South Dakota State Senate
| South Dakota State Senate | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Upper house |
| Term limits: | 4 terms (8 years) |
| 2013 session start: | January 10, 2012 |
| Website: | Official Senate Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Matthew Michels, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Russell Olson, (R) |
| Minority leader: | Jason Frerichs, (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 35 |
| Democratic Party (7) Republican Party (28) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art III, Sec 1, South Dakota Constitution |
| Salary: | $12,000/2 years + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (35 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (35 seats) |
| Redistricting: | South Dakota Legislature has control |
Contents |
The senate consists of 35 state senators who serve two-year terms with term limits.[1]
Each state senator represents an average of 23,262 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[2] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 21,567 residents.[3]
Sessions
Article III of the South Dakota Constitution establishes when the South Dakota State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 7 of Article III states that the Legislature is to meet in regular session each year on the second Tuesday of January.
The South Dakota Constitution also contains provisions concerning special sessions of the Legislature. Section 3 of Article IV allows the Governor of South Dakota to convene a special session of the Legislature. Additionally, Section 31 of Article III allows for a special session to be convened by the presiding officers of both legislative houses upon the written request of two-thirds of the members of each house.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the Senate will be in session from January 10 through mid-March.
Major issues
Legislators will take up Governor Dennis Daugaard's proposals of bonuses for state employees, additional aid to schools and Medicare agencies, and work force development initiatives. Additionally, they will consider a texting-while-driving ban, reforming the school funding formula, and increased penalties for speeding.[4]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the Legislature was in session from January 11 through March 28. [5]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the Senate was in session from January 12 to March 29.[6]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate will be held in South Dakota on November 6, 2012. A total of 35 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline was March 27, 2012.
South Dakota state senators are subject to term limits and may not serve more than four two-year terms. In 2012, 3 state senators will be termed-out.
2010
Elections for the office of South Dakota's State Senate were held in South Dakota on November 2, 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 30, 2010. The primary election day was June 8, 2010.
In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $1,090,800 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [7]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| South Dakota Senate Republicans Campaign Cmte | $36,500 |
| South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association | $19,750 |
| Warner PAC | $16,000 |
| South Dakota Education Association | $15,750 |
| South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations | $15,750 |
| South Dakota Republican Party | $15,422 |
| South Dakota Association of Realtors | $14,700 |
| South Dakota Retailers Association | $13,850 |
| Codington County Republican Central Cmte | $11,500 |
| South Dakota Corn Growers Association | $11,250 |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota Senate, a candidate must be:[8]
- A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
- 21 years old at the filing deadline time
- A two-year resident of South Dakota at the filing deadline time
- May not have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime; may not have illegally taken "public moneys"
- A qualified voter. A qualified voter is someone who is:
- * A U.S. citizen
- * Reside in South Dakota
- * At least 18 years old old on or before the next election
- * Not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system
- * Not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law
- * Not have served 4 consecutive terms
Vacancies
Under the state constitution, the Governor is responsible for appointing a replacement in the event a vacancy happens in the State Senate. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution to when the Governor has to fill the vacancy[9].
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
The South Dakota legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the South Dakota Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that South Dakota senators are subject to term limits of no more than four consecutive two-year terms, or eight consecutive years. State senators can run again after they have been out-of-office for a term.
The South Dakota State Legislature has tried on more than one occasion, each time unsuccessfully, to persuade the state's voters to repeal term limits. The most recent such failed attempt was when Amendment J lost in 2008 by 75-25%.
The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.[10]
Senators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2010, members of the South Dakota Senate are paid $12,000/two-year term. Legislators receive $110/day per diem. Rates are set by the legislature.[11]
The $12,000/two-year term that South Dakota senators are paid as of 2010 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem is also the same.[12]
When sworn in
South Dakota legislators assume office the first day of session after election (Jan. 11).
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
| Party | As of June 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 7 | |
| Republican Party | 28 | |
| Total | 35 | |
Leadership
The Lieutenant Governor acts as President of the Senate. The President only votes in the case of a tie. The senate elects one member to serve as President pro tempore; this officer presides in the absence of the president, appoints committees, and assigns legislation to committee.
Current leadership
2010 Leadership
List of current senators
Senate Committees
The South Dakota State Senate has 13 standing committees.
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Appropriations Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Commerce and Energy Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Education Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Government Operations and Audit Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Health and Human Services Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Judiciary Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Legislative Procedure Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Local Government Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Retirement Laws Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- State Affairs Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Taxation Committee, South Dakota State Senate
- Transportation Committee, South Dakota State Senate
External links
- Official website of the South Dakota State Senate
- List of 2010 members of the South Dakota State Senate
- Project Vote Smart profile of South Dakota Senate
References
- ↑ List of state legislative term limits
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Argus Leader, "S.D. Legislature to visit array of old issues with fresh optimism," January 8, 2012
- ↑ 2011 SD Legislative Calendar
- ↑ 2010 session dates for South Dakota Legislature
- ↑ Follow the Money: "South Dakota Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Qualifications for running for South Dakota Senate
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature "South Dakota Constitution"(Referenced Section Article 3, Section 10)
- ↑ State legislative term limits
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
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