Nevada State Senate

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Nevada State Senate

Seal of Nevada.png
General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   3 terms (12 years)
2013 session start:   February 4, 2013
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Brian Krolicki, (D)
Majority Leader:   Steven Horsford (D)
Minority leader:   Mike McGinness, (R)
Structure
Members:  21
   Democratic Party (11)
Republican Party (10)
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:   Art IV, Section 4, Nevada Constitution
Salary:   $146.29/day + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 6, 2012 (12 seats)
Next election:  November 4, 2014
Redistricting:  Nevada legislature has control

Contents

The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada State Legislature. It consists of 21 senators representing 19 districts with each senator representing an average of 128,598 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 94,679 residents.[2]The Nevada legislature is biennial, convening only in odd-numbered years. Senators are elected for four-year terms, and are limited to serving no more than three terms. The Senate meets at the State Capitol in Carson City, Nevada.

As of June 2013, Nevada is one of 13 states that is under divided government and do not have state government trifectas.

Sessions

When the Nevada Constitution was adopted, its fourth article established when the Nevada State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, was to be in session. However, Section 29 of Article 4, the section that dealt with legislative sessions, was repealed by vote of the people in the 1958 general election. The session dates for the Nevada Legislature are no longer limited by the Nevada Constitution.

2013

See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions

In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from February 4 through June 3.

Major issues

A major topic in the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature will be taxes. Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) has stated his opposition to new taxes, while Democrats are seeking a discussion on the state's tax structure.[3] Spending, Medicare, and gun-control are also expected to lead the agenda.[4]

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate was not in regular session.

2011

In 2011, the Senate was in session from February 7 through June 6. [5]

2010

In 2010, the Senate was not in regular session.[6] However, the Legislature did meet in 2010 for a special session, which lasted from February 23rd to March 1st.[7]

Transparency

See also: Open States' Legislative Data Report Card

The Sunlight Foundation released an "Open Legislative Data Report Card" in March 2013. Nevada was given a grade of B in the report. The report card evaluated how adequate, complete and accessible legislative data is to the general public. A total of 10 states received an A -- Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.[8]

Elections

2012

See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Nevada State Senate were held in Nevada on November 6, 2012. A total of 10 seats were up for election.

The signature filing deadline was March 16, 2012 and the primary date was June 12, 2012.

Nevada state senators are subject to term limits and may not serve more than three four-year terms. In 2012, four state senators were termed-out.

The following table details the districts' margins of victory in the November 6 general election.

2010

See also: Nevada State Senate elections, 2010

Nevada State Senate elections were held in 11 of Nevada's 21 senate districts on November 2, 2010. The 11 districts where electoral contests took place in 2010 are: Capital, Clark 2, Clark 5(B), Clark 7(B), Clark 8, Clark 9, Clark 10, Clark 12, Washoe 1, Washoe 2, Washoe 4.

The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 12, 2010 and the primary election day was June 8, 2010.

In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $4,320,019 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [9]

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Nevada State Senate, a candidate must be:[10]

  • A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
  • 21 years old at the filing deadline time
  • A one-year resident of Nevada preceding the election
  • A resident for 30 days of the senate district from which elected at the filing deadline time
  • A qualified election. A qualified voter is someone who is:
* A U.S. citizen
* A resident of Nevada for at least 6 months prior to the next election, and 30 days in the district or county
* At least 18 years old by the next election

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Senate, then the Board of County Commissioners in the county representing the seat must decide on a replacement. The Board of County Commissioners must select a person from the same political party that last held the seat. No replacement is named if the vacancy happens before the next legislative session and a election for county officers is scheduled[11].

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Nevada legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Nevada Term Limits Act in 1996. That initiative said that Nevada senators are subject to term limits of no more than three four-year terms, or a total of twelve years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1996 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office is in 2010.[12]

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Nevada

The Legislature handles the redistricting process through a Legislative Operations and Elections Committee in each chamber. The Governor wields veto power, and the Legislature cannot overturn.

2010 census

Nevada received its local Census data on February 24, 2011. At a 35.1 percent rate of growth, Nevada was the fastest growing state in the Union from 2000 to 2010. The five most populous cities showed tremendous growth: Las Vegas grew by 22.0 percent, Henderson grew by 47.0 percent, Reno grew by 24.8 percent, North Las Vegas grew by 87.9 percent, and Sparks grew by 36.1 percent.[13]

Democrats controlled the Legislature, while the Governor at the time, Brian Sandoval, was a Republican. Hispanics and (to a lesser extent) Asians emerged as possible communities of interest that would merit their own districts. The Legislature failed to finish new maps, and a court-appointed panel of three 'special masters' took over. New maps were finalized on December 8, 2011, and no challenges were made.[14]

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2013, members of the legislature are paid $146.29/day for a maximum of 60 days. Legislators inside the 50-mile Capitol area receive the federal rate for per diem while those outside the area receive the HUD single-room rate for each month of session for housing.[15]

The Nevada Constitution specifies that the 63 members of the state Legislature are to be paid for the first 60 days of each regular session, held every other year in odd-numbered years. The pay for the 21 Senators and 42 members of the Assembly is tied to pay increases provided to state employees.

When sworn in

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

Nevada legislators assume office the day after the election.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of June 2013
     Democratic Party 11
     Republican Party 10
Total 21


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

Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor serves as the President of the Senate but only votes in the case of a tie. If the Lieutenant Governor is not present, the President Pro Tempore presides and has the power to make commission and committee appointments. The President Pro Tempore is elected to the position by the majority party. The other partisan Senate leadership positions, such as the Majority and Minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses to head their parties in the chamber.[16][17]

Current leadership

Current Leadership, Nevada State Senate
Office Representative Party
President of the Senate Brian Krolicki Ends.png Republican
State Senate President Pro Tempore David Parks Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Majority Leader Moises Denis Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Majority Floor Leader Debbie Smith Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Majority Whip Ruben Kihuen Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Majority Whip Aaron Ford Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Assistant Majority Whip Justin Jones Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Minority Floor Leader Michael Roberson Ends.png Republican
State Senate Assistant Minority Floor Leader Ben Kieckhefer Ends.png Republican
State Senate Minority Whip Joseph Hardy Ends.png Republican

Current members

Current members, Nevada State Senate
District Senator Party Assumed office
1 Patricia Spearman Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
2 Moises Denis Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
3 Richard "Tick" Segerblom Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
4 Kelvin Atkinson Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
5 Joyce Woodhouse Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
6 Mark Hutchison Ends.png Republican 2013
7 David Parks Electiondot.png Democratic 2009
8 Barbara Cegavske Ends.png Republican 2003
9 Justin Jones Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
10 Ruben Kihuen Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
11 Aaron Ford Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
12 Joseph Hardy Ends.png Republican 2011
13 Debbie Smith Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
14 Don Gustavson Ends.png Republican 2013
15 Greg Brower Ends.png Republican 2011
16 Ben Kieckhefer Ends.png Republican 2011
17 James Settelmeyer Ends.png Republican 2011
18 Scott Hammond Ends.png Republican 2013
19 Pete Goicoechea Ends.png Republican 2013
20 Michael Roberson Ends.png Republican 2011
21 Mark Manendo Electiondot.png Democratic 2011


Senate Standing Committees

The Nevada State Senate has 10 standing committees:

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

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

From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Nevada State Senate for the last six years while the Republicans were the majority for the first 16 years.

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 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 Nevada, the Nevada State Senate and the Nevada House of Representatives from 1992-2013. Partisan composition of Nevada 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. ↑ The Republic, "Nevada Legislature convenes Monday; taxes, guns, Medicaid will be big issues facing lawmakers," February 2, 2013
  4. ↑ Las Vegas Sun, "Nev. Legislature convenes Monday with uncertainty," February 2, 2013
  5. ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
  6. ↑ Regular session dates for Nevada Legislature
  7. ↑ 2010 special session dates for Nevada Legislature
  8. ↑ Sunlight Foundation Ten Principles for Opening Up Government Information, accessed June 16, 2013
  9. ↑ Follow the Money: "Nevada Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  10. ↑ Qualifications for running for Nevada Senate
  11. ↑ Nevada Legislature "Constitution of Nevada"*(Referenced Section, Article IV, Section XII)
  12. ↑ State legislative term limits
  13. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Nevada's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," February 24, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  14. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "2011 Reapportionment and Redistricting Home," retrieved August 20, 2012.
  15. ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
  16. ↑ Legislative Officers: Nevada Senate
  17. ↑ NV Senate Leadership of the 75th (2009) Session
v • d • e
Democrat majority Current members of the Nevada State Senate
Senate President: Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki (R) • President Pro Tempore: David Parks (D) • Senate Majority Leader: Moises Denis (D) • Senate Minority Leader: Michael Roberson (R)
Democratic (11) • Republican (10) • Nevada Assembly • Nevada State Senate
v • d • e
State legislatures
Legislatures
Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S)
SLP badge.jpg
2013
Historical elections
2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2007
Features of
state legislatures
State senates
State houses
Leadership positions
Retrieved from "http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Nevada_State_Senate&oldid=1825799"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Encyclopedia
Calendar
Get Involved
Donate
Toolbox