Mississippi Senate

Mississippi Senate
Name	Mississippi Senate
Legislature	Mississippi General Assembly
House type	Upper house
Body	Mississippi State Legislature
Term limits	None
New session	January 2024
Leader1 type	President
Leader1	Delbert Hosemann
Party1	(R)
Election1	2020
Leader2 type	President pro tempore
Leader2	Dean Kirby
Party2	(R)
Election2	2020
Leader3 type	Majority Leader
Leader3	Derrick Simmons
Party3	(D)
Election3	2020
Leader4 type	Minority Leader
Leader4	Josh Harkins
Party4	(R)
Election4	2024
Members	52
Political groups1	Majority (37), Republican (37), Minority (15), Democratic (15)
Term length	4 years
Authority	Article 4, Mississippi Constitution
Salary	$23,500/year + per diem
Last election1	November 7, 2023
Next election1	November 2, 2027
Meeting place	Senate Chamber, Mississippi State Capitol, Jackson, Mississippi
Website	http://www.legislature.ms.gov

Mississippi Senate. It is the upper chamber of the Mississippi General Assembly, the state legislature of Mississippi. The Senate consists of 52 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, with each senator serving a four-year term. Alongside the Mississippi House of Representatives, it convenes at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi.

History

The Mississippi Senate was established by the Constitution of Mississippi of 1817 upon the state's admission to the United States. Its early history was dominated by the Democratic Party and issues central to the Antebellum South, including states' rights and the institution of slavery. Following the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, the chamber was controlled by Democrats under the political framework of the Solid South for over a century. A significant political shift began in the late 20th century, culminating in the Republican Party gaining control after the 2011 Mississippi legislative elections, a majority it has maintained since. Landmark sessions have addressed pivotal issues such as the Mississippi Plan of 1875, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Hurricane Katrina recovery.

Composition

The Senate is composed of 52 senators elected from single-member districts. Following each United States census, district boundaries are redrawn by the Mississippi Legislature itself, a process often subject to litigation under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As of 2024, the partisan composition is 37 Republicans and 15 Democrats. Members must be at least 25 years old, a qualified elector and resident of the state for four years, and a resident of their district for two years prior to election. The current district map was implemented for the 2023 Mississippi legislative elections.

Leadership

The presiding officer is the Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, currently Delbert Hosemann, who is elected statewide. The lieutenant governor has significant powers, including committee appointments and control over the flow of legislation. The Senate elects a President pro tempore, such as Dean Kirby, to preside in the lieutenant governor's absence. Other key leaders include the Majority Leader, Derrick Simmons, and the Minority Leader, Josh Harkins. The Secretary of the Senate, a non-member officer, manages the chamber's day-to-day administrative functions.

Committees

The Senate operates through a system of standing, select, and conference committees where much of the legislative work occurs. Key standing committees include Appropriations, Finance, and the Judiciary Committee. The Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi holds the power to refer bills to committee and appoint all committee chairs and members, a central source of the office's influence. Notable investigative work has been conducted by committees like the Ethics Committee.

Elections

Senators are elected to four-year staggered terms, with about half the seats contested in each statewide general election cycle, such as the 2023 Mississippi legislative elections. Elections are held in November of odd-numbered years. Vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment. The Republican majority has been solidified in recent cycles, including the 2015, 2019, and 2023 Mississippi legislative elections. Campaigns are regulated by the Mississippi Secretary of State and the Mississippi Ethics Commission.

Powers and duties

The Senate shares general legislative powers with the Mississippi House of Representatives, including passing bills, crafting the state budget, and levying taxes. It holds specific exclusive powers, such as confirming gubernatorial appointments to major state agencies, boards, and commissions, including the Mississippi Supreme Court. The Senate also tries all impeachments made by the House, with a two-thirds vote required for conviction. It must concur with the House on resolutions, including those calling for a convention of states or ratifying amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

Category:Mississippi Senate Category:State senates of the United States Category:Government of Mississippi