California State Senate Explained

Background Color:blue
California State Senate
Legislature:California State Legislature
Coa Pic:Seal_of_The_Senate_Of_The_State_Of_California.svg
Session Room:California Senate chamber p1080899.jpg
House Type:Upper house
Term Limits:Elected before 2012:
2 terms (8 years)
Elected 2012 and after:
3 terms (12 years)
New Session:December 5, 2022
Leader1 Type:President
Leader1:Eleni Kounalakis (D)
Election1:January 7, 2019
Leader2 Type:President pro tempore
Leader2:Mike McGuire (D)
Election2:February 5, 2024
Leader3 Type:Majority Leader
Leader3:Lena Gonzalez (D)
Election3:February 8, 2024
Leader4 Type:Minority Leader
Leader4:Brian Jones (R)
Election4:December 5, 2022
Term Length:4 years
Authority:Article 4, California Constitution
Salary:$114,877/year + $211 per diem
Seats:40
Structure1:California State Senate Composition.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Structure1 Alt:Composition of the California State Senate
Voting System1:Nonpartisan blanket primary
Last Election1:November 8, 2022 (20 seats)
Next Election1:November 5, 2024 (20 seats)
Redistricting:California Citizens Redistricting Commission
Political Groups1:MajorityMinority
Motto:Senatoris est civitatis libertatem tueri
("It is a senator's duty to protect the liberty of the people.")
Meeting Place:State Senate Chamber
California State Capitol
Sacramento, California
Website:California State Senate
Rules:Standing Rules of the Senate

The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature, the lower house being the California State Assembly. The state senate convenes, along with the state assembly, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

Due to a combination of the state's large population and a legislature that has not been expanded since the ratification of the 1879 constitution,[1] the State Senate has the largest population per state senator ratio of any state legislative house. In the United States House of Representatives, California is apportioned 52 U.S. representatives, each representing approximately 750,564 people,[2] while in the California State Senate, each of the 40 state senators represents approximately 931,349 people; almost exactly the population of the entire state of Delaware.[3] This means that California state senators each represent more people than California's members of the House of Representatives, and more than that of five entire U.S. states.

In the current legislative session, the Democratic Party holds 31 out of the 40 seats, which constitutes a 78% majority—well over the two-thirds supermajority threshold of 27.

History

The 1849 constitution of California provided that the "number of Senators shall not be less than one third, nor more than one half of that of the members of the Assembly..."[4] The 1849 constitution also provided that senators served two-year terms and were to be elected bienally, with the total number of senators being divided into two classes so that one half of the senators would be elected annually.

Following the ratification of the 1879 constitution of California, the constitution prescribed that the senate is composed of 40 senators and that all senators must have resided within California for three years and their district for one year.[5] Such districts were to be "as nearly equal in population as may be, and composed of contiguous territory". There was to be one senate district for each senator. Such districts were also required to preserve political boundaries: "In the formation of such districts, no county, or city and county, shall be divided, unless it contain a sufficient population within itself to form two or more districts; nor shall a part of any county, or of any city and county, be united with any other county, or city and county, in forming any district."[6]

Between 1933 and 1967, state legislative districts were drawn according to the "Little Federal Model" by which Assembly seats were drawn according to population and senate seats were drawn according to county lines.[7] The guidelines were that no senate district would include more than three counties and none would include less than one complete county. This led to the situation of a populous county such as Los Angeles County (1960 population of 6 million) being accorded the same number of state senators (one) as less populous counties such as Alpine County (1960 pop. 397). The senate districts remained unaltered from 1933 to 1967, regardless of the changes in the population distribution. In Reynolds v. Sims, the United States Supreme Court compelled all states to draw up districts with equal population. As such, boundaries were changed to comply with the ruling.

The California State Senate has never been expanded since the enactment of the 1879 constitution. In 1962, voters were asked via initiative California Proposition 23 whether to expand the state senate by 10 seats, thereby increasing the size of the body to 50 seats, and to abandon the little federal model.[8] This proposition was rejected by the voters 46.65% - 53.35% (2,181,758 - 2,495,440).[9]

Leadership

The lieutenant governor is the ex officio president of the senate, and may only cast a vote to break a tie. The president pro tempore is elected by the majority party caucus, followed by confirmation of the full senate. Other leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses according to each party's strength in the chamber.

As of 2024, the president pro tempore is Democrat Mike McGuire of Geyserville. The minority leader is Republican Brian Jones of Santee.

Terms of office

Each state senator represents a population roughly equivalent to the State of Delaware. As a result of Proposition 140 in 1990 and Proposition 28 in 2012, members elected to the legislature prior to 2012 are restricted by term limits to two four-year terms (eight years), while those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years in the legislature in any combination of four-year state senate or two-year state assembly terms.[10]

Members of the state senate serve four-year terms. Every two years, half of the senate's 40 seats are subject to election. This is in contrast to the state assembly, in which all 80 seats in the assembly are subject to election every two years.

Meeting chamber

The red tones of the California State Senate chamber are based on the British House of Lords, which is outfitted in a similar color. The dais rests along a wall shaped like an "E", with its central projection housing the rostrum. The lower tier dais runs across the entire chamber, there are several chairs and computers used by the senate officers, the most prominent seat is reserved for the secretary who calls the roll. The higher tier is smaller, with three chairs, the two largest and most ornate chairs are used by the president pro tempore (right chair) and the lieutenant governor (left chair). The third and smallest chair, placed in the center, is used by the presiding officer (acting in place of the pro tem) and is rarely sat in as the president is expected to stand. There are four other chairs flanking the dais used by the highest non-member officials attending the senate, a foreign dignitary or state officer for example. Each of the 40 senators is provided a desk, microphone and two chairs, one for the senator, another for guests or legislative aides. Almost every decorating element is identical to the assembly chamber. Along the cornice appears a portrait of George Washington and the Latin quotation senatoris est civitatis libertatem tueri ("It is the duty of the senator to guard the civil liberties of the Commonwealth").

Composition

319<--0-->
DemocraticRepublican<--Vacant-->
AffiliationParty

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

Total
DemocraticRepublicanVacant
End of previous legislature319400
Begin318391
December 8, 2023[11] 328400
Current[12] 319
Latest voting share

Past composition of the Senate

See main article: Political party strength in California.

Officers

PositionNamePartyDistrict
Lieutenant GovernorEleni KounalakisDemocraticCalifornia
President pro temporeMike McGuireDemocratic2nd–Geyserville
Majority leaderLena GonzalezDemocratic33rd–Long Beach
Assistant majority leaderAngelique AshbyDemocratic8th–Sacramento
Aisha WahabDemocratic10th–Hayward
Democratic Caucus ChairMonique LimónDemocratic19th–Santa Barbara
Majority WhipDave CorteseDemocratic15th–San Jose
Assistant majority whipsMaría Elena DurazoDemocratic24th–Los Angeles
Steve PadillaDemocratic18th–Chula Vista
Minority leaderBrian JonesRepublican40th–Santee
SecretaryErika Contreras
Sergeant-at-ArmsKatrina Rodriguez
ChaplainSister Michelle Gorman, RSM

The secretary, the sergeant-at-arms, and the chaplain are not members of the legislature.

Members

DistrictNamePartyResidenceFirst electedTerm limitedNotes
1RepublicanBieber20192024Previously served as Minority Leader of the California State Assembly and in the Assembly from 2012 to 2019.
2DemocraticGeyserville20142026President pro tempore since February 5, 2024. Majority leader before February 5, 2024.
3DemocraticNapa20162024Previously served in the Assembly from 2014 to 2016.
4RepublicanJackson20222034First elected as a Democrat before switching parties on August 8, 2024
5DemocraticStockton20202024Previously served in the Assembly from 2012 to 2020.
6RepublicanFair Oaks20222030Previously served in the Assembly from 2004 to 2010.
7DemocraticOrinda20152024Decided not to test the 12-year term limit in 2024.
8DemocraticNatomas20222034
9DemocraticBerkeley20162024Previously served in the Assembly from 2008 to 2014.
10DemocraticHayward20222034
11DemocraticSan Francisco20162028
12RepublicanBakersfield20182026Previously served as Minority Leader from 2019 to 2021 and in the Assembly from 2010 to 2016.
13DemocraticMenlo Park20202032
14DemocraticMerced20182026Previously served in the Assembly from 2006 to 2010 and 2016 to 2018.
15DemocraticSan Jose20202032
16DemocraticBakersfield20182030
17DemocraticSanta Cruz20202028Previously served in the Assembly from 2002 to 2008.
18DemocraticChula Vista20222034
19DemocraticSanta Barbara20202028Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 and 2020.
20DemocraticPanorama City20222034
21RepublicanSanta Clarita20162024Previously served as Minority Leader from 2021 to 2022 and in the Assembly from 2012 to 2016.
22DemocraticBaldwin Park20182030
23RepublicanYucaipa20202032
24DemocraticSanta Monica20142026
25DemocraticBurbank20162024Previously served in the Assembly from 2006 to 2012.
26DemocraticLos Angeles20182030
27DemocraticMalibu20162028
28DemocraticLos Angeles20222034
29DemocraticFullerton20202028Previously served in the State Senate from 2016 to 2018.
30DemocraticPico Rivera20182030
31DemocraticRiverside20122024
32RepublicanMurrieta20222030Previously served in the Assembly from 2020 to 2022.
33DemocraticLong Beach20192032Majority Leader since February 8, 2024
34DemocraticSanta Ana20182026Previously served in the Assembly from 1990 to 1994 and 2004 to 2006.
35DemocraticGardena20162024Previously served in the Assembly from 2009 to 2014.
36RepublicanHuntington Beach20222026Previously served in the State Senate from 2014 until 2018 and in the Assembly from 2020 to 2022.
37DemocraticIrvine20202032
38DemocraticEncinitas20222034
39DemocraticSan Diego20162024President pro tempore until February 5, 2024. Previously served as Speaker of the State Assembly and in the Assembly from 2010 to 2016.
40RepublicanSantee20182026Minority Leader. Previously served in the Assembly from 2010 to 2016.

elected in a special election

Seating chart

-- Lieutenant Governor of California/President of the Senate -->
       President
Kounalakis
 
NielloOchoa Bogh HurtadoArchuleta Smallwood-CuevasGonzalez RothDodd Alvarado-GilBecker WienerAllen

<

-- Second row -->
GroveJones SeyartoDahle EggmanMenjivar Portantino LimónBlakespear MinStern
NguyenWilk CaballeroBradford Newman LairdAshby SkinnerWahab CorteseGlazer
      PadillaAtkins McGuireDurazo

Standing committees

Current committees, chairs and vice chairs include:[13]

Committee Chair Vice Chair
scope=row style="text-align: center;"AgricultureMelissa Hurtado (D)Shannon Grove (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"AppropriationsAnna Caballero (D) Brian Jones (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Banking and Financial InstitutionsMonique Limón (D) Roger Niello (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Budget and Fiscal ReviewScott Wiener (D)Roger Niello (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Business, Professions and Economic DevelopmentAngelique Ashby (D) Janet Nguyen (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"EducationJosh Newman (D)Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Elections and Constitutional AmendmentsCatherine Blakespear (D)Janet Nguyen (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Energy, Utilities and CommunicationsSteven Bradford (D)Brian Dahle (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Environmental QualityBen Allen (D)Brian Dahle (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Governance and FinanceAnna Caballero (D)Kelly Seyarto (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Governmental OrganizationBill Dodd (D)Scott Wilk (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"HealthRichard Roth (D)Janet Nguyen(R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"HousingNancy Skinner (D)Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Human ServicesMarie Alvarado-Gil (D)Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Insurance Susan Rubio (D)Roger Niello (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Judiciary Tom Umberg (D)Scott Wilk (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Labor, Public Employment and RetirementLola Smallwood-Cuevas (D)Scott Wilk (R)
Legislative EthicsDave Cortese (D)Shannon Grove (R)
Local GovernmentMaria Elena Durazo (D)Kelly Seyarto (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Military and Veterans AffairsBob Archuleta (D)Shannon Grove (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Natural Resources and WaterDave Min (D)Kelly Seyarto (R)
scope=row style="text-align: center;"Public SafetyAisha Wahab (D)Kelly Seyarto (R)
Revenue and TaxationSteve Glazer (D)Brian Dahle (R)
RulesMike McGuire (D)Shannon Grove (R)
TransportationDave Cortese (D)Roger Niello (R)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: California Constitution of 1879, prior to any amendments. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. August 11, 2021.
  2. Web site: Apportionment Data. United States Census Bureau.
  3. Web site: Senate Roster. State of California.
  4. https://archives.cdn.sos.ca.gov/pdf/1849-california-constitution-for-website-9-16-20.pdf Cal. Const. Art. IV § 6 (1849)
  5. https://archives.cdn.sos.ca.gov/collections/1879/archive/1879-constitution.pdf Cal. Const. Art. IV § 4 (1879)
  6. Web site: California Constitution of 1879, prior to any amendments. February 22, 2022. CalPolyPomona.
  7. Web site: JoinCalifornia - Redistricting. 2022-02-22. www.joincalifornia.com.
  8. https://repository.uclawsf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1656&context=ca_ballot_props Voter Information Guide for 1962, General Election
  9. https://repository.uclawsf.edu/ca_ballot_props/654/ SENATE REAPPORTIONMENT
  10. Web site: California Constitution Article 4; Legislative . . February 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190223190401/http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&division=&title=&part=&chapter=&article=IV . February 23, 2019 . live.
  11. Democrat Melissa Hurtado (District 16) was prevented from being sworn-in until her 20-vote re-election was certified.
  12. [Marie Alvarado-Gil]
  13. Web site: Committees California State Senate . 2024-05-28 . www.senate.ca.gov.

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