The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the

state legislature A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, 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. 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 ...

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 houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to executive departments, commissions and boards and Justices to the Rhode Island Judiciary.

Senate leadership

The

President of the Senate President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the speaker in some other assemblies. The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for e ...

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 The current lieutenant governor of Rhode Island is Sabina Matos, who was sworn in on April 14, 2021, after Daniel McKee succeeded to the office of governor. The first lieutenant governor was George Brown. In Rhode Island, the lieutenant gover ...

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 A president pro tempore or speaker pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer. The phrase ''pro tempore'' is Latin "for the time being". ...

presides. The current President of the Senate is Democrat

Dominick J. Ruggerio Dominick J. Ruggerio (born December 19, 1948) is a Democratic member of the Rhode Island Senate, representing the 4th District since 1985. He is currently President of the Rhode Island Senate. A member of the Senate since 1985, he was previou ...

of District 4 (

). The current Senate Majority Leader is

Michael McCaffrey Michael J. McCaffrey (born December 18, 1963) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island Senate representing District 29 since January 2003. He has been the Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader since March 23, 2017. McC ...

of District 4 (

). 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 Glocester is a New England town, town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 9,974 as of the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census. The villages of Chepachet, Rhode Island, Chepachet and Harmony, Rhode Island, Har ...

Democratic Leadership

(D) - President of the Senate *

(D) – Majority Leader *

Maryellen Goodwin Maryellen Goodwin (born September 27, 1964 in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island Senate representing District 24 since January 2005. Goodwin served consecutively from January 1987 un ...

(D) – Majority Whip *

Hanna Gallo Hanna M. Gallo (born November 21, 1956 in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island Senate representing District 27 since January 2003. Gallo served consecutively from January 1999 until Ja ...

(D) – President Pro Tempore

Republican Leadership

(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
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Past composition of the Senate

References

External links

Downloadable Rhode Island District Maps
{{Authority control Rhode Island General Assembly State upper houses in the United States