D)
- Robert Venables, Sr. (D)
Democratic (14) • Republican (7) • Delaware General Assembly • Delaware House of Representatives • Delaware Senate Government of Delaware U.S. Senators • U.S. Representatives (Delegations) • Governors • Lt. Governors • Attorneys General • State Senators • State Representatives • Judges • MayorsCategories:- Delaware General Assembly
- State upper houses in the United States
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