The Rhode Island Senate is the
upper house
An upper house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house.''Bicameralism'' (1997) by George Tsebelis The house formally designated as the upper house is usually smalle ...
of the
Rhode Island General Assembly
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly is the state legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. A bicameral body, it is composed of the lower house, lower Rhode Island House of Representatives with 75 re ...
, the
state legislature of the U.S. state of
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...
, the
lower house
A lower house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has co ...
being the
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, the upper house being the Rhode Island Senate. It is composed of 75 members, elected ...
. It is composed of 38 Senators, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Rhode Island is one of the 14 states where its upper house serves at a two-year cycle, rather than the normal four-year term as in most states. There is no limit to the number of terms that a Senator may serve. The Rhode Island Senate meets at the
Rhode Island State Capitol
The Rhode Island State House, the capitol of the state of Rhode Island, is located at 900 Smith Street just below the crest of Smith Hill, on the border of downtown in Providence. It is a neoclassical building designed by McKim, Mead & White ...
in
Providence
Providence often refers to:
* Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion
* Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity
* Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...
.
Like other
upper house
An upper house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house.''Bicameralism'' (1997) by George Tsebelis The house formally designated as the upper house is usually smalle ...
s of
state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State
* ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
* ''Our S ...
and territorial legislatures and the federal
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
, the Senate can confirm or reject
gubernatorial
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
appointments to executive departments, commissions and boards and Justices to the
Rhode Island Judiciary Rhode may refer to:
*In Greek mythology:
:*Rhodos, goddess and personification of the island of Rhodes
:*Rhode, one of the fifty daughters of Danaus
* ''Rhode'' (spider), a genus of spiders
*Rhode (surname)
*Rhode, County Offaly, an Irish town
*Rh ...
.
Senate 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 most other states, the
Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island does not preside over the Senate, and is instead active in other areas such as state commissions on health and businesses. In the Senate President's absence, the
President Pro Tempore presides.
The current President of the Senate is
Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
Dominick J. Ruggerio of District 4 (
Providence
Providence often refers to:
* Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion
* Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity
* Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...
). The current Senate
Majority Leader
In U.S. politics (as well as in some other countries utilizing the presidential system), the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body. is
Michael McCaffrey of District 4 (
Providence
Providence often refers to:
* Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion
* Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity
* Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...
). The Senate
Minority Leader is
Jessica de la Cruz
Jessica de la Cruz (born July 20, 1981) is an American politician serving as a member of the Rhode Island Senate from the 23rd district, which includes the communities of Burrillville, Pascoag, Mapleville, and Chepachet.https://ballotpedia.or ...
of District 23 (
Burrillville,
Glocester).
Democratic Leadership
*
Dominick J. Ruggerio (D) - President of the Senate
*
Michael McCaffrey (D) – Majority Leader
*
Maryellen Goodwin (D) – Majority Whip
*
Hanna Gallo (D) – President Pro Tempore
Republican Leadership
*
Jessica de la Cruz
Jessica de la Cruz (born July 20, 1981) is an American politician serving as a member of the Rhode Island Senate from the 23rd district, which includes the communities of Burrillville, Pascoag, Mapleville, and Chepachet.https://ballotpedia.or ...
(R) – Minority Leader
*
Gordon Rogers (R) - Minority Whip
Committee leadership
Make-up of the Senate
:''2019-2021 Legislative Session''
Members of the Rhode Island Senate
Key Senate Staff
* Jacob Bissaillon - Chief of Staff
* Greg Pare – Director of Communications
* Kristen M. Silvia – Director of Legislation and Deputy Chief of Staff
*John Fleming- Secretary of the Senate
* John S. Baxter, Jr. – Director of Constituent Services
* Stephen Whitney – Senate Fiscal Advisor
* Nora Crowley – Director of Policy
* Charlotte Desautels – Deputy Chief of Staff
* Tracey McConnell - Executive Assistant to the Majority Leader
* Brandon Bell – Minority Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel
* Katie Haughey-Cardoza - Minority Director of Communications
RI Government Owners Manual
/ref>
Past composition of the Senate
See also
*Rhode Island State Capitol
The Rhode Island State House, the capitol of the state of Rhode Island, is located at 900 Smith Street just below the crest of Smith Hill, on the border of downtown in Providence. It is a neoclassical building designed by McKim, Mead & White ...
*Rhode Island General Assembly
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly is the state legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. A bicameral body, it is composed of the lower house, lower Rhode Island House of Representatives with 75 re ...
*Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, the upper house being the Rhode Island Senate. It is composed of 75 members, elected ...
References
External links
Downloadable Rhode Island District Maps
{{Authority control
Rhode Island General Assembly
State upper houses in the United States