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New Jersey State Senate

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New Jersey State Senate

Seal of New Jersey.png
General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   None
2012 session start:   January 10, 2012
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Stephen Sweeney, (D)
Majority Leader:   Loretta Weinberg (D)
Minority leader:   Thomas Kean, (R)
Structure
Members:  40
   Democratic Party (24)
Republican Party (16)
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:   Art Article IV, New Jersey Constitution
Salary:   $49,000/year
Elections
Last Election:  November 3, 2009 (40 seats)
Next election:  November 8, 2011 (40 seats)
Redistricting:  New Jersey Redistricting Commission

Contents

The New Jersey State Senate is the upper house in the New Jersey Legislature, consisting of 40 members. Known as the "2-4-4" cycle, Senators serve four-year terms, except in the first term of a new decade, which only lasts for two years. They are not subject to term limits.

Each senator represents an average of 219,797 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 210,359 residents.[2]

Sessions

Article IV of the New Jersey Constitution establishes when the New Jersey State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 1 of Article IV states that each annual session is to begin on the second Tuesday of January. The session does not end until the beginning of the next annual session or until the Legislature chooses to adjourn.

Section 1 also allows for special sessions of the Legislature to be called by the Governor of New Jersey or by a majority of the members of each legislative house.

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate will be in session from January 10 through a date to be determined by the Legislature.

Major issues

Democratic legislative leaders are expected to put legalization of same-sex marriage and an increase in the minimum wage at the top of their agenda, both of which are opposed by Republican Governor Chris Christie.[3]

The legislature passed a gay marriage bill in February, only to see it vetoed the next day by Gov. Christie.[4]

2011

In 2011, the Senate will be in session from January 12 through a date to be determined by the Legislature. [5]

2010

In 2010, the Senate convened on January 12, and remained in session throughout the year.[6]

Elections

Four states, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia hold their state legislative elections in odd-numbered years. New Jersey began holding elections in odd numbered years when the state adopted a new constitution in 1947. Prior to the new constitution, members of the Assembly were elected to one-year terms, members of the Senate to three-year terms and governors to three-year terms. The new constitution changed the term structure to include two years for representatives and four year terms for senators and governors. Because the constitution was adopted in an odd-numbered year, elections were also held in odd-numbered years and have continued in such a manner to this day.[7]

The notion also exists that the reason for odd year elections exists to insulate New Jersey politics from national politics. Former New Jersey Governor Alfred E. Driscoll made the following statement before the constitutional convention in 1947:[7]

...the election for a Governor and for Assemblymen should not coincide with a Presidential election. The importance of a gubernatorial election merits an election that will not be overshadowed by a national contest for the Presidency. The problems confronting the State are frequently distinct from those confronting the nation...

2011

See also: New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011

Elections for the office of New Jersey's state senators will be held in New Jersey on November 8, 2011.

2007

As of the 2000 Census, New Jersey's 40 state senators each represent an average population of 210,359 people. In 2007, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $30,156,484 in campaign contributions.

Year Number of candidates Total contributions
2007 98 $30,156,484
2003 123 $19,785,597

The top 10 donors were:[8]

Donor Amount
Senate Democratic Majority of New Jersey $2,274,904
Public Fund $1,285,395
Union City First $870,637
Choice for Change $461,800
Hudson County Democratic Organization $409,971
New Jersey Republican Party $291,187
New Jersey Democratic Party $275,591
Genovese, Gina $235,000
Manzo, Louis M $224,293
Steven Oroho $213,500

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
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There are two ways to fill an vacancy in the Senate. If the vacancy happens in legislative session, a special election must be called within 51 days of the vacancy. All other vacancies must be filled by the county leadership of the political party that holds the seat[9].

Senators

Qualifications

Senators must be 30 years of age or older, have lived in the state for a minimum of four years, and have lived in the district they represent.

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2010, members of the New Jersey Senate are paid $49,000/year. There is no per diem.[10]

The $49,000/year that New Jersey senators are paid as of 2010 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem is also the same.[11]

When sworn in

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

New Jersey legislators assume office at noon of the second Tuesday in January following the election.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of May 2012
     Democratic Party 24
     Republican Party 16
Total 40

Leadership

At the organizational meeting, the Senate elects a President, President pro tempore, and Secretary, with each requiring 21 or more votes for approval. The Senate then appoints by resolution the other officers.[12][13]

Current leadership

Position Representative Party
President of the Senate Stephen Sweeney Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate President Pro Tempore Nia Gill Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Paul Sarlo Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Majority Caucus Leader Robert Gordon Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Linda Greenstein Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Donald Norcross Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Majority Whip Sandra Cunningham Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean Ends.png Republican
State Senate Deputy Minority Leader Diane Allen Ends.png Republican
State Senate Minority Caucus Leader Robert Singer Ends.png Republican
State Senate Deputy Minority Caucus Leader Christopher Bateman Ends.png Republican
State Senate Minority Whip Kevin O'Toole Ends.png Republican

List of current members

District Representative Party
1 Jeff Van Drew Electiondot.png Democratic
2 Jim Whelan Electiondot.png Democratic
3 Stephen Sweeney Electiondot.png Democratic
4 Fred Madden Electiondot.png Democratic
5 Donald Norcross Electiondot.png Democratic
6 James Beach Electiondot.png Democratic
7 Diane Allen Ends.png Republican
8 Dawn Addiego Ends.png Republican
9 Christopher Connors Ends.png Republican
10 James Holzapfel Ends.png Republican
11 Jennifer Beck Ends.png Republican
12 Samuel Thompson Ends.png Republican
13 Joseph Kyrillos Ends.png Republican
14 Linda Greenstein Electiondot.png Democratic
15 Shirley Turner Electiondot.png Democratic
16 Christopher Bateman Ends.png Republican
17 Bob Smith Electiondot.png Democratic
18 Barbara Buono Electiondot.png Democratic
19 Joseph Vitale Electiondot.png Democratic
20 Raymond Lesniak Electiondot.png Democratic
21 Thomas Kean Ends.png Republican
22 Nicholas Scutari Electiondot.png Democratic
23 Michael Doherty Ends.png Republican
24 Steven Oroho Ends.png Republican
25 Anthony Bucco Ends.png Republican
26 Joseph Pennacchio Ends.png Republican
27 Richard Codey Electiondot.png Democratic
28 Ronald Rice Electiondot.png Democratic
29 Teresa Ruiz Electiondot.png Democratic
30 Robert Singer Ends.png Republican
31 Sandra Cunningham Electiondot.png Democratic
32 Nicholas Sacco Electiondot.png Democratic
33 Brian Stack Electiondot.png Democratic
34 Nia Gill Electiondot.png Democratic
35 Nellie Pou Electiondot.png Democratic
36 Paul Sarlo Electiondot.png Democratic
37 Loretta Weinberg Electiondot.png Democratic
38 Robert Gordon Electiondot.png Democratic
39 Gerald Cardinale Ends.png Republican
40 Kevin O'Toole Ends.png Republican

Standing senate committees

The New Jersey Senate has 16 standing committees:

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ NJ.com, "Democratic legislators to put Christie in tight spot with gay marriage, minimum wage," January 15, 2012
  4. ↑ FOX News, "Christie follows through on promise to veto gay marriage bill," February 18, 2012
  5. ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
  6. ↑ 2010 session dates for New Jersey Legislature
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Thicket of State Legislatures, Why do Four States Have Odd-Year Elections?, Aug. 25, 2011
  8. ↑ Follow the Money: "New Jersey Senate 2007 Campaign Contributions"
  9. ↑ New Jersey Legislature "New Jersey Constitution"(Referenced Section: Article IV, Section 4, (1))
  10. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
  11. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  12. ↑ New Jersey Senate 2010 Rules
  13. ↑ New Jersey Senate leadership
v • d • e
Democrat majority Current members of the New Jersey Senate
Senate President: Stephen Sweeney (D) • Senate Majority Leader: Loretta Weinberg (D) • Senate Minority Leader: Thomas Kean (R)
Democratic (24) • Republican (16) • New Jersey Senate • New Jersey General Assembly
v • d • e
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