Massachusetts Senate

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Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts General Court
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type Upper house
Term limits None
New session started January 5, 2011
Leadership
President of the Senate Therese Murray, (D)
since March 21, 2007
President pro Tempore Stanley Rosenberg, (D)
since January 8, 2003
Majority Leader Frederick Berry, (D)
since January 8, 2003
Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, (R)
since January 5, 2011
Structure
Members 40
Political groups Democratic Party (36)
Republican Party (4)
Length of term 2 years
Authority Chapter 1, Massachusetts Constitution
Salary $58,237.15/year + per diem
Elections
Last election November 2, 2010
(40 seats)
Next election November 6, 2012
(40 seats)
Redistricting Legislative Control
Meeting place
Holy Mackerel State House.jpg
State Senate Chamber
Massachusetts State House
Boston, Massachusetts
Website
Massachusetts Senate

The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state. All but one of the districts are named for the counties in which they are located (the "Cape and Islands" district covers Dukes, Nantucket, and parts of Barnstable counties). Senators serve two-year terms, without term limits.[1] The Senate convenes in the Massachusetts State House, in Boston.

The current session is the 187th General Court, which convened January 5, 2011. It consists of 36 Democrats and 4 Republicans. The President of the Senate is Therese Murray of Plymouth. The Senate Majority Leader, from the Democratic Party, is Frederick Berry of Peabody. The Senate Minority Leader, from the Republican Party, is Bruce Tarr of Gloucester. The last state general election was on November 2, 2010.

Contents

[edit] Composition

Democrats hold a supermajority in the Senate.

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature 35 5 40 0
Begin 36 4 40 0
October 13, 2011[2] 35 39 1
January 10, 2012[3] 36 40 0
April 2, 2012[4] 35 39 1
Latest voting share 89.7% 10.3%

[edit] Leadership

Position Name Party Residence District
President Therese Murray Democratic Plymouth Plymouth & Barnstable
President Pro Tempore Stan Rosenberg Democratic Amherst Hampshire & Franklin
Majority Leader Frederick Berry Democratic Peabody 2nd Essex
Minority Leader Bruce Tarr Republican Gloucester 1st Essex and Middlesex

[edit] Members of the 187th Senate

Composition by municipality in the 187th General Court.

The members of the 187th Senate, sorted by district name, are as follows.

Senator Party District Home Town/City Term start
  Downing, BenjaminBenjamin Downing D Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin Pittsfield 02007-01-01Jan. 2007
  Timilty, JamesJames Timilty D Bristol and Norfolk Walpole 02005-01-01Jan. 2005
  Rodrigues, MichaelMichael Rodrigues D 1st Bristol and Plymouth Westport 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Montigny, MarkMark Montigny D 2nd Bristol and Plymouth New Bedford 01993-01-01Jan. 1993
  Wolf, DanDan Wolf D Cape and Islands Harwich 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Vacant[5] 1st Essex
  Berry, FrederickFrederick Berry D 2nd Essex Peabody 01983-01-01Jan. 1983
  Tarr, BruceBruce Tarr R 1st Essex and Middlesex Gloucester 01995-01-01Jan. 1995
  Finegold, BarryBarry Finegold D 2nd Essex and Middlesex Andover 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  McGee, Thomas M.Thomas M. McGee D 3rd Essex and Middlesex Lynn 02002-05-01May 2002
  Welch, James T.James T. Welch D Hampden West Springfield 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Candaras, Gale D.Gale D. Candaras D 1st Hampden and Hampshire Wilbraham 02007-01-01Jan. 2007
  Knapik, MichaelMichael Knapik R 2nd Hampden and Hampshire Westfield 01995-01-01Jan. 1995
  Rosenberg, StanleyStanley Rosenberg D Hampshire and Franklin Amherst 01991-02-01Feb. 1991
  Donoghue, EileenEileen Donoghue D 1st Middlesex Lowell 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Jehlen, Patricia D.Patricia D. Jehlen D 2nd Middlesex Somerville 02005-09-01Sep. 2005
  Fargo, SusanSusan Fargo D 3rd Middlesex Lincoln 01997-01-01Jan. 1997
  Donnelly, KenKen Donnelly D 4th Middlesex Arlington 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Clark, KatherineKatherine Clark D Middlesex and Essex Melrose 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Creem, Cynthia StoneCynthia Stone Creem D 1st Middlesex and Norfolk Newton 01999-01-01Jan. 1999
  Spilka, KarenKaren Spilka D 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk Ashland 02005-01-01Jan. 2005
  DiDomenico, SalSal DiDomenico D Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex Everett 02010-05-01May 2010
  Eldridge, James B.James B. Eldridge D Middlesex and Worcester Acton 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Joyce, BrianBrian Joyce D Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth Milton 01998-01-01Jan. 1998
  Ross, RichardRichard Ross R Norfolk, Bristol & Middlesex Wrentham 02010-05-01May 2010
  Keenan, JohnJohn Keenan D Norfolk and Plymouth Quincy 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Murray, ThereseTherese Murray D Plymouth and Barnstable Plymouth 01993-01-01Jan. 1993
  Pacheco, MarcMarc Pacheco D 1st Plymouth and Bristol Taunton 01993-01-01Jan. 1993
  Kennedy, Thomas P.Thomas P. Kennedy D 2nd Plymouth and Bristol Brockton 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Hedlund, RobertRobert Hedlund R Plymouth and Norfolk Weymouth 01995-01-01Jan. 1995
  Hart, JackJack Hart D 1st Suffolk Boston 02002-02-01Feb. 2002
  Chang-Diaz, SoniaSonia Chang-Diaz D 2nd Suffolk Boston 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Petruccelli, AnthonyAnthony Petruccelli D 1st Suffolk and Middlesex Boston 02008-01-01Jan. 2008
  Will Brownsberger D 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex Belmont 02012-01-01Jan. 2012
  Rush, Michael F.Michael F. Rush D Suffolk and Norfolk Boston 02011-01-01Jan. 2011
  Chandler, HarrietteHarriette Chandler D 1st Worcester Worcester 02001-01-01Jan. 2001
  Moore, Michael O.Michael O. Moore D 2nd Worcester Millbury 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Brewer, StephenStephen Brewer D Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Barre 01997-01-01Jan. 1997
  Flanagan, JenniferJennifer Flanagan D Worcester and Middlesex Leominster 02009-01-01Jan. 2009
  Moore, Richard T.Richard T. Moore D Worcester and Norfolk Uxbridge 01996-04-01Apr. 1996

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Article LXXXII.
  2. ^ Democrat Steven Tolman (2nd Suffolk and Middlesex) resigned to become President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
  3. ^ Democrat William Brownsberger elected to succeed Tolman.
  4. ^ Democrat Steven Baddour (1st Essex district) resigned to join McDermott Will & Emery.
  5. ^ Matarazzo Jr., Bruno (April 2, 2012). "Open race gives local Senate hopefuls a shot". Newburyport Daily News. http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x1560874366/Open-race-gives-local-Senate-hopefuls-a-shot. Retrieved 3 April 2012. 

[edit] External links

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