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Idaho State Senate

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Idaho State Senate

Seal of Idaho.svg.png
General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   None
2013 session start:   January 14, 2013
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Brent Hill, (R)
Majority Leader:   Bart Davis, (R)
Minority leader:   Edgar Malepeai, (D)
Structure
Members:  35
   Democratic Party (7)
Republican Party (28)
Length of term:   2 years
Authority:   Art IV, Idaho Constitution
Salary:   $16,116./year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 6, 2012 (35 seats)
Next election:  November 4, 2014 (35 seats)
Redistricting:  Idaho Redistricting Commission

Contents

The Idaho State Senate is the upper house in the Idaho Legislature and it meets at the State Capitol in Boise. It consists of 35 members, each representing a district. The districts are identified by a number. The senators serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Each member represents an average of 44,788 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 36,970 residents.[2]

The Idaho Senate meets in session each year in January, typically running through late March or early April. Most senators have careers outside of their work as state legislators. In 2012, the Senate was in session from January 9 through March 29.

Idaho state senators are paid $16,116 per year, plus expenses for housing and travel during the session. They are also given a constituent service allowance of $2,200. The President Pro Tem and Speaker receive an additional $4,000 per year.

Following elections in November of every even-numbered year, candidates who are elected to the Idaho Senate are sworn in on December 1.

As of May 2013, Idaho is one of 24 Republican state government trifectas.

Sessions

Article III of the Idaho Constitution establishes when the Idaho State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 8 of Article III states that the Legislature will convene its regular session on the second Monday in January of each year. Section 8 also allows that starting date of the legislative session to be changed by law. However, in 2010, the Legislature convened on the second Monday in January as provided by the Constitution. Section 8 also states that the Governor of Idaho can convene special sessions of the Legislature at any time.

The Idaho Legislature normally convenes at the Idaho State Capitol in downtown Boise.

2013

See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions

In 2013, the legislature will be in session from January 7 through late March.

Major issues

While Republicans hold a solid majority in the state, 2013 looks likely to have a number of fights within the GOP, namely the creation of a state-controlled health exchange, something the governor has supported but legislators have not. Other main issues include school reform, business tax breaks, and ethics rules.[3]

2012

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate was in session from January 9 through March 29.

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the Senate was in session from January 10 through April 7. [4]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the Senate was in session from January 11th to March 29th.

Elections

2012

See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Idaho State Senate were held in Idaho on November 6, 2012. A total of 35 seats were up for election.

The signature filing deadline was March 9, 2012 and the primary date was May 15, 2012.

The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.


2010

See also: Idaho State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Idaho State Senator were held in Idaho on November 2, 2010. State senate seats in all of the 35 districts were on the ballot in 2010.

The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 19, 2010, and the primary election day was May 25, 2010.

The partisan breakdown of the Senate before and after the election was as follows:

Idaho State Senate
Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election
     Democratic Party 7 7
     Republican Party 28 28
Total 35 35


In 2010, the total amount of contributions raised in state senate elections was $1,380,073. The top 10 contributors were: [5]


Qualifications

Article III, Section 6 of the Idaho Constitution states: No person shall be a senator or representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, and an elector of this state, nor anyone who has not been for one year next preceding his election an elector of the county or district whence he may be chosen.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
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The Governor is responsible for filling all vacancies in the Senate.

The political party committee that last held the vacant seat has 15 days after the vacancy to submit a list of three recommended candidates to the Governor. The Governor makes the selection based on the recommendations.

If any party committee fails to submit a list of recommended candidates after the 15 day deadline, the Governor has 5 days to appoint a person from the political party that last held the seat. The person appointed to the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term[6].

Redistricting

The Idaho Commission on Reapportionment is responsible for redistricting. The commission has 90 days to finalize a plan; if unable, the Idaho Supreme Court takes over.

2010 census

Idaho received its local census data on March 20, 2011. The five cities with the highest populations were Boise, 205,671; Nampa, 81,557; Meridian, 75,092; Idaho Falls, 56,813; and Pocatello, 54,255. Boise grew by 10.7 percent since the 2000 Census. Nampa grew by 57.2 percent, Meridian grew by 115.0 percent, Idaho Falls grew by 12.0 percent, and Pocatello grew by 5.4 percent.[7]

In the 2011 redistricting process, the commission missed its September 6 deadline to draw new state legislative maps. A new commission was formed, and first met on October 11, 2011; on October 14, they agreed to the final plan, which had 11 county splits and placed many incumbents into the same districts.

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2013, members of the Idaho legislature are paid $16,116/year. Additionally, legislators receive $122/day per diem for members living outside Boise. Members living inside Boise receive $49/day. Additionally, all members are eligible for $25/day for travel (vouchered), which is set by the Compensation Commision.[8]

When sworn in

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

Idaho legislators assume office after the first day of December following the general election.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of May 2013
     Democratic Party 7
     Republican Party 28
Total 35


The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Idaho State Senate from 1992-2013.
Partisan composition of the Idaho State Senate.PNG

Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the Senate. The President Pro Tempore is elected by senate caucus who presides over the daily session when the Lieutenant Governor isn't present and is also the chief leadership position in the majority party.[9][10]

Current leadership

Current Leadership, Idaho State Senate
Office Representative Party
President Pro Tem of the Senate Brent Hill Ends.png Republican
State Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis Ends.png Republican
State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder Ends.png Republican
State Senate Majority Caucus Leader Russell Fulcher Ends.png Republican
State Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Minority Leader Elliot Werk Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Minority Caucus Leader Cherie Buckner-Webb Electiondot.png Democratic

List of current members


Idaho State Capitol under renovation

State senators must be citizens of the United States, electors of Idaho and residents of their legislative district for at least one year prior to election.[11]
District Representative Party
1 Shawn Keough Ends.png Republican
2 Steve Vick Ends.png Republican
3 Bob Nonini Ends.png Republican
4 John Goedde Ends.png Republican
5 Dan J. Schmidt Electiondot.png Democratic
6 Dan Johnson Ends.png Republican
7 Sheryl L. Nuxoll Ends.png Republican
8 Steven Thayn Ends.png Republican
9 Monty J. Pearce Ends.png Republican
10 Jim Rice Ends.png Republican
11 Patti Anne Lodge Ends.png Republican
12 Todd Lakey Ends.png Republican
13 Curt McKenzie Ends.png Republican
14 Marv Hagedorn Ends.png Republican
15 Fred S. Martin Ends.png Republican
16 Les Bock Electiondot.png Democratic
17 Elliot Werk Electiondot.png Democratic
18 Branden J. Durst Electiondot.png Democratic
19 Cherie Buckner-Webb Electiondot.png Democratic
20 Chuck Winder Ends.png Republican
21 Clifford R. "Cliff" Bayer Ends.png Republican
22 Russell M. Fulcher Ends.png Republican
23 Bert Brackett Ends.png Republican
24 Lee Heider Ends.png Republican
25 Jim Patrick Ends.png Republican
26 Michelle Stennett Electiondot.png Democratic
27 Dean Cameron Ends.png Republican
28 Jim Guthrie Ends.png Republican
29 Roy Lacey Electiondot.png Democratic
30 Dean M. Mortimer Ends.png Republican
31 R. Steven Bair Ends.png Republican
32 John H. Tippets Ends.png Republican
33 Bart M. Davis Ends.png Republican
34 Brent Hill Ends.png Republican
35 Jeff C. Siddoway Ends.png Republican

Senate committees

Idaho State Senate
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Senate Committees

Agricultural Affairs
Commerce and Human Resources
Education • Finance
Health and Welfare
Judiciary and Rules
Local Government and Taxation
Resources and Environment
State Affairs • Transportation

Joint Committees
House Committees


The Idaho Senate has 10 standing senate committees: [12]

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Idaho
Partisan breakdown of the Idaho legislature from 1992-2013

Throughout every year from 1992-2013, the Republican Party was the majority in the Idaho State Senate. The Idaho State Senate is one of 13 state senates that was Republican for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. Idaho spent the last 19 years under Republican trifectas.

Across the country, there were 544 Democratic and 517 Republican State Senates from 1992-2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states have divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Idaho, the Idaho State Senate and the Idaho House of Representatives from 1992-2013. Partisan composition of Idaho state government(1992-2013).PNG

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ Idaho Statesman, "Otter facing battles within GOP as Legislature convenes," January 7, 2013
  4. ↑ Idaho Legislature 2011 Session Dates
  5. ↑ Follow the Money: "Idaho Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  6. ↑ Idaho Legislature "Idaho Statutes"(Referenced Statute 59-904A)
  7. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Idaho's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," March 20, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  8. ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
  9. ↑ Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
  10. ↑ Idaho State Senate Leadership
  11. ↑ About the Idaho citizen legislature
  12. ↑ Idaho Senate, Members of Idaho senate standing committees
v • d • e
Republican majority Current members of the Idaho State Senate
Senate President: Brent Hill (R) • Majority Leader: Bart Davis (R) • Minority Leader: Michelle Stennett (D)
Democratic (7) • Republican (28) • Idaho State Senate • Idaho House of Representatives
v • d • e
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