Nevada Senate
Nevada Senate | |
---|---|
Nevada Legislature | |
Type | |
Type | |
Term limits | 3 terms (12 years) |
History | |
New session started | February 6, 2023 |
Leadership | |
President pro tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
Structure | |
Seats | 21 |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
|
Length of term | 4 years |
Authority | Article 4, November 5, 2024 (10 seats) |
Redistricting | Legislative control |
Meeting place | |
State Senate Chamber Legislative Building, Carson City | |
Website | |
Home |
The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of U.S. state of Nevada, the lower house being the Nevada Assembly. It currently (2012–2021) consists of 21 members from single-member districts.[1] In the previous redistricting (2002–2011) there were 19 districts, two of which were multimember. Since 2012, there have been 21 districts, each formed by combining two neighboring state assembly districts. Each state senator represented approximately 128,598 as of the 2010 United States census. Article Four of the Constitution of Nevada sets that state senators serve staggered four-year terms.[2]
In addition, the size of the Senate is set to be no less than one-third and no greater than one-half of the size of the Assembly.[3] Term limits, limiting senators to three 4-year terms (12 years), took effect in 2010. Because of the change in Constitution, seven senators were termed out in 2010, four were termed out in 2012, and one was termed out in 2014. The Senate met at the Nevada State Capitol in Carson City until 1971, when a separate Legislative Building was constructed south of the Capitol. The Legislative Building was expanded in 1997 to its current appearance to accommodate the growing Legislature.
History
Boom and Bust era (1861–1918)
The first session of the Nevada Territorial Legislature was held in 1861. The Council was the precursor to the current Senate and the opposite chamber was called a House of Representatives which was later changed to be called the Assembly. There were nine members of the original Council in 1861 elected from districts as counties were not yet established.[4] Counties were established in the First Session of the Territorial Legislature and the size of the Council was increased to thirteen. From the first session of the Nevada Legislature once statehood was granted the size of the Senate ranged from eighteen members, in 1864, to a low of fifteen members from 1891 through 1899, and a high of twenty-five members from 1875 through 1879.[5]
Little Federalism era (1919–1966)
In 1919 the Senate started a practice called "Little Federalism," where each county received one member of the Nevada Senate regardless of population of said county. This set the Senate membership at seventeen which lasted until 1965–1967. The
Modern era (1967–present)
The first election after the judicial intervention and newly adopted apportionment law was 1966 and its subsequent legislature consisted of 40 members from the Assembly and 20 members from the Senate. Nine incumbent senators from 1965 were not present in the legislature in 1967.
Legislative sessions
Legislative Session | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Republican | |||
62nd Legislative Session, 1967 | 11 | 9 | 20 | |
63rd Legislative Session, 1969 | 11 | 9 | 20 | |
56th Legislative Session, 1971 | 13 | 7 | 20 | |
57th Legislative Session, 1973 | 14 | 6 | 20 | |
58th Legislative Session, 1975 | 17 | 3 | 20 | |
59th Legislative Session, 1977 | 17 | 3 | 20 | |
60th Legislative Session, 1979 | 15 | 5 | 20 | |
61st Legislative Session, 1981 | 15 | 5 | 20 | |
62nd Legislative Session, 1983 | 17 | 4 | 21 | |
63rd Legislative Session, 1985 | 13 | 8 | 21 | |
64th Legislative Session, 1987 | 9 | 12 | 21 | |
65th Legislative Session, 1989 | 8 | 13 | 21 | |
66th Legislative Session, 1991 | 11 | 10 | 21 | |
67th Legislative Session, 1993 | 10 | 11 | 21 | |
68th Legislative Session, 1995 | 8 | 13 | 21 | |
69th Legislative Session, 1997 | 9 | 12 | 21 | |
70th Legislative Session, 1999 | 9 | 12 | 21 | |
71st Legislative Session,2001 | 9 | 12 | 21 | |
72nd Legislative Session, 2003 | 8 | 13 | 21 | |
73rd Legislative Session, 2005 | 10 | 11 | 21 | |
74th Legislative Session, 2007 | 10 | 11 | 21 | |
75th Legislative Session, 2009 | 12 | 9 | 21 | |
76th Legislative Session, 2011 | 11 | 10 | 21 | |
77th Legislative Session, 2013 | 11 | 10 | 21 | |
78th Legislative Session, 2015 | 10 | 11 | 21 | |
79th Legislative Session, 2017 | 11† | 8 | 21 | |
80th Legislative Session, 2019 | 13 | 8 | 21 | |
81st Legislative Session, 2021 | 12 | 9 | 21 | |
82nd Legislative Session, 2023 | 13 | 8 | 21 | |
Latest voting share | 61.9% | 38.1% |
Current session
↓ | ||
13 | 8 | |
Democratic | Republican |
Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ind | Republican | Vacant | ||
Begin 78th, February 2014 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 21 | 0 |
End 78th, November 2016 | |||||
Begin 79th, February 2017 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 21 | 0 |
End 79th, November 2018 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 19 | 2 |
November 7, 2018[12] | 13 | 0 | 8 | 21 | 0 |
December 4, 2018[13] | |||||
March 5, 2019[14] | 12 | 20 | 1 | ||
March 15, 2019[15] | 13 | 21 | 0 | ||
Begin 82nd, February 2023 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 21 | 0 |
October 26, 2023[16] | 7 | 20 | 1 | ||
Latest voting share | 65% | 35% |
Historical activity of political parties
- Democratic Party (1864–Present)†
- National Union Party (1864–1869)
- Republican Party (1871–present)
- Citizen's Party (1879–1881)
- People's Party (1893–1899)
- Silver Party (1893–1907)
- Silver-Democrat Party (1899–1909)
- Socialist Party (1913–1915)
- Independent candidates have been elected to the Senate sporadically from 1863 through 1965
Composition and leadership of the 82nd Legislative session
Presiding over the Senate
The president of the Senate is the body's highest officer, although they only vote in the case of a tie, and only on procedural matters. Per Article 5, Section 17 of the Nevada Constitution, the
Non-member officers
On the first day of a regular session, the Senate elects the non-member, nonpartisan administrative officers including the secretary of the Senate and the Senate sergeant at arms. The secretary of the Senate serves as the parliamentarian and chief administrative officer of the Senate and the sergeant at arms is chief of decorum and order for the Senate floor, galleries, and committee rooms. Claire J. Clift was originally appointed by then Republican Senate majority leader William Raggio. The Democratic Party took the majority in 2008 and she was retained until 2010.[17] In August 2010, then Senate majority leader Steven Horsford appointed David Byerman as the 41st secretary of the Senate.[18] The day after the 2014 general election, David Byerman was removed from his position and the previous secretary, Claire J. Clift, was re-appointed.[19] Retired chief of police Robert G. Milby was chosen as the Senate sergeant at arms for the 78th Legislative by the Republican majority leader. Both of the elected non-member officers serve at the pleasure of the Senate, thus they have a two-year term until the succeeding session. The Senate also approves by resolution the remainder of the nonpartisan Senate Session staff to work until the remainder of the 120 calendar day session.
82nd Session leadership
Leadership
Position | Name | Party | District |
---|---|---|---|
President/Lt. Governor | Stavros Anthony | Republican | N/A |
President pro tempore | Pat Spearman | Democratic | District 1 |
Majority leadership
Position | Name | Party | District |
---|---|---|---|
Majority Leader | Nicole Cannizzaro | Democratic | District 6 |
Assistant Majority Leader | Roberta Lange | Democratic | District 7 |
Chief Majority Whip | Dallas Harris | Democratic | District 11 |
Co-Majority Whip | Fabian Doñate | Democratic | District 10 |
Co-Majority Whip | Melanie Scheible | Democratic | District 9 |
Minority leadership
Position | Name | Party | District |
---|---|---|---|
Minority Leader | Heidi Gansert | Republican | District 15 |
Assistant Minority Leader | Carrie Buck | Republican | District 5 |
Minority Co-Whip | Lisa Krasner | Republican | District 16 |
Minority Co-Whip | Jeff Stone | Republican | District 20 |
Members of the 82nd Senate
Districts of the Nevada Assembly are nested inside the Senate districts, two per Senate district. The final Legislative redistricting plans as created by the Special Masters in 2011 and approved by District Court Judge James Todd Russell represent the first time since statehood Nevada's Assembly districts are wholly nested inside of a Senate district. Each Assembly district represents 1/42nd of Nevada's population and there are two Assembly districts per Senate district which represents 1/21st of Nevada's population.[20]
District | Assembly Districts |
Name | Party | Residence | Assumed office | Next election |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1, 17 | Pat Spearman | Democratic | North Las Vegas | 2012 | 20242 |
2 | 11, 28 | Edgar Flores | Democratic | Las Vegas
|
2022 | 2026 |
3 | 3, 10 | Rochelle Nguyen | Democratic | Las Vegas | 20221 | 2024 |
4 | 6, 7 | Dina Neal | Democratic | Las Vegas | 2020 | 2024 |
5 | 22, 29 | Carrie Buck | Republican | Henderson | 2020 | 2024 |
6 | 34, 37 | Nicole Cannizzaro | Democratic | Las Vegas | 2016 | 2024 |
7 | 18, 20 | Roberta Lange | Democratic | Las Vegas | 2020 | 2024 |
8 | 2, 5 | Marilyn Dondero Loop | Democratic | Las Vegas | 2018 | 2026 |
9 | 9, 42 | Melanie Scheible | Democratic | Las Vegas | 2018 | 2026 |
10 | 15, 16 | Fabian Doñate | Democratic | Las Vegas | 20211 | 2026 |
11 | 8, 35 | Dallas Harris | Democratic | Las Vegas | 20181 | 2024 |
12 | 21, 41 | Julie Pazina | Democratic | Las Vegas | 2022 | 2026 |
13 | 24, 30 | Skip Daly | Democratic | Sparks | 2022 | 2026 |
14 | 31, 32 | Ira Hansen | Republican | Sparks | 2018 | 2026 |
15 | 25, 27 | Heidi Gansert | Republican | Reno | 2016 | 2024 |
16 | 26, 40 | Lisa Krasner | Republican | Reno
|
2022 | 2026 |
17 | 38, 39 | Robin Titus
|
Republican | Wellington | 2022 | 2026 |
18 | 4, 13 | Vacant | 2024 | |||
19 | 33, 36 | Pete Goicoechea | Republican | Eureka | 2012 | 20242 |
20 | 19, 23 | Jeff Stone | Republican | Las Vegas | 2022 | 2026 |
21 | 12, 14 | James Ohrenschall | Democratic | Las Vegas | 2018 | 2026 |
- 1 Senator was originally appointed.
- 2 Due to term limits in the Nevada Constitution this individual is not eligible for re-election or appointment to the Nevada Senate
Senate standing committees of the 80th Session
Committee | Chair | Vice Chair | Ranking Member of the Minority | Number of Members |
---|---|---|---|---|
Commerce and Labor | Patricia Spearman | Vacant | Joseph P. Hardy | 8 |
Education | Mo Denis | Joyce Woodhouse | Scott Hammond | 7 |
Finance | Joyce Woodhouse | David Parks | James A. Settelmeyer | 8 |
Government Affairs | David Parks | Melanie Scheible | Pete Goicoechea | 5 |
Growth and Infrastructure | Yvanna Cancela | Chris Brooks | Joseph P. Hardy | 8 |
Health and Human Services | Julia Ratti | Pat Spearman | Joseph P. Hardy | 5 |
Judiciary | Nicole Cannizzaro | Dallas Harris | Scott T. Hammond | 8 |
Legislative Operations and Elections | James Ohrenschall | Nicole Cannizzaro | Heidi Seevers Gansert | 5 |
Natural Resources | Melanie Scheible | Chris Brooks | Pete Goicoechea | 5 |
Revenue and Economic Development | Marilyn Dondero Loop | Julia Ratti | Ben Kieckhefer | 5 |
Standing committees in the Senate have their jurisdiction set by the Senate Rules as adopted through Senate Resolution 1. To see an overview of the jurisdictions of standing committees in the Senate, see Standing Rules of the Senate, Section V, Rule 40.
Past composition of the Senate
See also
References
- ^ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts" (PDF). Legislative Counsel Bureau. January 6, 2012.
- ^ "Nevada Constitution". Legislative Counsel Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "Nevada Constitution". Legislative Counsel Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "Political History of Nevada" (PDF). Nevada State Printing Office. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
- ^ "Political History of Nevada" (PDF). Nevada State Printing Office. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
- ^ Dungan v. Sawyer, 250 F.Supp. 480 (1965)
- ^ Dungan v. Sawyer, 250 F.Supp. 480 (1965)
- ^ "Political History of Nevada, Pages 284-286" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
- ^ Sen. William Raggio (January 5, 2012). "Letter to Washoe County Commission" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Leslie Resigns State Senate Seat to Run in New District 15". Las Vegas Review Journal. February 15, 2012.
- ^ "Republican Halseth Resigning Senate Seat". Las Vegas Review Journal. February 17, 2012.
- ^ Election results. State legislators in Nevada assume office the day after the election.
- Attorney General of Nevada, respectively. The Clark County Commission selected Democrats Chris Brooks and Dallas Harris respectively to succeed them in the Senate. [1]
- ^ Democrat Kelvin Atkinson (District 4) resigned. [2]
- ^ Democrat Marcia Washington appointed to replace Atkinson. [3]
- ^ Republican Scott Hammond (District 18) resigned. [4]
- ^ Sean Whaley (May 25, 2010). "In Surprise Move, State Senate Majority Leader Replaces Long-Time Top Staffer". Nevada News Bureau.
- ^ "Nevada Senate Majority Leader Picks Census Bureau Liaison to Serve in Top Administrative Post". Nevada News Bureau. August 18, 2010.
- ^ "Claire Clift to return as Senate Secretary". Nevada Appeal. November 8, 2014.
- ^ Redistricting in Nevada
External links
- Nevada Senate official government website
- Project Vote Smart – State Senate of Nevada