Everything about The Alaska Senate totally explained
The
Alaska Senate is the
upper house in the
Alaska Legislature, the
state legislature of the
U.S. state of
Alaska. The Senate consists of 20 members, each of whom represents a district of about 31,347 people (2000 figures). Senators serve four-year terms, without
term limits. Half of the Alaska Senate is up for re-election every two years. With just 20 Senators, the Alaska Senate is the smallest legislative chamber in the
United States.
Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal
U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state
cabinet, commissions and boards.
The Senate convenes at the
State Capitol in
Juneau.
Current composition
Leadership
The
President of the Senate presides over the body, appointing members to all of the Senate's committees and joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. Unlike other states, the
Lieutenant Governor of Alaska doesn't preside over the Senate. Instead, the Lieutenant Governor oversees the
Alaska Division of Elections, fulfilling the role of
Secretary of State as in a majority of U.S. states. Only two other states,
Hawaii and
Utah, have similar constitutional arrangements for their lieutenant governors. The other partisan Senate leadership positions, such as the
Majority and
Minority leaders, are (usually) elected by their respective party caucuses to head their parties in the chamber.
Current leadership
The
President of the Senate is
Republican Lyda Green of District G (
Matanuska-Susitna Valley). The
Majority Leader is
Republican Gary Stevens of District R (
Kodiak). The
Minority Leader is
Republican Gene Therriault of District F (North Pole).
Republican split
Shortly after the 2006 November election, a bi-partisan
coalition was announced between all nine senate Democrats and six
(External Link
) senate Republicans. Democrats will chair the
Judiciary,
Health, Education, & Social Services,
Labor and Commerce,
Community and Regional Affairs, and
Transportation Committees, as well as co-chair the powerful
Finance Committee. The senate Republicans in the coalition will also have a co-chair for the Finance Committee (the minority Republicans will only be giving one seat on the committee), and chair the
State Affairs,
Resources, and
Rules Committees
(External Link).
Because of the Republican split, the Democrats control a majority of committee chairmanships while Republicans in the governing coalition chair the others. The
majority leader is the same legislator as it was in the last session, a Republican, who has joined the bi-partisan coalition. Because of this, the
minority leader is head of the five-member Republican organization. Hence, all three listed officers of the body are Republicans, as different aspects are in the majority (with the chamber-wide minority Democrats) while others are in the official minority.
The split is largely viewed as over the senate presidency. The
minority leader was the Republicans' suspected, initial choice for Senate President
(External Link). The coalition commands three-quarters of the body.
A similar move was made in the 24th Legislature, on the House side. It, however, was torn apart.
Current membership
Further Information
Get more info on 'Alaska Senate'.
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