Rhode Island Senate

Infobox Legislature
name = Rhode Island Senate
coa_pic =
coa-pic =
session_room = Senate Chmbr.jpg
house_type = Upper House
houses =
leader1_type = President of the Senate
leader1 = Joseph A. Montalbano
party1 = Democratic
election1 = 2004
leader2_type = Minority Leader
leader2 = Dennis L. Algiere
party2 = Republican
election2 =
members = 38
p_groups = 33 Democratic Party
5 Republican Party
election3 =
meeting_place = Rhode Island State Capitol, Providence, Rhode Island
website = [http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/senate.html Rhode Island Senate]

The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 38 Senators, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Rhode Island is one of the 14 states where its upper house serves at a two-year cycle, rather than the normal four-year term as in the majority of states. There is no limit to the number of terms that a Senator may serve. The Rhode Island Senate meet at the Rhode Island State Capitol in Providence.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to executive departments, commissions, boards, or justices to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

enate leadership

The President of the Senate presides over the body, appointing members to all of the Senate's committees and joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. Unlike other states, the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island does not preside over the Senate, and is instead active in other areas such as state commissions on health and businesses. In the Senate President's absence, the President Pro Tempore presides.

The current President of the Senate is Democrat Joseph A. Montalbano of District 17 (Pawtucket, North Providence, Lincoln). The Senate Majority Leader is M. Teresa Paiva-Weed of District 13 (Newport, Jamestown). The Senate Minority Leader is Dennis L. Algiere of District 38 (Westerly, Charlestown).

Leadership positions

* Joseph A. Montalbano (D)- President of the Senate
* John C. Revens, Jr. (D) - President Pro Tempore
* M. Teresa Paiva-Weed (D) - Senate Majority Leader
* Dennis L. Algiere (R) - Senate Minority Leader
* Dominick J. Ruggerio (D) - Majority Whip
* Kevin A. Breene (R) - Minority Whip
* John F. McBurney III (D) - Senate Dean

Committee leadership

* Stephen D. Alves (D) - Committee on Finance
* "vacant" - Committee on Labor
* Daniel P. Connors (D) - Committee on Rules
* Maryellen Goodwin (D) - Committee on Constitutional & Regulatory Issues
* Daniel J. Issa (D) - Committee on Education
* J. Michael Lenihan (D) - Committee on Government Oversight
* Michael J. McCaffrey (D) - Committee on the Judiciary
* Rhoda E. Perry (D) - Committee on Health & Human Services
* V. Susan Sosnowski (D) - Committee on the Environment & Agriculture
* John J. Tassoni, Jr. (D) - Committee on Housing & Municipal Government
* William A. Walaska (D) - Committee on Corporations

Make-up of the Senate

Other senators

* David E. Bates (R)
* Leo R. Blais (R)
* Frank A. Ciccone III (D)
* Marc A. Cote (D)
* Daniel DaPonte (D)
* James E. Doyle II (D)
* Walter S. Felag, Jr. (D)
* Paul W. Fogarty (D)
* Hanna M. Gallo (D)
* June N. Gibbs (R)
* Paul V. Jabour (D)
* Beatrice A. Lanzi (D)
* Charles J. Levesque (D)
* Christopher B. Maselli (D)
* John F. McBurney III (D)
* Harold M. Metts (D)
* Joshua Miller (D)
* Paul E. Moura (D)
* Roger Picard (D)
* Juan M. Pichardo (D)
* Leonidas P. Raptakis (D)
* James C. Sheehan (D)

See also

*Rhode Island State Capitol
*Rhode Island General Assembly
*Rhode Island House of Representatives

External links

* [http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Senate/ Rhode Island Senate] official government website
* [http://www.vcsnet.com/State.php?RI+Senate Map of Rhode Island Senate Districts]
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/official_state_legislator.php?type=office&state_id=RI&criteria=upper State Senate of Rhode Island] at Project Vote Smart