California State Senate
| California State Senate | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Upper house |
| Term limits: | 2 terms (8 years) |
| 2013 session start: | December 3, 2012 |
| Website: | Official Senate Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Darrell Steinberg, (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Ellen Corbett, (D) |
| Minority leader: | Bob Huff, (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 40 |
| Democratic Party (27) Republican Party (11) Vacant (2) | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Art IV, California Constitution |
| Salary: | $95,291/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 6, 2012 (20 seats) |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 (20 seats) |
| Redistricting: | California Citizens Redistricting Commission |
Meeting place: | |
Contents |
Each California senator represents a district with an average population of 931,349 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 846,791 residents.[2] Members serve four-year terms.[3] The terms of the Senators are staggered so that half the membership is elected every two years. The senators representing odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four. The senators from even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years.
Since the passage of Prop 140 in 1990, California senators have been limited to two terms in office.
The California Senate has a $100 million annual operating budget and 900 staff employees. Most senators are paid an annual salary of $116,208.[4]
As of May 2013, California is one of 12 Democratic state government trifectas.
Sessions
Article IV of the California Constitution establishes when the California State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 3 of Article IV states that the Legislature is to convene in regular session on the first Monday of December in each even-numbered year to organize. The Legislature must adjourn by November 30th of the following even-numbered year.
Section 3 also gives the Governor of California the power to call special sessions of the Legislature.
2013
- See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions
In 2013, the Legislature is in session from December 3, 2012 to November 30, 2013.
Major issues
With a newly-gained super-majority (which might not last long), Democrats have to decide how to use their new powers, among which is the ability to pass tax increases without any Republican support. Major issues for the session include property taxes for education and tax breaks for students.[5]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the Senate was in session from January 4 to August 31.
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the Senate will be in session from January 3- September 9, 2011. The California Legislature was convened in an extraordinary session to act upon legislation that addresses the fiscal emergency proclaimed by Governor Jerry Brown on January 20, 2011. [6]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the Senate began its regular session on January 12th, and this session is scheduled to adjourn on August 31st. Additionally, the Senate adjourned one special session on January 11th of this year, has one ongoing special session that convened in October of 2009, and has another ongoing special session that convened on January 8th, 2010.
Elections
2012
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the office of California State Senate were held in California on November 6, 2012. State senate seats in the odd-numbered districts were on the ballot in 2012. A total of 20 seats were up for election. In 2010, senators from even-numbered districts were up for election. In 2012, voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts went to the polls to elect senators. The signature filing deadline was March 9th.
Redistricting in California in 2011 was undertaken by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission for the first time. There was the possibility that some voters would be re-located either from an odd district to an even district, or vice versa. But even more specifically, there was the possibility that a senator elected in 2010 could have run in 2012 in an even-numbered district. If that were to happen, then the odd-district would have been represented by a "custodian" -- selected by the Rules Committee.
Additionally, if a senator in an odd-district (elected in 2008) were to be moved into an even-district, then the voters of that district would have two senators -- the new senator, and the old one elected in 2010.
California state senators are subject to term limits and may serve no more than two four-year terms. In 2012, 9 state senators were termed-out.
This chamber was mentioned in a November 2012 Pew Center on the States article that addressed supermajorities at stake in the 2012 election. Supermajority generally means a party controls two-thirds of all seats. While it varies from state to state, being in this position gives a party much greater power. Democrats had been the majority party in California for over 40 years. Going into the election, they were two seats shy of a supermajority. Expanded powers of a supermajority in California include the ability to control appointments and raise taxes.[7]
The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.
| 2012 Margin of Victory, California State Senate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Winner | Margin of Victory | Total Votes | Top Opponent |
| District 5 |  Cathleen Galgiani |
1% | 281,927 | Bill Berryhill |
| District 27 | Fran Pavley |
7.1% | 369,195 | Todd Zink |
| District 29 |  Robert "Bob" Huff |
10.2% | 292,140 | Greg Diamond |
| District 31 | Richard Roth |
10.6% | 242,202 | Jeff Miller |
| District 19 | Hannah-Beth Jackson |
11.4% | 324,599 | Mike Stoker |
| District 23 | Bill Emmerson |
12.6% | 282,563 | Melissa Ruth O'Donnell |
| District | James Beall Jr. |
13.5% | 282,796 | Joe Coto |
| District 37 | Mimi Walters |
14% | 373,681 | Steve Young |
| District 21 | Stephen Knight |
15.3% | 266,192 | Star Moffatt |
| District 39 | Marty Block |
16.8% | 378,317 | George Plescia |
2010
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2010
Elections for the office of California State Senator were held in California on November 2, 2010. State senate seats in the even numbered districts were on the ballot in 2010. There was also a special election for district 37 on June 8, 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was February 25, 2010, and the primary election day was June 8, 2010.
In California, senators serve four-year terms with a two term limit. The Senators representing the odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four. The senators from the even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years.
In 2010, the candidates running for senate raised a total of $23,000,670 in campaign funds. Their top 10 contributors were: [8]
| 2010 Donors, California State Senate | |
|---|---|
| Donor | Amount |
| California Democratic Party | $2,591,242 |
| California Republican Party | $1,249,852 |
| AT$T | $240,088 |
| Carol Liu for Senate | $227,997 |
| California Association of Realtors | $195,600 |
| Merced County Democratic Central Cmte | $190,000 |
| Republican Party of Stanislaus County | $174,000 |
| California Dental Association | $171,200 |
| California State Council of Laborers | $166,835 |
| California Professional Fire Fighters | $158,898 |
Qualifications
A candidate shall:
- A. Be at least 30 years of age, a U.S. citizen for nine years, and a resident of California when elected. U.S. Const. Art. I, §3
- B. Have a valid voter registration affidavit on file in the county of residence at the time nomination papers are obtained. §201
- C. Satisfy the following registration requirements:
- 1. Be registered with the political party whose nomination he or she is seeking for not less than three months immediately prior to the time the declaration of candidacy is presented to the county elections official or, if eligible to register for less than three months, for as long as he or she has been eligible to register to vote in California. §8001(a)(1)
- 2. Not have been registered as affiliated with any other qualified political party within twelve months immediately prior to the filing of the declaration of candidacy. §8001(a)(2)
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the Senate, the Governor must call for a special election. The election must be called by the Governor within fourteen days of the vacancy being created. No special election can be held if the vacancy happened in an election year and the nominating deadline passed[10].
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in California
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission -- made up of five Democrats, five Republicans, and four independents -- is responsible for redistricting.
2010 census
California received its local census data on March 7, 2011.[11] The fastest growing counties were Riverside (41.7 percent), Placer (40.3 percent) and Kern (26.9 percent) -- all inland locations.[12]
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission approved maps on August 15, 2011. The final votes were 13-1 on the Senate and Assembly maps and 12-2 on the Congressional map. Republican Michael Ward voted no to both maps while Jodie Filkins Webber joined Ward in dissenting on the Congressional map. A referendum to overturn the Senate map was initiated in August 2011.[13][14]
Senators
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 27 | |
| Republican Party | 11 | |
| Vacancy | 2 | |
| Total | 40 | |
Leadership
The Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the Senate but only casts a vote in the case of a tie. The President Pro Tempore, who is elected by full senate caucus, more often than not presides over the daily senate session and serves as leader of the majority party.
Current leadership
| Current Leadership, California State Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Representative | Party |
| President Pro Tem of the Senate | Darrell Steinberg |  Democratic
|
| State Senate Assistant President Pro Tempore | Vacant | Democratic
|
| State Senate Majority Leader | Ellen Corbett | Democratic
|
| State Senate Majority Caucus Leader | Kevin de León | Democratic
|
| State Senate Minority Whip | Vacant | Democratic
|
| State Senate Minority Leader | Bob Huff |  Republican
|
| State Senate Minority Caucus Leader | Vacant | Republican
|
| State Senate Minority Whip | Vacant | Republican
|
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2013, members of the California legislature are paid $95,291 per year. They are also given per diem of $141.86 per day in session.[15]
The $95,291 that California legislators are paid is a decrease from the $113,098/year that they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. The per diem however has increased from 2007 levels of $162 per day.[16]
Pension
California does not provide pensions for legislators who took office after 1990.[17]
When sworn in
California legislators assume office one month after election (December).
Current members
Senators
Salaries
California's state senators earn $95,291 per year. Senatorial pay is set by the California Citizens Compensation Commission. In 2009, it voted to cut legislators' salaries by 18% effective in December 2010.[18]
In June 2009, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg recommended that senators and staffers take a 5% pay cut in the face of the state's budget troubles.[19]
When sworn in
California legislators assume office one month after election (December).
Senate committees
The California Senate has twenty-three (23) standing committees:
- Agriculture
- Appropriations
- Banking and Financial Institutions
- Budget and Fiscal Review
- Business, Professions and Economic Development
- Education
- Elections and Constitutional Amendments
- Energy, Utilities and Communications
- Environmental Quality
- Governance and Finance
- Governmental Organization
- Health
- Human Services
- Insurance
- Judiciary
- Labor and Industrial Relations
- Legislative Ethics
- Natural Resources and Water
- Public Employment and Retirement
- Public Safety
- Rules
- Transportation and Housing
- Veterans Affairs
External links
- California State Senate
- California Senate Democratic Caucus, official website.
- California State Senate Republican Caucus, official website.
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Term limits
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Senate aims to cut senator and staff pay by 5 percent", June 17, 2009
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, "Calif. Democrats ponder their new power," December 2, 2012
- ↑ California Legislature, accessed June 16, 2011
- ↑ Stateline, "In Legislative Elections, Majorities and Supermajorities at Stake," November 2, 2012
- ↑ Follow the Money: "California Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Qualifications for Senator
- ↑ Justia "California Code"(Referenced Statute, 1773-California Government Code)
- ↑ 'San Francisco Chronicle "California census data to be released Tuesday," March 7, 2011
- ↑ Ventura County Star "With numbers now established, redistricting debate begins," March 9, 2011
- ↑ Los Angeles Times "Redistricting-plan opponents given OK to begin referendum drive," August 26, 2011
- ↑ Ventura County Star "Redistricting Commission gives final approval to new political maps," August 15, 2011
- ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
- ↑ USA Today, "State-by-state: Benefits available to state legislators," September 23, 2011
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Senate aims to cut senator and staff pay by 5 percent", June 17, 2009
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Senate aims to cut senator and staff pay by 5 percent", June 17, 2009
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