President of the Kentucky Senate
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President of the Kentucky Senate is an office created by a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky. The president of the Senate is the highest-ranking officer of that body and presides over the Senate.
History of the office
Prior to a 1992 amendment to Section 83 of the
After the 1992 amendment passed and altered Section 83 of the constitution, the lieutenant governor was stripped of all duties relating to the Senate. A new office, president of the Kentucky Senate, was created (Sections 84, 85, 86 and 87 of the constitution) and given power to preside over the Senate.
The president pro tem was almost always chosen by the majority party from among their members, then elected on a party line vote. The president of the Senate is usually chosen in the same manner. In the mid-1990s a small dissident group of Democrats joined with Republicans to elect the body's officers.
Duties of the office
The president of the Senate acts as presiding officer of the Senate. The president of the Senate is also a member of the Legislative Research Commission. The president of the Senate has a position on the most influential Senate committees and exerts considerable influence in determining the membership of Senate committees and the assignment to senators of office space in the Capitol Annex building.
Presidents of the Kentucky Senate
Presidents of the Kentucky Senate:
- John "Eck" Rose— January 1993 – January 1997
- Larry Saunders — January 1997 – January 2000
- David L. Williams — January 2000 – November 2012
- Robert Stivers — November 2012 – present
See also
- Kentucky General Assembly
- Kentucky Senate
- President pro tempore of the Kentucky Senate
- Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
- President of the Senate
References
- ^ Brammer, Jack (November 27, 2012). "Republicans select Robert Stivers as next president of Kentucky Senate". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
- ^ Smith, Lawrence (January 8, 2013). "KY General Assembly opens 2013 session". Louisville, KY: WDRB. Retrieved February 11, 2013.