North Carolina Senate

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For the current session, see North Carolina General Assembly of 2007-2008.

The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.

Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the Lt. Governor has very limited powers and only votes to break a tie. Before the office of Lt. Governor was created in 1868, the Senate was presided over by a "Speaker." After the 1988 election of James Carson Gardner, the first Republican Lt. Governor since Reconstruction, Democrats in control of the Senate shifted most of the power held by the Lt. Governor to the senator who is elected President Pro Tempore (or Pro-Tem). The President Pro Tempore appoints members to standing committees of the Senate, and holds great sway over bills. Marc Basnight (D-Manteo) is the current President Pro Tempore and has held the office longer than anyone in history. Based on the results of the November 2006 election, the Senate has a 31-19 Democratic majority in the 2007-2008 session, up from a 29-21 Democratic majority in 2005-2006.

The qualifications to be a senator are found in the state Constitution: "Each Senator, at the time of his election, shall be not less than 25 years of age, shall be a qualified voter of the State, and shall have resided in the State as a citizen for two years and in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately preceding his election."

According to the state constitution, the Senate is also the "Court for the Trial of Impeachments". The House of Representatives has the power to impeach state officials, after which the Senate holds a trial, as in the federal system. If the Governor or Lt. Governor is the official who has been impeached, the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court presides.

Senate Membership
For the current session, see North Carolina General Assembly of 2007-2008.
Affiliation Members
  Democratic Party 31
  Republican Party 19
 Total
 50
 Democratic Majority
 12
Senate Leadership[1]
Position Name Party
President Beverly Perdue Democratic
President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight Democratic
Deputy President Pro Tempore Charlie Smith Dannelly Democratic
Permanent Democratic Caucus Chairman R. C. Soles, Jr. Democratic
Majority Leader Tony Rand Democratic
Majority Whip Katie G. Dorsett Democratic
Democratic Caucus Secretary Charles W. Albertson Democratic
Minority Leader Phil Berger Republican
Deputy Minority Leader Tom Apodaca Republican
Minority Whip Jerry W. Tillman Republican
Chairman Republican Policy Committee Jean Preston Republican

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


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