Rhode Island Senate | |
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Rhode Island General Assembly | |
Type | |
Type | |
Term limits
|
None |
History | |
New session started
|
January 3, 2017 |
Leadership | |
President of the Senate
|
|
President pro Tempore
|
|
Majority Leader
|
|
Minority Leader
|
|
Majority Whip
|
|
Structure | |
Seats | 38 |
Political groups
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Governing party
Opposition party
|
Length of term
|
2 years |
Authority | Article VI, Rhode Island Constitution |
Salary |
Senate Member: $15,414/year Senate President: $30,158/year |
Elections | |
Last election
|
November 8, 2016 (38 seats) |
Next election
|
November 6, 2018 (38 seats) |
Meeting place | |
Senate Chamber Rhode Island State Capitol Providence, Rhode Island |
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Website | |
Rhode Island Senate |
Governing party
Opposition party
Senate Member: $15,414/year
The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Rhode Island. It is composed of 38 Senators, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Rhode Island is one of the 14 states where its upper house serves at a two-year cycle, rather than the normal four-year term as in the majority of states. There is no limit to the number of terms that a Senator may serve. The Rhode Island Senate meets at the Rhode Island State Capitol in Providence.
Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to executive departments, commissions, boards, or justices to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
The President of the Senate presides over the body, appointing members to all of the Senate's committees and joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. Unlike most other states, the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island does not preside over the Senate, and is instead active in other areas such as state commissions on health and businesses. In the Senate President's absence, the President Pro Tempore presides.
The current President of the Senate is Democrat M. Teresa Paiva Weed of District 13 (Newport, Jamestown,). The current Senate Majority Leader is Dominick J. Ruggerio of District 4 (Providence). The Senate Minority Leader is Dennis Algiere of District 38 (Westerly, Charlestown).