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Missouri State Senate

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Missouri State Senate

Seal of Missouri.svg.png
General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   2 terms (8 years)
2012 session start:   January 5, 2011
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Robert Mayer, (R)
Majority Leader:   Tom Dempsey, (R)
Minority leader:   Victor Callahan, (D)
Structure
Members:  34
   Democratic Party (8)
Republican Party (26)
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:   Art IV, Missouri Constitution
Salary:   $35,915/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010 (17 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2012 (17 seats)
Redistricting:  Missouri Legislature Commissions have control
Meeting place:
Missouristatecapitol.jpg

Contents

The Missouri State Senate is the upper house of the Missouri General Assembly. It consists of 34 members. Each member represents an average of 176,145 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 164,565 residents.[2]

The senators serve four-year terms, with a limit of two terms.

Half of the senate is up for re-election every two years.

Sessions

Article III of the Missouri Constitution establishes when the Missouri General Assembly, of which the Senate is a part is to meet. Section 20 of Article III states that the General Assembly shall convene its regular session on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January of each year. Section 20 requires the General Assembly to adjourn its regular session by May 30th.

Section 20 of Article III also allows for a special session of the General Assembly to be convened by a joint proclamation of three-fourths of the members of both houses.

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate will be in session from January 4 through May 30.

Major issues

The budget is expected to be the main focus of the session as the state faces a $500 million spending gap. The agenda also includes economic development, Workers Compensation reforms, and overhauling public school funding.[3]

2011

In 2011, the Senate was in regular session from January 5 through May 30. [4] Governor Jay Nixon called for a special legislative session for September 6, however, the session was called off when Republicans hesitated on a push to overhaul state tax credits and authorize several new incentive programs, including one for a China freight hub in St. Louis. Assembly members were sent home so that they might read the revised 219-page measure over the weekend. According to Senate President Pro Tem Robert Mayer, the "important" bill "needs the attention of every member of this body."[5]

2010

In 2010, the Senate was in session from January 6th to May 14th. [6][7]

Elections

2012

See also: Missouri State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Missouri State Senate will be held in Missouri on November 6, 2012. A total of 17 seats will be up for election.

The signature filing deadline was March 27, 2012 and the primary date is August 14, 2012.

Missouri state senators are subject to term limits and may not serve more than two four-year terms. In 2012, 9 state senators will be termed-out.

2010

See also: Missouri State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Missouri State Senate were held in Missouri on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 30, 2010 and the primary election day was on August 3, 2010.

In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $12,861,549 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [8]

Donor Amount
Majority Fund Inc $707,500
Missouri Democratic Party $581,925
Missouri Republican Party $385,311
Citizens for Brad Lager $347,000
Humphreys, David Craig $277,500
Lamping, John T $180,003
Engler for Missouri $171,383
Herzog, Stanley M $160,500
Missouri Health & Hospital Association $153,650
Missouri Club for Growth $144,000

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Missouri State Senate, a candidate must be:[9]

  • At least 30 years of age
  • Qualified Missouri voter for three years before election
  • Resident of the district which he is chosen to represent for 1 year before election
  • Is not delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence as stated in the declaration of candidacy
  • is not a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state.
  • Has not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor under the federal laws of the United States of America.
  • Has not been convicted of or found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under the laws of Missouri.
  • In addition to any other penalties provided by law, no person may file for any office in a subsequent election until he or the treasurer of his existing candidate committee has filed all required campaign disclosure reports for all prior elections.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
NevadaMassachusettsColoradoNew MexicoWyomingArizonaMontanaCaliforniaOregonWashingtonIdahoTexasOklahomaKansasNebraskaSouth DakotaNorth DakotaMinnesotaIowaMissouriArkansasLouisianaMississippiAlabamaGeorgiaFloridaSouth CarolinaIllinoisWisconsinTennesseeNorth CarolinaIndianaOhioKentuckyPennsylvaniaNew JerseyNew YorkVermontVermontNew HampshireMaineWest VirginiaVirginiaMarylandMarylandConnecticutConnecticutDelawareDelawareRhode IslandRhode IslandMassachusettsNew HampshireMichiganMichiganAlaskaVacancy fulfillment map.png

If a vacancy occurs in the Senate, the Governor must call for a special election without delay. There is no time limit specified under law[10]. The mandate for a special election is sent to the election authority in the county that first established the legislative district[11].

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Missouri legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Missouri Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Missouri senators are subject to term limits of no more than two four-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2002.[12]

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2011, members of the Missouri House of Representatives are paid $35,915/year. Per diem is $98.40/day tied to the federal rate. Roll call is used to verify per diem.[13]

The $35,915/year that Missouri representatives are paid as of 2011 is an increase over the $31,351 they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $79.20/day in 2007 to $103.20/day in 2010 and decreased to $98.40/day in 2011.[14][15]

When sworn in

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

Missouri legislators assume office the first day of the legislative session.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of May 2012
     Democratic Party 8
     Republican Party 26
Total 34


Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the Senate.[16]

Current leadership

Position Representative Party
State Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Mayer Ends.png Republican
State Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey Ends.png Republican
State Senate Assistant Majority Floor Leader Jack Goodman Ends.png Republican
State Senate Majority Caucus Leader Bill Stouffer Ends.png Republican
State Senate Majority Whip Mike Parson Ends.png Republican
State Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Minority Floor Leader Jolie Justus Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Minority Caucus Leader Timothy Green Electiondot.png Democratic

2010 Leadership

Position Representative Party
President of the Senate Peter Kinder Ends.png Republican
State Senate President Pro Tempore Charlie Shields Ends.png Republican
State Senate Majority Floor Leader Kevin Engler Ends.png Republican
State Senate Assistant Majority Floor Leader Jack Goodman Ends.png Republican
State Senate Majority Caucus Leader Bill Stouffer Ends.png Republican
State Senate Majority Whip Tom Dempsey Ends.png Republican
State Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Minority Floor Leader Rita Heard Days Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Minority Caucus Leader Frank Barnitz Electiondot.png Democratic

List of current members

District Representative Party Residence
1 Jim Lembke Ends.png Republican St. Louis
2 Scott Rupp Ends.png Republican Wentzville
3 Kevin Engler Ends.png Republican Farmington
4 Joseph Keaveny Electiondot.png Democratic St. Louis
5 Robin Wright-Jones Electiondot.png Democratic St. Louis
6 Mike Kehoe Ends.png Republican
7 Jane Cunningham Ends.png Republican Chesterfield
8 Will Kraus Ends.png Republican
9 Shalonn Curls Electiondot.png Democratic
10 Jolie Justus Electiondot.png Democratic Kansas City
11 Victor Callahan Electiondot.png Democratic Independence
12 Brad Lager Ends.png Republican Maryville
13 Timothy Green Electiondot.png Democratic St. Louis
14 Maria Chappelle-Nadal Electiondot.png Democratic
15 Eric Schmitt Ends.png Republican Glendale
16 Dan Brown Ends.png Republican
17 Luann Ridgeway Ends.png Republican Smithville
18 Brian Munzlinger Ends.png Republican
19 Kurt Schaefer Ends.png Republican
20 Jay Wasson Ends.png Republican
21 Bill Stouffer Ends.png Republican Napton
22 Ryan McKenna Electiondot.png Democratic Crystal City
23 Tom Dempsey Ends.png Republican St. Charles
24 John Lamping Ends.png Republican
25 Robert Mayer Ends.png Republican Dexter
26 Brian Nieves Ends.png Republican
27 Jason Crowell Ends.png Republican Cape Girardeau
28 Mike Parson Ends.png Republican
29 Jack Goodman Ends.png Republican Mt. Vernon
30 Bob Dixon Ends.png Republican
31 David Pearce Ends.png Republican
32 Ronald Richard Ends.png Republican
33 Chuck Purgason Ends.png Republican Caulfield
34 Rob Schaaf Ends.png Republican

Senate Committees

The Missouri Senate has 18 standing committees:

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ St. Louis Beacon, "Missouri legislature opens, with last session's issues at top of agenda," January 4, 2012
  4. ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
  5. ↑ STLtoday.com, Missouri Senate puts hold on economic development bill, Sept. 9, 2011
  6. ↑ 2010 session dates for Missouri House
  7. ↑ 2010 session dates for Missouri Senate
  8. ↑ Follow the Money: "Missouri Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  9. ↑ 2010 Elected Officials Qualifications
  10. ↑ Missouri General Assembly "Missouri Revised Statutes"(Referenced Statute 21.110)
  11. ↑ Missouri General Assembly "Missouri Revised Statutes"(Referenced Statute 21.120)
  12. ↑ State legislative term limits
  13. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
  14. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
  15. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  16. ↑ Missouri State Senate Leadership
v • d • e
Republican majority Current members of the Missouri State Senate
Senate Majority Leader: Tom Dempsey (R) • Senate Minority Leader: Victor Callahan (D)
Democratic (8) • Republican (26) • Missouri State Senate • Missouri House of Representatives
v • d • e
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