Washington State Senate

The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 senators, each representing a district with a population of nearly 120,000. The State Senate meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia.

As with the lower House of Representatives, state senators serve without term limits, though senators serve four-year terms. Senators are elected from the same legislative districts as House members, with each district electing two representatives but only one senator.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the state senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.

Leadership of the Senate

The Lieutenant Governor of Washington 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 Majority and Minority leaders are elected by their respective party caucuses.

The President of the Senate is Washington Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen. The President Pro Tempore is Democrat Rosa Franklin (D–Lakewood). The Majority Leader is Lisa Brown (D–Spokane) and the Minority Leader is Mike Hewitt (R–Walla Walla).

Make-up of the Senate

Members of the Senate (2007-2008, 60th Legislature)

Miscellaneous facts

*Rajan Zed, prominent Hindu chaplain and Indo-American leader, recited the first Hindu opening prayer on February 22, 2008.

ee also

*Washington State Capitol
*Washington State Legislature
*Washington House of Representatives

External links

* [http://www1.leg.wa.gov/Senate Washington State Senate]
* [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/statewide.aspx Map of State Senate Districts]
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/official_state_legislator.php?type=office&state_id=WA&criteria=upper Project Vote Smart - State Senate of Washington]