State Senate Minority Leader
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The Senate minority leader is a partisan leadership position in a state Senate chamber. The minority leader is the floor leader of the minority caucus. In this role, the minority leader is the principal speaker for the minority party during debates on the Senate floor and works to coordinate the party's legislative agenda.
The minority leader is often assisted in their role by whips, whose job is 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
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 minority leader is the principal leader for the minority party on the Senate floor. The minority leader acts as the spokesperson for the minority party's policy positions and helps direct the minority party's overall legislative agenda. The presiding officer generally recognizes the majority leader first to speak on an issue, followed by the minority leader.[1]
The Senate minority leader is often assisted by whips, who help ensure that minority party members are present for votes during floor sessions.[1]
At the federal level, the Senate minority leader is elected by the party conference or caucus at the beginning of each Congress. At the state level, the Senate minority leader is similarly elected at the beginning of each legislative session.[1]
History
Unlike the Senate president and the Senate president pro tempore, the position of Senate minority leader is not included in the U.S. Constitution. The first minority leader of the U.S. Senate, Senator Oscar Underwood (D-Ala.), was recognized in 1920, five years before to the recognition of the first majority leader. Prior to Underwood's designation, the duties of the minority leader were often carried out by the chair of the minority party's conference or caucus in conjunction with the chairmen of standing committees.[1]
Forty-six state legislatures operate with Senate minority leaders.
Responsibilities
As the principal leader of the minority conference or caucus, the Senate minority leader generally assumes the following duties:[2]
- Develops the minority party's legislative positions
- Directs negotiations with the majority party
- Coordinates the minority party's strategy on the senate floor
- Leads the minority party in floor debates
At the federal level, the minority leader of the U.S. Senate also works alongside the senate majority leader in the development of unanimous consent agreements to manage time during floor debates.[1]
State senate minority leaders primarily work to coordinate their party's legislative agenda on the Senate floor. Depending on the state, the Senate minority leader may assume additional responsibilities. For example, the minority leader of the Rhode Island State Senate is an ex officio member of all standing committees. In the Rhode Island State Senate and the California State Senate, the minority leader also works together with the Senate majority leader and the Senate president to craft the daily legislative calendar.[3][4]
Votes
Since the Senate minority 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 minority leader is elected by the party conference or caucus at the beginning of each Congress. At the state level, the minority leader is similarly elected 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 minority leaders are subject to any applicable term limits on elected offices in their state.
In New York, the state Senate minority leader is limited to eight years in the position.[5]
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
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Roles and Responsibilities of Selected Leadership Positions," accessed January 27, 2017
- ↑ State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "Senate Leadership," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ California State Legislature, "Leadership," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ The New York State Senate, "Senate Passes Term Limits for State Legislative Leadership," January 12, 2016
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