37°32′20.3″N77°26′1.7″W / 37.538972°N 77.433806°W /37.538972; -77.433806
Senate of Virginia | |
|---|---|
| 163rd Virginia General Assembly | |
 Coat of arms of the Virginia Senate | |
 Seal of the Virginia Senate | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
New session started | January 10, 2024 |
| Leadership | |
Majority Leader | Scott Surovell (D) since January 10, 2024 |
Minority Leader | Ryan McDougle (R) since January 10, 2024 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 40 |
.svg) Seat display Map display | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Authority | Article IV,Virginia Constitution |
| Salary | $18,000/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 7, 2023 (40 seats) |
Next election | November 2, 2027 (40 seats) |
| Redistricting | Commission |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| State Senate Chamber Virginia State Capitol Richmond,Virginia | |
| Website | |
| Virginia General Assembly | |
TheSenate of Virginia is theupper house of theVirginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40senators representing an equal number of single-member constituentdistricts. The Senate is presided over by thelieutenant governor of Virginia. Prior to theAmerican War of Independence, the upper house of the General Assembly was represented by theVirginia Governor's Council, consisting of up to 12 executive counselors appointed by thecolonial royal governor as advisers and jurists.
The lieutenant governor presides daily over the Virginia Senate. In the lieutenant governor's absence, thepresident pro tempore presides, usually a powerful member of the majority party. The Senate is equal with theHouse of Delegates, the lower chamber of thelegislature, except that taxation bills must originate in the House, similar to the federalU.S. Congress. The 40 senatorial districts in Virginia elect their representatives every four years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The last election took place inNovember 2023. There are noterm limits for senators. The Senate also employs 36 pages (ages 13–14) to help with daily tasks during each general session in a full-time residential program of high regard.
The Senate of Virginia was created by the 1776Constitution of Virginia, and originally consisted of twenty-four members.[1] Along with theHouse of Delegates, the Senate comprised a new bicameral legislature designed to replace the colonialVirginia House of Burgesses, which formally dissolved on May 6, 1776.[2] The Senate replaced the legislative functions of the appointedVirginia Council of State.
Pursuant to the original Virginia Constitution, the Senate was only permitted to file amendments, while the House of Delegates had the power to propose bills. Accordingly, the Senate had far less power than the House, until the revised Virginia constitution of 1851 allowed the Senate to propose new laws.[3]
In the2007 elections, theDemocratic Party reclaimed the majority in the Senate for the first time since 1995, when theRepublican Party gained a 20–20 split. The Republicans took control of the Senate for the first time in history after a January 1998 special election. The2011 elections resulted in a 20–20 split between the parties, but as the tie breaker was Republican lieutenant governorBill Bolling, the Republicans effectively regained control.[4]
After the2013 elections, Democratic state senatorRalph Northam became the lieutenant governor, but the Democrats did not regain control of the chamber until January 28, 2014, following a series of special elections including that of Northam's vacated 6th district seat. The Democratic majority would prove short-lived, however, as SenatorPhil Puckett (D-38th) resigned, effective June 8, handing the GOP a majority of 20 to 19. The Republicans solidified their majority following a special election win on August 19, 2014, which increased their total number of seats to 21.[5]
The Democratic Party regained control of Senate after the 2019 election and new members were sworn into office on January 8, 2020.[6][7] As the legislative session opened,Louise Lucas was elected as the first female and African American President Pro Tempore.[8][9]
The annual salary for senators is $18,000 per year.[10] To qualify for office, senators must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the election, residents of the district they represent, and qualified to vote for General Assembly legislators. The regular session of the General Assembly is 60 days long during even numbered years and 30 days long during odd numbered years, unless extended by a two-thirds vote of both houses.[11]
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | |
| 1900–1904 | 38 | 2 |
| 1904–1916 | 35 | 5 |
| 1916–1920 | 36 | 4 |
| 1920–1924 | 34 | 6 |
| 1924–1928 | 39 | 1 |
| 1928–1944 | 38 | 2 |
| 1944–1948 | 37 | 3 |
| 1948–1952 | 38 | 2 |
| 1952–1960 | 37 | 3 |
| 1960–1964 | 38 | 2 |
| 1964–1968 | 37 | 3 |
| 1968–1970 | 34 | 6 |
| 1970–1974 | 33 | 7 |
| 1974–1976 | 34 | 6 |
| 1976–1978 | 35 | 5 |
| 1978–1980 | 34 | 6 |
| 1980–1984 | 31 | 9 |
| 1984–1988 | 32 | 8 |
| 1988–1992 | 30 | 10 |
| 1992–1996 | 22 | 18 |
| 1996–2000 | 20 | 20 |
| 2000–2004 | 19 | 21 |
| 2004–2008 | 17 | 23 |
| 2008–2012 | 22 | 18 |
| 2012–2016 | 20 | 20 |
| 2016–2020 | 19 | 21 |
| 2020–2024 | 22 | 18 |
| 2024–2028 | 21 | 19 |
| ↓ | ||
| 19 | 21 | |
| Republican | Democratic | |
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | AC[a] | Vacant | ||
| 2016–2020 legislative session | 19 | 21 | 40 | 0 | |
| End | 20 | 39 | 1 | ||
| 2020–2024 legislative session | 21 | 18 | 1 | 40 | 0 |
| End | 22 | 16 | 39 | 1 | |
| Start of 2024–2028 legislative session | 21 | 19 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 52.5% | 47.5% | |||
| Lieutenant Governor | Winsome Sears |
| President pro Tempore | Louise Lucas |
| Majority Leader | Scott Surovell |
| Minority Leader | Ryan McDougle |
The Senate of Virginia has 10 Standing Committees and a Committee on Rules.[12]
| Committee | Chair | Ranking Minority Member |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | Dave Marsden | |
| Commerce and Labor | Creigh Deeds | |
| Courts of Justice | Scott Surovell | |
| Education and Health | Ghazala Hashmi | |
| Finance and Appropriations | Louise Lucas | |
| General Laws and Technology | Adam Ebbin | |
| Local Government | Jeremy McPike | |
| Privileges and Elections | Aaron Rouse | |
| Rehabilitation and Social Services | Barbara Favola | |
| Rules | Mamie Locke | |
| Transportation | Jennifer Boysko |
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The Senate of Virginia has its owncoat of arms designed and granted by theCollege of Arms inEngland.[13][14] The coat of arms also makes up the official seal of the Virginia Senate. It bears no resemblance to the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which is the seal of the state as a whole. The shield is based on theCoat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Virginia granted to the state in 1976 by the BritishCollege of Arms.
The coat of arms adopted January 22, 1981, was designed by the College of Arms and based on the coat of arms used by theLondon Company, the royally-chartered English entrepreneurs who funded the European settlement of Virginia. This is not to be confused with the Seal of the London Company, for other than both devices displaying a quartered shield, there is little resemblance between them.
The Senate's arms have a shield in the center which is divided into four sections by a red cross. In each quarter are smaller shields representing the arms of four countries (England,France,Scotland, andIreland) that contributed settlers to Virginia's early waves of European immigration.[13][14]
The four coats of arms, a small crest of a crowned female head with unbound hair representing Queen Elizabeth (theVirgin Queen who named Virginia),[15] and the dragon (part of the Elizabethan royal seal of England) represent Virginia's European heritage.[13][14]
An ivory gavel emblazoned on the vertical arm of the red cross represents the Senate as a law making body. Thecardinal anddogwood depicted are Virginia's officialstate bird andtree. The ribbon contains theLatin motto of the Senate,Floreat Senatus Virginiae, which means "May the Senate of Virginia flourish."[13][14]
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