Senate of Liberia
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The Senate is the
The Senate is largely modeled on the
History
The Senate of Liberia, along with the House of Representatives, inherited the legislative powers of the Council of the
As a result of political turmoil in Liberia during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Senate has been disbanded and reconstituted multiple times. Following the military coup d'état in 1980, the Senate was disbanded and several of its members executed, while its powers were vested in the
Historically, the Senate was dominated by the president's political party. From 1877 until the 1980 coup, the
Membership
Eligibility
Article 30 of the Constitution sets four requirements for members of the Senate: 1) they must possess Liberian citizenship, 2) must be at least thirty years old, 3) must have been domiciled in the county which they represent for at least one year prior to their election, and 4) must be a taxpayer. Under the 1847 Constitution, senators were required to own a certain value of real estate within their county, which in effect limited the ability of indigenous citizens to be elected to the Senate. Property ownership as a requirement for election was eliminated in the current Constitution.
Elections
Article 83(b) of the 1985 Constitution originally established a
Oath
The Constitution requires all senators to take an
I, ___ , do solemnly swear (affirm) that I will support, uphold, protect and defend the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Liberia, bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic, and will faithfully, conscientiously and impartially discharge the duties and functions of the office of Senator to the best of my ability. So help me God.
Term
Under the original 1847 Constitution, senators served a term of four years without term limits. The term length was increased to six-year by constitutional amendment in 1904. The draft 1985 Constitution set the terms of senators at eight years, though the length was changed to nine years by the military government prior to its ratification.
Senatorial terms have been staggered under both constitutions, with two classes of senators being elected in alternating election years. The 2005 Senate elections reinstated this method, with each voter able to cast two ballots for separate candidates. The candidate with the highest number of votes was elected as a First Category senator, serving a nine-year term, followed by
Midterm vacancies
In the event of a senator's death, resignation, ascension to a disqualifying office, incapacity or expulsion prior to the completion of his or her term, the Senate is required to notify the
Duties
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Legislation
Bills may originate in either the House or the Senate with the exception of revenue bills, which Article 34(d)(i) requires to originate in the House. Bills originating in the House, including revenue bills, may be amended by the Senate and sent back to the House. Both chambers are required to pass the same bill in order for it to be sent to the president for signature or veto. If differences exist in the two versions passed by the House and the Senate, a
Checks and balances
The Senate, along with the House, must approve any
Structure
Sessions
The Senate holds one regular session every year, beginning on the second working Monday of January and ending on August 31, with a two-week break for Easter. Under Article 32(b) of the Constitution, the Senate, by concurrence of one-fourth of its members and one-fourth of the members of the House, or the president, on his or her own initiative, may extend the session past its adjournment or call for an extraordinary session outside of the regular session. Plenary sessions are held every Tuesday and Thursday, with committees meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Leadership
Article 51 of the Constitution states that the vice president "shall be President of the Senate and preside over its deliberations without the right to vote, except in the case of a tie vote." In practice, the vice president rarely fulfills this role, with a president pro tempore, elected from among the senators, presiding over the Senate in the vice president's absence. Unlike the president pro tempore of the United States Senate, which is a largely ceremonial role traditionally granted to the most senior senator from the majority party, the office of President pro tempore in Liberia is heavily contested among the senators. The president pro tempore may be removed from office with the concurrence of two-thirds of the senators.
In addition to the president pro tempore, the Senate elects a Secretary of the Senate, Assistant Secretary of the Senate and a
Committees
Article 38 of the Constitution empowers both houses of the Legislature to create both committees and sub-committees, with the only caveat being that the Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget is required to consist of one senator from each county. Each committee is headed by a chairperson, appointed by the president pro tempore. In the 52nd Legislature, the twenty-six standing committees were:
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Current members
See also
- List of senators from Bomi County
- List of senators from Bong County
- List of senators from Gbarpolu County
- List of senators from Grand Bassa County
- List of senators from Grand Cape Mount County
- List of senators from Grand Gedeh County
- List of senators from Grand Kru County
- List of senators from Lofa County
- List of senators from Margibi County
- List of senators from Maryland County
- List of senators from Montserrado County
- List of senators from Nimba County
- List of senators from River Gee County
- List of senators from Rivercess County
- List of senators from Sinoe County
Notes
- ^ Findley was first elected in 2005, though lost re-election in 2014 and 2020.
- ^ Vacancy created when Senator Jeremiah Koung was elected vice president in 2023.
References
- ^ Results of the 2014 half senate elections
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "2020 SENATORIAL ELECTION RESULTS". National Elections Commission. 2020. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "2023 SENATORIAL ELECTION RESULTS". National Elections Commission. 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "2005 Election Results". National Elections Commission. 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "Liberia: Liberty Party's Candidate Wins Grand Bassa Senatorial By-Election". Heritage Liberia. AllAfrica. May 10, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "2014 Special Senatorial Election - Grand Bassa County". National Elections Commission. 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "2014 Special Senatorial Election - Grand Kru County". National Elections Commission. 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "2022 SENATORIAL BY-ELECTION RESULTS". National Elections Commission. 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "2014 Special Senatorial Election - Maryland County". National Elections Commission. 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b "2018 SENATORIAL BY-ELECTION RESULTS". National Elections Commission. 2018. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Karmo, Henry (August 2, 2019). "Liberia: Opposition Dillon Declared Winner of Montserrado Senatorial Elections; Urey Leaps Ahead of Kamara in District 15. Race". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "2005 Election Results". National Elections Commission. 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "2014 Special Senatorial Election - Nimba County". National Elections Commission. 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Karmo, Henry (March 21, 2024). "Liberia: Senator Prince Johnson's Flip-Flop in Nimba County By-election Endorsement". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
External links
- Official site of the Senate of Liberia at archive.today (archived December 19, 2012)