State Senate Majority Leader
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The Senate majority leader is a partisan leadership position in a state Senate chamber. The majority leader is the floor leader of the majority caucus. In this role, the majority leader is the principal speaker during debates on the Senate floor and works to promote the party's legislative agenda.
The majority leader is often assisted in their role by whips, who work to enforce party discipline on votes deemed to be crucial by the party leadership and to ensure that members do not vote in a way not approved of by the party.
Overview
The Senate majority leader functions as the leader of the majority party on the Senate floor. The majority leader acts as the spokesperson for the party's policy positions, schedules the daily calendar, and helps direct the party's overall legislative agenda. During floor debates, the presiding officer recognizes the majority leader to speak first on an issue. This positions the majority leader to offer amendments or motions for consideration by the body.[1][2]
Leadership at the state legislative level refers to a range of different positions, including senate presidents and presidents pro tempore, house and assembly speakers, and minority and majority leaders. There are also middle- and lower-level leadership positions, such as whips, deputies, and floor leaders. Voters typically have little direct say in who holds these positions. Instead, the legislators themselves usually select their leaders. While the power and authority—and even the names—of leadership positions vary from chamber-to-chamber and state-to-state, leaders in state legislatures generally play influential roles in four, often interconnected, areas: the legislative process, elections, management, and career advancement. Read more about state legislative leadership positions here. |
The Senate majority leader is often assisted by whips, who help ensure that majority party members are present for votes during floor sessions.[1]
At the federal level, the Senate majority leader is elected by the party conference or caucus at the beginning of each Congress. At the state level, the Senate majority leader is similarly elected at the beginning of each legislative session.[1][3]
History
Unlike the Senate president and the Senate president pro tempore, the position of Senate majority leader is not included in the U.S. Constitution. The first majority leader of the U.S. Senate, Senator Charles Curtis (R-Kansas), was recognized in 1925. Prior to Curtis' recognition, the duties of the majority leader were often carried out by the chair of the majority party's conference or caucus in conjunction with the chairmen of standing committees.[1]
Forty-six state legislatures operate with Senate majority leaders.
Responsibilities
The Senate majority leader generally assumes the following duties:[2][4]
- Primary speaker for the majority party
- Schedules the calendar
- Assists the Senate president in developing overall policy strategy
- Offers recommendations for committee appointments
At the federal level, the majority leader of the U.S. Senate also works alongside the Senate minority leader in the development of unanimous consent agreements to manage time during floor debates. They also meet with the president of the United States and leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss legislative priorities. The majority leader also functions as a spokesman for the U.S. Senate as a whole and greets visiting foreign dignitaries to the U.S. Capitol.[1]
State senate majority leaders primarily work to direct the daily floor sessions and advance the party's legislative agenda. Depending on the state, the Senate majority leader may assume additional responsibilities. For example, the majority leader of the Rhode Island State Senate is also an ex officio member of all standing committees.[5][6][7][8][9]
Votes
Since the Senate majority leader represents the constituency of his or her district, they can vote on all questions before the chamber.
Tenure
Selection
At the federal level, the Senate majority leader is elected by the party conference or caucus at the beginning of each Congress. At the state level, the Senate majority leader is similarly selected at the beginning of each legislative session.
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
U.S. senators are not subject to term limits. State senators who serve as Senate majority leaders are subject to any applicable term limits on elected offices in their state.
About state leadership positions
State legislative leadership refers to a range of different positions, including senate presidents and presidents pro tempore, house and assembly speakers, and minority and majority leaders. These positions are typically elected by the full membership of the chamber instead of by the public at large. Although the power and titles of leadership positions vary between states, these leaders all play a role in the legislative process.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 United States Senate, "Majority and Minority Leaders and Party Whips," accessed January 26, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Roles and Responsibilities of Selected Leadership Positions," accessed January 27, 2017
- ↑ Medical Group Management Association, "Wisconsin State Legislature Holds Leadership Elections," November 23, 2016
- ↑ UShistory.org, "6b. Leadership in Congress: It's a Party Matter," accessed January 30, 3017
- ↑ State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "Senate Leadership," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ Capital Gazette, "Peters appointed majority leader in state Senate," December 13, 2016
- ↑ Star Tribune", "New state Senate leader fervent in faith, measured in approach," December 21, 2016
- ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Office of the Senate Majority Leader," accessed January 26, 2017
- ↑ State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "Senate Leadership," accessed January 30, 2017
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