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Massachusetts State Senate
| Massachusetts State Senate | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Upper house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2013 session start: | January 2, 2013 |
| Website: | Official Senate Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Therese Murray, (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Frederick Berry, (D) |
| Minority leader: | Bruce Tarr, (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 40 |
| Democratic Party (35) Republican Party (4) Vacant (1) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Ch 1, Massachusetts Constitution |
| Salary: | $61,133/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 6, 2012 (40 seats) |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 (40 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Massachusetts legislature has control |
Contents |
As of May 2013, Massachusetts is one of 12 Democratic state government trifectas.
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 Later, Amending Article LXXII called for the General Court to meet once every two years, but Amending Article LXXV repealed that amendment.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.
2013
- See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions
In 2013, the General Court will be in session from January 2 to a date to be determined.
Major issues
As lawmakers settle in for the legislature's 188th session, they'll address revenue shortfalls, transportation financing, gun control, and health care costs.[3]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the Senate was in session formally from January 4 through July 31.
Major issues
Leading the agenda was a crackdown on abuses at special education collaboratives in the state. Other issues included controlling health costs and a sentencing bill that would bar parole for prisoners convicted of more than two violent crimes.[4]
Attendance
In August 2012, a list was released by the Beacon Hill Roll Call stating that through 179 votes in 2012, a total of 13 members had perfect attendance.
2011
In 2011, the Senate was in session from January 5 through a date not yet decided by the Legislature. [5]
2010
In 2010, the Senate convened its session on January 6th, and it remained in session throughout the 2010. [6]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate were held in Massachusetts on November 6, 2012. A total of 40 seats were up for election. The signature filing deadline was May 29, 2012 and the primary date is set for September 18, 2012.
The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.
| 2012 Margin of Victory, Massachusetts State Senate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Winner | Margin of Victory | Total Votes | Top Opponent |
| First Essex District |  Kathleen A. O'Connor Ives |
12.3% | 79,287 | Shaun Toohey |
| Plymouth and Barnstable District | Therese Murray |
16.3% | 85,499 | Thomas Francis Keyes |
| Third Middlesex District | Mike Barrett |
21.2% | 81,216 | Sandra Martinez |
| Bristol and Norfolk District | James Timilty |
25.1% | 75,687 | Jeffrey Bailey |
| Middlesex and Worcester District | James Eldridge |
29.5% | 81,719 | Dean Cavaretta |
| Second Essex and Middlesex District | Barry Finegold |
30.4% | 68,110 | Paul Adams |
| Second Worcester District | Michael Moore |
35.9% | 71,558 | Stephen Simonian |
| Fourth Middlesex District | Kenneth Donnelly |
36.3% | 82,310 | Gerry Dembrowski |
| Plymouth and Norfolk District |  Robert Hedlund |
36.7% | 90,265 | Genevieve Davis |
| Second Essex District | Joan B. Lovely |
41.5% | 79,273 | Richard Jolitz |
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: [7]
| 2010 Donors, Massachusetts State Senate | |
|---|---|
| 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
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[8]. Local governments who conduct special elections receive reimbursement from the State Treasurer's office for all costs incurred[9].
Redistricting
In Massachusetts, the state legislature has control over the redistricting process. In 2011, the state legislature adopted a Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, which includes seven senators and 21 representatives. The partisan composition was 23 Democrats and 5 Republicans.[10]
2010
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Massachusetts experienced a 3.1 percent increase in population between 2000 and 2010. Specifically, the population rose from approximately 6.35 million to 6.55 million. However, the nation as a whole saw a population increase of 9.7 percent, a much faster rate than Massachusetts, and Massachusetts lost a Congressional seat as a result of the relatively slow growth.[11][12][13]
The Special Joint Committee on Redistricting was generally recognized as a relatively open process compared to past redistricting efforts.[14] Some towns petitioned for having one representative, rather than being split between two state legislative districts.[15] Other citizen groups expressed strong interests in having more minority-majority districts.[16][17] In October 2011, the Committee produced and approved a map that increased the number of minority-majority districts in the state senate from two to three, and split the town of Winchester into two senate districts.[18][19]
Senators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2013, members of the Massachusetts General Court are paid $61,133/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.[20]
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 35 | |
| Republican Party | 4 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | |
| Total | 40 | |
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Massachusetts State Senate from 1992-2013.
Leadership
The Senate elects its President, who then appoints majority floor leaders and whips. The minority party elects its leaders in a party caucus.[21][22]
Current leadership
When sworn in
Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.
Current members
Standing Senate Committees
The Massachusetts Senate has seven standing committees:
- Bills in the Third Reading
- Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
- Ethics and Rules
- Global Warming and Climate Change
- Post Audit and Oversight
- Steering and Policy
- Ways and Means
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
During every year from 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Massachusetts State Senate. The Massachusetts State Senate is one of 16 state senates that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. During the last seven years of the study Massachusetts was under Democratic 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 Massachusetts, the Massachusetts State Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1992-2013.
.PNG)
External links
- Contact information for Massachusetts Senators
- Scaling the Hill, Republican Senator's blog
- The General Court Massachusetts Senatorial Districts
- Massachusetts State Senate on Wikipedia
- Boston Globe 2010 election results, State Senate
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Boston.com, "Mass. formally opens legislative session," January 2, 2013
- ↑ Washington Examiner, "Mass. lawmakers to weigh bill on special ed groups," January 4, 2012
- ↑ General Court Events
- ↑ 2010 session dates for the Massachusetts legislature
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Massachusetts Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court "Massachusetts Election Law"(Referenced Section Chapter 50, Section 6A)
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court "Massachusetts Election Law"(Referenced Section Chapter 3: Section 10A)
- ↑ Beacon Hill Roll Call "Senate approves redistricting commission," February 11, 2011
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Massachusetts Profile," 2011
- ↑ Belmont Citizen-Herald "Census preparing to deliver redistricting data to states," January 13, 2011
- ↑ Boston Globe "Census begins fight on districts," March 23, 2011
- ↑ Boston Herald "Lawmakers launch Mass. redistricting process," March 16, 2011
- ↑ Wicked Local Randolph "Officials push for only one state rep for Randolph," January 27, 2011
- ↑ Eagle Tribune "Proposal would create Latino-heavy legislative districts — and make targets out of Baddour and Finegold," June 26, 2011
- ↑ Boston Globe "Advocates seek boost in Mass. minority voter clout," October 5, 2011
- ↑ Mass Live "Massachusetts legislators release maps of proposed new seats for state Senate, House," October 18, 2011
- ↑ Wicked Local Winchester "Redrawn legislative map makes Lexington one House district," October 19, 2011
- ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth, "Massachusetts Facts - Part One:Concise Facts, " retrieved July 2, 2010
- ↑ Leadership of the 186th General Court
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