California State Senate

Infobox Legislature
name = California State Senate
coa_pic = CaliforniaSenateSeal.png session_room = California Senate chamber p1080899.jpg
house_type = Upper House
leader1_type = President of the Senate
leader1 = John Garamendi
party1 = D
election1 = January 8, 2007
leader2_type = President pro tempore
leader2 = Don Perata
party2 = D
election2 = December 6 2004
leader4_type = Minority Leader
leader4 = Dave Cogdill
party4 = R
election4 = April 15 2008
members = 40
p_groups = Democratic Party
Republican Party
election3 = November 7 2006
meeting_place = Senate Chamber
California State Capitol
Sacramento, CA, US
website = http://www.sen.ca.gov

The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the "ex officio" President of the Senate. The officers of the Senate, elected at the start of each legislative session, are; President pro Tem Don Perata, Secretary of the Senate Gregory Schmidt, Senate Sergeant at Arms Tony Beard.

Prior to 1968, state senate districts were restricted such that one county could only hold at most one seat. This led to the situation of Los Angeles County, with 6 million residents as of 1968, receiving 600 times less representation than residents of Alpine County and Calaveras County, some of California's least populous counties. The federal "Reynolds v. Sims" decision by the United States Supreme Court compelled all states to draw up districts with equal populations. As such, boundaries were changed such that equal representation was provided. [http://web.mit.edu/polisci/research/representation/apsa_99_v2.pdf]

Senators serve four year terms. The terms of the Senators are staggered so that half the membership is elected every two years. The Senators representing the odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four. The Senators from the even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years. Senators are limited to two terms. []

Each Senator represents approximately 846,791 Californians, which is more than the approximately 639,088 residents in each of California's Congressional Districts.

enators

See:
*California State Legislature, 2007-2008 Session
*California State Legislature, 2005-2006 Session
*California State Legislature, 2003-2004 Session
*California State Legislature, 2001-2002 Session
*California State Legislature, 1999-2000 Session

Current composition

ee also

*Bill (proposed law)
*California State Senate Districts
*California Senate elections, 2006
*California State Legislature
*Members of the California State Legislature
*California State Assembly
*Districts in California
*California State Capitol
*California State Capitol Museum

References

External links

* [http://www.sen.ca.gov/ California State Senate]
* [http://www.electionvolunteer.com/race/SD Current State Senate Candidates]
* [http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/districts/senatedistricts.html Map of Senate Districts]
* [http://www.joincalifornia.com/page/8 California Legislative District Maps (1911-Present)]
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/official_state_legislator.php?type=office&criteria=upper&state_id=CA Project Vote Smart - State Senate of California]