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Massachusetts State Senate

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Massachusetts State Senate

Seal of Massachusetts.png
General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   None
2012 session start:   January 4, 2012
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Therese Murray, (D)
Majority Leader:   Frederick Berry, (D)
Minority leader:   Richard Tisei, (R)
Structure
Members:  40
   Democratic Party (36)
Republican Party (4)
Length of term:   2 years
Authority:   Ch 1, Massachusetts Constitution
Salary:   $58,237/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010 (40 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2012 (40 seats)
Redistricting:  Massachusetts legislature has control

Contents

The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house in the Massachusetts Legislature. On average, each Senatorial district serves 158,727 inhabitants. There are 40 members of the Massachusetts Senate. As of 20010, 35 are Democrats and five are Republicans. Each Senator represents a different district which is identified by number. Senators serve two-year terms, according to Article LXIV of the Massachusetts Constitution, and without term limits. Each member represents an average of 163,691 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 158,727 residents.[2] The most recent election was held on November 4, 2008.

Sessions

The Massachusetts Constitution contains provisions regarding when the Massachusetts General Court, which the Senate is a part of, is to meet. This subject has been the focus of several amendments to the Constitution. Originally, Chapter 1 of the Massachusetts Constitution called for the General Court to convene on the last Wednesday of May. Then, Amending Article X called for legislative sessions to convene yearly on the first Wednesday of January. Later, Amending Article LXXII called for the General Court to meet once every two years, but Amending Article LXXV repealed that amendment. Therefore, the rules that currently govern when the General Court is to meet are in Amending Article X.

Article X calls for the General Court to convene its regular session on the first Wednesday of January. The session does not dissolve until a new regular session convenes in the next year. Article X specifies that it does not prevent the General Court from meeting at any time that it judges necessary.

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate will be in session starting January 4. Formal sessions can occur until July 31, but informal sessions may take place throughout the year.

Major issues

Leading the agenda is a crackdown on abuses at special education collaboratives in the state. Other issues include controlling health costs and a sentencing bill that would bar parole for prisoners convicted of more than two violent crimes.[3]

2011

In 2011, the Senate will be in session from January 5 through a date not yet decided by the Legislature. [4]

2010

In 2010, the Senate convened its session on January 6th, and it remained in session throughout the 2010. [5]

Elections

2012

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate will be held in Massachusetts on November 6, 2012. A total of 40 seats will be up for election. The signature filing deadline is May 29, 2012 and the primary date is set for September 18, 2012.

2010

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate were held in Massachusetts on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was May 4, 2010 for partisans, and August 3 for Independents. The primary election day was on September 14, 2010.

In 2010, the candidates running for state senate raised a total of $8,982,549 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [6]

Donor Amount
Massachusetts Democratic Party $400,290
Wolf, Daniel A $262,839
Rudnick, Charles S $154,577
Spadafora, Craig $80,600
Dahlberg, Eric $42,491
Moore, Richard T $41,433
Wilson Jr., John $36,000
Addivinola Jr., Frank J $32,511
Silberstein, Debra $30,000
Didomenico, Salvador N $27,400

Qualifications

Article LXXI of the Massachusetts Constitution states: Every representative, for one year at least immediately preceding his election, shall have been an inhabitant of the district for which he is chosen and shall cease to represent such district when he shall cease to be an inhabitant of the commonwealth.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Senate, a special election must be conducted to fill the vacant seat. The election must be held on the next regularly scheduled date on the election calendar[7]. Local governments who conduct special elections receive reimbursement from the State Treasurer's office for all costs incurred[8].

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2011, members of the Massachusetts General Court are paid $61,132.99/year. Legislators receive between $10/day to $100/day per diem, depending on distance from the state house. Compensation is vouchered and set by the legislature.[9]

The $61,132.99/year that Massachusetts legislators are paid as of 2011 is an increase from 2010 salary of $58,237.15/year, which was the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem is also the same as it was in 2007.[10][11]

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of May 2012
     Democratic Party 36
     Republican Party 4
Total 40


Leadership

The Senate elects its President, who then appoints majority floor leaders and whips. The minority party elects its leaders in a party caucus.[12][13]

Current leadership

Office Representative Party
President of the Senate Therese Murray Electiondot.png Democratic
President Pro Tempore Stanley Rosenberg Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Majority Leader Frederick Berry Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joan Menard Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Majority Whip Marian Walsh Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Majority Whip Steven Tolman Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei Ends.png Republican
State Senate Assistant Minority Leader Bruce Tarr Ends.png Republican
State Senate Minority Whip Robert Hedlund Ends.png Republican
State Senate Assistant Minority Whip Richard Ross Ends.png Republican

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.

List of current members


Massachusetts Senate takes action on a bill

District Representative Party Residence Counties in district First elected
1 Benjamin Downing Electiondot.png Democratic Pittsfield Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin 2006
2 James Timility Electiondot.png Democratic Walpole Bristol and Norfolk 2004
3 Michael Rodrigues Electiondot.png Democratic 1st Bristol and Plymouth 2010
4 Mark Montigny Electiondot.png Democratic New Bedford 2nd Bristol and Plymouth 1992
5 Daniel Wolf Electiondot.png Democratic Cape and Islands 2010
6 Steven Baddour Electiondot.png Democratic Methuen 1st Essex Jan. 2002
7 Frederick Berry Electiondot.png Democratic Peabody 2nd Essex 1982
8 Bruce Tarr Ends.png Republican Gloucester 1st Essex and Middlesex 1994
9 Barry Finegold Electiondot.png Democratic 2nd Essex and Middlesex 2010
10 Thomas McGee Electiondot.png Democratic Lynn 3rd Essex and Middlesex May 2002
11 James Welch Electiondot.png Democratic Hampden 2010
12 Gale D. Candaras Electiondot.png Democratic Wilbraham 1st Hampden and Hampshire 2006
13 Michael Knapik Ends.png Republican Westfield 2nd Hampden and Hampshire 1994
14 Stanley Rosenberg Electiondot.png Democratic Amherst Hampshire and Franklin Feb. 1991
15 Eileen Donoghue Electiondot.png Democratic 1st Middlesex 2010
16 Patricia D. Jehlen Electiondot.png Democratic Somerville 2nd Middlesex Sep. 2005
17 Susan Fargo Electiondot.png Democratic Lincoln 3rd Middlesex 1996
18 Kenneth Donnelly Electiondot.png Democratic Arlington 4th Middlesex Dec. 2007
19 Katherine Clark Electiondot.png Democratic Middlesex and Essex 2010
20 Cynthia Stone Creem Electiondot.png Democratic Newton 1st Middlesex and Norfolk 1998
21 Karen Spilka Electiondot.png Democratic Ashland 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk 2004
22 James Eldridge Electiondot.png Democratic Ashland Middlesex and Worcester 2008
23 Sal DiDomenico Electiondot.png Democratic Cambridge Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex 2007
24 John Keenan Electiondot.png Democratic Norfolk and Plymouth 2010
25 Richard Ross Ends.png Republican Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex May 2010
26 Brian Joyce Electiondot.png Democratic Milton Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth Jan. 1998
27 Therese Murray Electiondot.png Democratic Plymouth Plymouth and Barnstable 1992
28 Marc Pacheco Electiondot.png Democratic Taunton 1st Plymouth and Bristol 1992
29 Thomas Kennedy Electiondot.png Democratic Brockton 2nd Plymouth and Bristol 2008
30 Robert Hedlund Ends.png Republican Weymouth Plymouth and Norfolk 1994 (1990)
31 John Hart, Jr. Electiondot.png Democratic Boston 1st Suffolk Feb. 2002
32 Sonia Chang-Diaz Electiondot.png Democratic Boston 2nd Suffolk 2008
33 Anthony Petruccelli Electiondot.png Democratic Boston 1st Suffolk and Middlesex 2007
34 William Brownsberger Electiondot.png Democratic Boston 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex 1998
35 Michael Rush Electiondot.png Democratic Boston Suffolk and Norfolk 1992
36 Harriette Chandler Electiondot.png Democratic Worcester 1st Worcester 2000
37 Michael Moore Electiondot.png Democratic Worcester 2nd Worcester 2004
38 Stephen Brewer Electiondot.png Democratic Barre Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin 1996
39 Jennifer Flanagan Electiondot.png Democratic Leominster Worcester and Middlesex 2008
40 Richard T. Moore Electiondot.png Democratic Uxbridge Worcester and Norfolk Apr. 1996

Standing Senate Committees

Massachusetts State Senate
SLP badge.jpg
Senate Committees

Ethics and Rules
Ways and Means
Bills in the Third Reading
Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
Post Audit and Oversight
Global Warming and Climate Change
Steering and Policy

Joint Committees
House Committees


The Massachusetts Senate has seven standing committees:

Decommissioned committees:

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ Washington Examiner, "Mass. lawmakers to weigh bill on special ed groups," January 4, 2012
  4. ↑ General Court Events
  5. ↑ 2010 session dates for the Massachusetts legislature
  6. ↑ Follow the Money: "Massachusetts Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  7. ↑ Massachusetts General Court "Massachusetts Election Law"(Referenced Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
  8. ↑ Massachusetts General Court "Massachusetts Election Law"(Referenced Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
  9. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
  10. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
  11. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  12. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Massachusetts Facts - Part One:Concise Facts, " retrieved July 2, 2010
  13. ↑ Leadership of the 186th General Court
v • d • e
Democrat majority Current members of the Massachusetts State Senate
Senate President: Therese Murray (D) • Majority Leader: Frederick Berry (D) • Minority Leader: Richard Tisei (R)
   
Democratic (36) • Republican (4) • Massachusetts State Senate • Massachusetts House of Representatives
v • d • e
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