The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of U.S. state of Nevada, the lower house being the Nevada Assembly. It currently (2012–2021) consists of 21 members from single-member districts.[2] In the previous redistricting (2002–2011) there were 19 districts, two of which were multimember. Since 2012, there have been 21 districts, each formed by combining two neighboring state assembly districts. Each state senator represented approximately 128,598 as of the 2010 United States census. Article Four of the Constitution of Nevada sets that state senators serve staggered four-year terms.[3]

In addition, the size of the Senate is set to be no less than one-third and no greater than one-half of the size of the Assembly.[4] Term limits, limiting senators to three 4-year terms (12 years), took effect in 2010. Because of the change in Constitution, seven senators were termed out in 2010, four were termed out in 2012, and one was termed out in 2014. The Senate met at the Nevada State Capitol in Carson City until 1971, when a separate Legislative Building was constructed south of the Capitol. The Legislative Building was expanded in 1997 to its current appearance to accommodate the growing Legislature.

History

Boom and Bust era (1861–1918)

The first session of the Nevada Territorial Legislature was held in 1861. The Council was the precursor to the current Senate and the opposite chamber was called a House of Representatives which was later changed to be called the Assembly. There were nine members of the original Council in 1861 elected from districts as counties were not yet established.[5] Counties were established in the First Session of the Territorial Legislature and the size of the Council was increased to thirteen. From the first session of the Nevada Legislature once statehood was granted the size of the Senate ranged from eighteen members, in 1864, to a low of fifteen members from 1891 through 1899, and a high of twenty-five members from 1875 through 1879.[6]

Little Federalism era (1919–1966)

In 1919 the Senate started a practice called "Little Federalism," where each county received one member of the Nevada Senate regardless of population of said county. This set the Senate membership at seventeen which lasted until 1965–1967. The Supreme Court of the United States issued the opinion in Baker v. Carr in 1962 which found that the redistricting of state legislative districts are not political questions, and thus are justiciable by the federal courts. In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court heard Reynolds v. Sims and struck down state senate inequality, basing their decision on the principle of "one person, one vote." With those two cases being decided on a national level, Nevada Assemblywoman Flora Dungan and Las Vegas resident Clare W. Woodbury, M.D. filed suit in 1965 with the United States District Court for the District of Nevada arguing that Nevada's Senate districts violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and lacked of fair representation and proportional districts. At the time, less than 8 percent of the population of the State of Nevada controlled more than 50 percent of the Senate seats. The District Court found that both the Senate and the Assembly apportionment laws were "invidiously discriminatory, being based upon no constitutionally valid policy.[7]" It was ordered that Governor Grant Sawyer call a Special Session to submit a constitutionally valid reapportionment plan.[8] The 11th Special Session lasted from October 25, 1965 through November 13, 1965 and a plan was adopted to increase the size of the Senate from 17 to 20.

Modern era (1967–present)

The first election after the judicial intervention and newly adopted apportionment law was 1966 and its subsequent legislature consisted of 40 members from the Assembly and 20 members from the Senate. Nine incumbent senators from 1965 were not present in the legislature in 1967.[9] In the 1981 Legislative Session the size of the Senate was increased to twenty-one because of the population growth in Clark County. Following the 2008 election, Democrats took control of the Nevada Senate for the first time since 1991. In January 2011, Senator William Raggio resigned after 38 years of service.[10] On January 18, 2011, the Washoe County Commission selected former member of the Nevada Assembly and former United States Attorney Gregory Brower to fill the vacancy and remainder of the term of Senator William Raggio. After the 76th Session and the decennial redistricting the boundary changes and demographic profiles of the districts prompted a resignation of Senator Sheila Leslie, in February 2012, and she announced her intention to run against Sen. Greg Brower in 2012.[11] Later in February 2012, citing personal reasons, Senator Elizabeth Halseth resigned her suburban/rural Clark County seat.[12]

Legislative sessions

Legislative SessionParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
DemocraticRepublican
62nd Legislative Session, 196711920
63rd Legislative Session, 196911920
56th Legislative Session, 197113720
57th Legislative Session, 197314620
58th Legislative Session, 197517320
59th Legislative Session, 197717320
60th Legislative Session, 197915520
61st Legislative Session, 198115520
62nd Legislative Session, 198317421
63rd Legislative Session, 198513821
64th Legislative Session, 198791221
65th Legislative Session, 198981321
66th Legislative Session, 1991111021
67th Legislative Session, 1993101121
68th Legislative Session, 199581321
69th Legislative Session, 199791221
70th Legislative Session, 199991221
71st Legislative Session,200191221
72nd Legislative Session, 200381321
73rd Legislative Session, 2005101121
74th Legislative Session, 2007101121
75th Legislative Session, 200912921
76th Legislative Session, 2011111021
77th Legislative Session, 2013111021
78th Legislative Session, 2015101121
79th Legislative Session, 201711821
80th Legislative Session, 201913821
81st Legislative Session, 202112921
82nd Legislative Session, 202313821
Latest voting share61.9%38.1%

Current session

138
DemocraticRepublican
AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
DemocraticIndRepublicanVacant
Begin 78th, February 201410011210
End 78th, November 2016
Begin 79th, February 201711010210
End 79th, November 20181018192
November 7, 2018[13]1308210
December 4, 2018[14]
March 5, 2019[15]12201
March 15, 2019[16]13210
Begin 82nd, February 20231308210
October 26, 2023[17]7201
Latest voting share65%35%

Historical activity of political parties

Socialist Party of AmericaSilver PartyPeople's Party (United States)Republican PartyNational Union Party (United States)Democratic Party

Composition and leadership of the 82nd Legislative session

Presiding over the Senate

The president of the Senate is the body's highest officer, although they only vote in the case of a tie, and only on procedural matters. Per Article 5, Section 17 of the Nevada Constitution, the lieutenant governor of Nevada serves as Senate president. In their absence, the president pro tempore presides and has the power to make commission and committee appointments. The president pro tempore is elected to the position by the majority party. The other partisan Senate leadership positions, such as the leader of the Senate and minority leader, are elected by their respective party caucuses to head their parties in the chamber. The current president of the Senate is Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony of the Republican Party.

Non-member officers

On the first day of a regular session, the Senate elects the non-member, nonpartisan administrative officers including the secretary of the Senate and the Senate sergeant at arms. The secretary of the Senate serves as the parliamentarian and chief administrative officer of the Senate and the sergeant at arms is chief of decorum and order for the Senate floor, galleries, and committee rooms. Claire J. Clift was originally appointed by then Republican Senate majority leader William Raggio. The Democratic Party took the majority in 2008 and she was retained until 2010.[18] In August 2010, then Senate majority leader Steven Horsford appointed David Byerman as the 41st secretary of the Senate.[19] The day after the 2014 general election, David Byerman was removed from his position and the previous secretary, Claire J. Clift, was re-appointed.[20] Retired chief of police Robert G. Milby was chosen as the Senate sergeant at arms for the 78th Legislative by the Republican majority leader. Both of the elected non-member officers serve at the pleasure of the Senate, thus they have a two-year term until the succeeding session. The Senate also approves by resolution the remainder of the nonpartisan Senate Session staff to work until the remainder of the 120 calendar day session.

82nd Session leadership

Leadership

PositionNamePartyDistrict
President/Lt. GovernorStavros AnthonyRepublicanN/A
President pro temporePat SpearmanDemocraticDistrict 1

Majority leadership

PositionNamePartyDistrict
Majority LeaderNicole CannizzaroDemocraticDistrict 6
Assistant Majority LeaderRoberta LangeDemocraticDistrict 7
Chief Majority WhipDallas HarrisDemocraticDistrict 11
Co-Majority WhipFabian DoñateDemocraticDistrict 10
Co-Majority WhipMelanie ScheibleDemocraticDistrict 9

Minority leadership

PositionNamePartyDistrict
Minority LeaderHeidi GansertRepublicanDistrict 15
Assistant Minority LeaderCarrie BuckRepublicanDistrict 5
Minority Co-WhipLisa KrasnerRepublicanDistrict 16
Minority Co-WhipJeff StoneRepublicanDistrict 20

Members of the 82nd Senate

Districts of the Nevada Assembly are nested inside the Senate districts, two per Senate district. The final Legislative redistricting plans as created by the Special Masters in 2011 and approved by District Court Judge James Todd Russell represent the first time since statehood Nevada's Assembly districts are wholly nested inside of a Senate district. Each Assembly district represents 1/42nd of Nevada's population and there are two Assembly districts per Senate district which represents 1/21st of Nevada's population.[21]

DistrictAssembly
Districts
NamePartyResidenceAssumed officeNext election
11, 17Pat SpearmanDemocraticNorth Las Vegas201220242
211, 28Edgar FloresDemocraticLas Vegas20222026
33, 10Rochelle NguyenDemocraticLas Vegas202212024
46, 7Dina NealDemocraticLas Vegas20202024
522, 29Carrie BuckRepublicanHenderson20202024
634, 37Nicole CannizzaroDemocraticLas Vegas20162024
718, 20Roberta LangeDemocraticLas Vegas20202024
82, 5Marilyn Dondero LoopDemocraticLas Vegas20182026
99, 42Melanie ScheibleDemocraticLas Vegas20182026
1015, 16Fabian DoñateDemocraticLas Vegas202112026
118, 35Dallas HarrisDemocraticLas Vegas201812024
1221, 41Julie PazinaDemocraticLas Vegas20222026
1324, 30Skip DalyDemocraticSparks20222026
1431, 32Ira HansenRepublicanSparks20182026
1525, 27Heidi GansertRepublicanReno20162024
1626, 40Lisa KrasnerRepublicanReno20222026
1738, 39Robin TitusRepublicanWellington20222026
184, 13Vacant2024
1933, 36Pete GoicoecheaRepublicanEureka201220242
2019, 23Jeff StoneRepublicanLas Vegas20222026
2112, 14James OhrenschallDemocraticLas Vegas20182026
  • 1 Senator was originally appointed.
  • 2 Due to term limits in the Nevada Constitution this individual is not eligible for re-election or appointment to the Nevada Senate

Senate standing committees of the 80th Session

CommitteeChairVice ChairRanking Member of the MinorityNumber of Members
Commerce and LaborPatricia SpearmanVacantJoseph P. Hardy8
EducationMo DenisJoyce WoodhouseScott Hammond7
FinanceJoyce WoodhouseDavid ParksJames A. Settelmeyer8
Government AffairsDavid ParksMelanie ScheiblePete Goicoechea5
Growth and InfrastructureYvanna CancelaChris BrooksJoseph P. Hardy8
Health and Human ServicesJulia RattiPat SpearmanJoseph P. Hardy5
JudiciaryNicole CannizzaroDallas HarrisScott T. Hammond8
Legislative Operations and ElectionsJames OhrenschallNicole CannizzaroHeidi Seevers Gansert5
Natural ResourcesMelanie ScheibleChris BrooksPete Goicoechea5
Revenue and Economic DevelopmentMarilyn Dondero LoopJulia RattiBen Kieckhefer5

Standing committees in the Senate have their jurisdiction set by the Senate Rules as adopted through Senate Resolution 1. To see an overview of the jurisdictions of standing committees in the Senate, see Standing Rules of the Senate, Section V, Rule 40.

Past composition of the Senate

See also

References

  1. ^ {{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/term-lengths.htm.html#TermLength |title=the Senate & the U.S. Constitution and 6-year terms |publisher=U.S. Senate|access-date=March 26, 2024}
  2. ^ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts" (PDF). Legislative Counsel Bureau. January 6, 2012.
  3. ^ "Nevada Constitution". Legislative Counsel Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  4. ^ "Nevada Constitution". Legislative Counsel Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  5. ^ "Political History of Nevada" (PDF). Nevada State Printing Office. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  6. ^ "Political History of Nevada" (PDF). Nevada State Printing Office. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  7. ^ Dungan v. Sawyer, 250 F.Supp. 480 (1965)
  8. ^ Dungan v. Sawyer, 250 F.Supp. 480 (1965)
  9. ^ "Political History of Nevada, Pages 284-286" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 15, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  10. ^ Sen. William Raggio (January 5, 2012). "Letter to Washoe County Commission" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Leslie Resigns State Senate Seat to Run in New District 15". Las Vegas Review Journal. February 15, 2012.
  12. ^ "Republican Halseth Resigning Senate Seat". Las Vegas Review Journal. February 17, 2012.
  13. ^ Election results. State legislators in Nevada assume office the day after the election.
  14. ^ Democrats Tick Segerblom (District 3) and Aaron D. Ford (District 11) resigned in order to take office as Clark County Commissioner and Attorney General of Nevada, respectively. The Clark County Commission selected Democrats Chris Brooks and Dallas Harris respectively to succeed them in the Senate. [1]
  15. ^ Democrat Kelvin Atkinson (District 4) resigned. [2]
  16. ^ Democrat Marcia Washington appointed to replace Atkinson. [3]
  17. ^ Republican Scott Hammond (District 18) resigned. [4]
  18. ^ Sean Whaley (May 25, 2010). "In Surprise Move, State Senate Majority Leader Replaces Long-Time Top Staffer". Nevada News Bureau.
  19. ^ "Nevada Senate Majority Leader Picks Census Bureau Liaison to Serve in Top Administrative Post". Nevada News Bureau. August 18, 2010.
  20. ^ "Claire Clift to return as Senate Secretary". Nevada Appeal. November 8, 2014.
  21. ^ Redistricting in Nevada

External links

39°09′44″N 119°45′58″W / 39.162278°N 119.766136°W / 39.162278; -119.766136