Alabama Senate

The Alabama Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens. Similar to the lower House, the Senate serves both without term limits and with a four-year term.

The Alabama Senate meet at the State House in Montgomery.

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.

Leadership of the Senate

The Lieutenant Governor of Alabama 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 full Senate by nominations taken from the floor, followed by a recorded vote. The President Pro Tempore is the chief leadership position in the Senate. The other Senate Majority and Minority leaders are elected by their respective party caucuses.

The President of the Senate is Alabama Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom, Jr.. The President Pro Tempore is Democrat Hinton Mitchem of the 9th District (Blount, Madison, Marshall). The Majority Leader is Democrat Zeb Little of the 4th District (Cullman, Lawrence, Winston). The Minority Leader is Republican J. T. Waggoner of the 16th District (Jefferson, Shelby).

Makeup of the Senate

For all practical purposes, the Democrats only hold a 19 to 16 majority, as 3 Democrats currently caucus with the Republicans.

enate roster

External links

* [http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senate.html Alabama State Senate] official government website
** [http://www.legislature.state.al.us./senate/senatemaps2001/senate_districts_2001.pdf Senate District Map]
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/official_state_legislator.php?type=office&state_id=AL&criteria=upper Project Vote Smart - State Senate of Alabama]

ee also

*Government of Alabama
*Alabama State Capitol