View source for Michigan Senate

{{Short description|Upper house of the Michigan Legislature}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color = {{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}
| name              =
 Michigan State Senate
| legislature       = [[Michigan Legislature]]
| coa_pic           = Seal of Michigan.svg
| house_type        = Upper house
| body              = Michigan Legislature
| term_length       = 4 years
| term_limits       = 3 terms (12 years)
| foundation        = January 26, 1837
| motto             = ''In God We Trust''
| preceded_by       = [[Michigan Territorial Council]]
| new_session       = January 8, 2025
| leader1_type      = [[Lieutenant Governor of Michigan|President]]
| leader1           = [[Garlin Gilchrist]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election1         = January 1, 2019
| leader2_type      = President pro tempore
| leader2           = [[Jeremy Moss]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election2         = January 11, 2023
| leader3_type      = [[List of majority leaders of the Michigan Senate|Majority Leader]]
| leader3           = [[Winnie Brinks]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election3         = January 1, 2023
| leader4_type      = Minority Leader
| leader4           = [[Aric Nesbitt]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| election4         = January 11, 2023
| members           = '''38''' voting members
| political_groups1 = '''Majority'''
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}|border=silver}} [[Michigan Democratic Party|Democratic]] (19)}}
'''Minority'''
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}|border=silver}} [[Michigan Republican Party|Republican]] (18)}}
'''Vacant'''
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Vacant (US)}}|border=silver}} Vacant (1)}}
| structure1        = [[File:Michigan State Senate.svg|Michigan State Senate]]
| structure1_res    = 250px
| salary            = $71,685 salary/year + $10,800 per diem/year
| authority         = Article IV, [[Michigan Constitution]]
| last_election1    = [[2022 Michigan Senate election|November 8, 2022]]<br>(38 seats)
| next_election1    = [[2026 Michigan Senate election|November 3, 2026]]<br>(38 seats)
| meeting_place     = State Senate Chamber<br>[[Michigan State Capitol]]<br>[[Lansing, Michigan]]
| session_room      = Michigan Senate.jpg
| redistricting     = Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
| website           = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes      = 
}}
The '''Michigan Senate''' is the [[upper house]] of the [[Michigan Legislature]]. Along with the [[Michigan House of Representatives]], it composes the state legislature, which has powers, roles and duties defined by Article IV of the [[Constitution of Michigan|Michigan Constitution]], adopted in 1963.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(qzvrtukff32yqyac5xpro43c))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-Article-IV-1 |title = Article IV Section 1 |work = Michigan Constitution of 1963 |publisher = Michigan Legislature }}</ref> The primary purpose of the Legislature is to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws.

The Michigan Senate is composed of 38 members, each elected from a [[single-member district]] with a population of between approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents.<ref name="Senate Information">{{cite web |url = http://www.senate.michigan.gov/senateinfo.html |title = Senate Information |publisher = Michigan Senate }}</ref> Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures, provided by the federal decennial census. In January 2023, Democrats took the majority with 20 seats to Republicans' 18 seats. The Senate chamber is located in the State Capitol building.<ref name="Senate Information"/>

==Titles==
Members of the Michigan Senate are called senators. Because this shadows the terminology used to describe members of the [[United States Senate]], constituents and the news media, using [[AP Stylebook|''The Associated Press Stylebook'']], often refer to members of the Michigan Senate as state senators when necessary to avoid confusion with their federal counterparts.

==Terms==
Senators are elected on a partisan basis for four-year terms, concurrent with the election of the [[Governor of Michigan]]. Terms for senators begin on January 1 at noon, following the November general election and end on January 1 when their replacements are sworn in.<ref name="Senate Information"/>

Senate elections are always held two years after the election for [[President of the United States]], with the next election scheduled for November 3, 2026.

==Term limits==
On November 3, 1992, almost 59 percent of Michigan voters backed Proposal B, the Michigan Term Limits Amendment, which amended the state constitution, to enact term limits on federal and state officials. In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not enact congressional term limits, but ruled that the state-level term limits remain. Under the amendment, a person could be elected to the state senate two times. A provision governing partial terms was also included. These provisions became Article IV, section 54 and Article V, section 30 of the Michigan Constitution.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Const_Amend_189834_7.pdf |title = Constitutional Amendments |publisher = Michigan Legislature }}</ref> On November 8, 2022, nearly 2 in 3 voters approved Proposal 1, limiting state legislators to 12 years combined in either chamber of the legislature, but incumbent senators re-elected in 2022 would remain eligible for their new terms even if it pushed them over the 12-year limit and newly elected senators would similarly be eligible for a second term in 2026 regardless of previous legislative service.<ref>{{Cite web |last = DesOrmeau |first = Taylor |date = November 9, 2022 |title = Proposal 1: Voters pass plan to shorten term limits, require politicians to disclose finances |url = https://www.mlive.com/politics/2022/11/proposal-1-voters-pass-plan-to-shorten-term-limits-require-politicians-to-disclose-finances.html |access-date = November 22, 2022 |website = MLive |language = en }}</ref>

==Qualifications==
Each senator must be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, and an elector of the district they represent. Under state law, moving out of the district shall be deemed a vacation of the office. No person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be eligible for either house of the legislature.

==Legislative session==
For reckoning periods of time during which the legislature operates, each two-year period coinciding with the election of new members of the House of Representatives is numbered consecutively as a legislature, dating to the first legislature following Michigan's admission as a state. The current two-year term of the legislature (January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026) is the 103rd Legislature.

Each year during which the legislature meets constitutes a new legislative session. According to Article IV Section 13 of the State Constitution, a new session of the legislature begins when the members of each house convene, on the second Wednesday of January every year at noon. A regular session of the legislature typically lasts throughout the entire year with several periods of recess and adjourns ''[[sine die]]'' in late December.

The Michigan legislature is one of ten full-time state legislative bodies in the United States.<ref name=NCSL>{{cite web |url = http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/full-and-part-time-legislatures.aspx |title = Full- and Part-Time Legislatures |author = National Conference of State Legislatures |publisher = National Conference of State Legislatures }}</ref> Members receive a base salary of $71,685 per year, which makes them the fourth-highest paid state legislators in the country, after California, Pennsylvania and New York. While legislators in many states receive per diems that make up for lower salaries, Michigan legislators receive $10,800 per year for session and interim expenses.<ref name=NCSL/> Salaries and expense allowances are determined by the State Officers Compensation Commission.

Any legislation pending in either chamber at the end of a session that is not the end of a legislative term of office continues and carries over to the next legislative session.

==Powers and process==
The Michigan legislature is authorized by the [[Michigan Constitution]] to create and amend the laws of the U.S. state of Michigan, subject to the governor's power to veto legislation. To do so, legislators propose legislation in the forms of bills drafted by a nonpartisan, professional staff. Successful legislation must undergo committee review, three [[Reading (legislature)|readings]] on the floor of each house, with appropriate voting majorities, as required, and either be signed into law by the governor or enacted through a veto override approved by two-thirds of the membership of each legislative house.<ref>{{cite book |url = http://house.michigan.gov/citizens.asp |title = Citizens Guide |publisher = Michigan House of Representatives }}</ref>

== Composition ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-style="vertical-align:bottom"
! rowspan=3 | Affiliation
! colspan=2 | Party <div style="font-size:80%">(Shading indicates majority caucus)</div>
! rowspan=3|Total
!
|-style="height:5px"
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| style="background: black" |
|-
! [[Michigan Republican Party|Republican]]
! [[Michigan Democratic Party|Democratic]] 
! Vacant
|-
! nowrap style="font-size:80%"|End of Previous Legislature
| {{party shading/Republican}}| 22
|16
!38
|0
|-
|colspan=5|
|-
! nowrap style="font-size:80%"|Begin Legislature (2023)
|rowspan=2|18
|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 20
!38
|0
|-
! nowrap style="font-size:80%"|January 3, 2025<ref>Democrat [[Kristen McDonald Rivet]] (District 35) resigned upon being sworn in to Congress.</ref>
|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 19
!37
|1
|-
|colspan=5|
|-
! Latest voting share
! {{percentage|18|37|1}}
! {{party shading/Democratic}} | {{percentage|19|37|1}}
! colspan=2 |
|}

===Leadership===
The Michigan Senate is headed by the [[Lieutenant Governor of Michigan]], who serves as President of the Senate but may cast a vote only in the instance of a tie.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(5utpbffwt4ndq2bw1hxvmk45))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-Article-V-25 |title = Article V, Section 25 |work = Michigan Constitution of 1963 |publisher = Michigan Legislature }}</ref> The presiding officers of the senate, apart from the president, are elected by the body at its first session and serve until their term of office is up.<ref name="rules"/> Majority and minority party officers are elected at the same time by their respective caucuses.<ref name="rules">{{cite book |chapter = Chapter 1, Section 1 |chapter-url = http://www.senate.michigan.gov/rulesandappts/senaterules.html |title = Senate Rules |publisher = Michigan State Senate |access-date = December 26, 2016 }}</ref>

The senate majority leader controls the assignment of committees and leadership positions, along with control of the agenda in the chamber.

* President: [[Garlin Gilchrist]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90502---,00.html |title = Senate Leadership |publisher = Michigan Senate }}</ref>
* President ''Pro Tempore'': [[Jeremy Moss]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* [[List of Majority Leaders of the Michigan Senate|Majority Leader]]: [[Winnie Brinks]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* Assistant President ''Pro Tempore'': [[Erika Geiss]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* Associate President ''Pro Tempore'' of the Michigan Senate: [[Joe Bellino (politician)|Joe Bellino]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
* Assistant Majority Leader: [[Darrin Camilleri]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* Majority Floor Leader: [[Sam Singh]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* Assistant Majority Floor Leader: [[Jeff Irwin (politician)|Jeff Irwin]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* Majority Caucus Chairperson: [[Dayna Polehanki]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* Assistant Majority Caucus Chairperson: [[Veronica Klinefelt]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* Majority Whip: [[Mallory McMorrow]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* Assistant Majority Whip: [[Mary Cavanagh]] ([[Michigan Democratic Party|D]])
* Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate: [[Aric Nesbitt]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
* Assistant Minority Leader: [[Rick Outman]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
* Minority Floor Leader: [[Dan Lauwers]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
* Assistant Minority Floor Leader: [[Lana Theis]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
* Minority Caucus Chair: [[Kevin Daley (politician)|Kevin Daley]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
* Assistant Minority Caucus Chair: [[Jim Runestad]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
* Minority Whip: [[Roger Victory]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])
* Assistant Minority Whip: [[Mark Huizenga]] ([[Michigan Republican Party|R]])

==Members, 2023–2026==
[[File:Michigan Senate Membership 2023.png|thumb|376x376px|Senate districts and party affiliation as of 2023]]
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! District !! Senator !! Party !! Residence !! Term !! Eligible for<br>re-election in 2026
|-
| [[Michigan's 1st Senate district|1]] || [[Erika Geiss]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Taylor, Michigan|Taylor]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 2nd Senate district|2]] || [[Sylvia Santana]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Detroit]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 3rd Senate district|3]] || [[Stephanie Chang]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Detroit]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 4th Senate district|4]] || [[Darrin Camilleri]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Brownstown Charter Township, Michigan|Brownstown]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 5th Senate district|5]] || [[Dayna Polehanki]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Livonia, Michigan|Livonia]] || 2nd || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 6th Senate district|6]] || [[Mary Cavanagh]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Redford, Michigan|Redford]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 7th Senate district|7]] || [[Jeremy Moss]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[Southfield, Michigan|Southfield]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 8th Senate district|8]] || [[Mallory McMorrow]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[Royal Oak, Michigan|Royal Oak]] || 2nd || Yes 
|-
| [[Michigan's 9th Senate district|9]] || [[Michael Webber (politician)|Michael Webber]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Rochester Hills, Michigan|Rochester Hills]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 10th Senate district|10]] || [[Paul Wojno]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[Warren, Michigan|Warren]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 11th Senate district|11]] ||[[Veronica Klinefelt]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Eastpointe, Michigan|Eastpointe]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 12th Senate district|12]] || [[Kevin Hertel]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[St. Clair Shores, Michigan|St. Clair Shores]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 13th Senate district|13]] || [[Rosemary Bayer]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[Beverly Hills, Michigan|Beverly Hills]] || 2nd || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 14th Senate district|14]] || [[Sue Shink]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 15th Senate district|15]] || [[Jeff Irwin (politician)|Jeff Irwin]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 16th Senate district|16]] || [[Joe Bellino (politician)|Joe Bellino]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  || [[Monroe, Michigan|Monroe]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 17th Senate district|17]] || [[Jonathan Lindsey]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  || [[Bronson, Michigan|Bronson]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 18th Senate district|18]] || [[Thomas Albert (politician)|Thomas Albert]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Lowell, Michigan|Lowell]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 19th Senate district|19]] || [[Sean McCann (politician)|Sean McCann]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem || [[Kalamazoo]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 20th Senate district|20]] || [[Aric Nesbitt]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  ||  [[Porter Township, Van Buren County, Michigan|Porter Township]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 21st Senate district|21]] || [[Sarah Anthony]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 22nd Senate district|22]] || [[Lana Theis]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  || [[Brighton Township, Michigan|Brighton Township]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 23rd Senate district|23]] || [[Jim Runestad]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  ||  [[White Lake, Michigan|White Lake Township]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 24th Senate district|24]] || [[Ruth Johnson]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  || [[Holly, Michigan|Holly]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 25th Senate district|25]] || [[Dan Lauwers]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  || [[Capac, Michigan|Capac]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 26th Senate district|26]] || [[Kevin Daley (politician)|Kevin Daley]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  || [[Lum, Michigan|Lum]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 27th Senate district|27]] || [[John Cherry III (politician)|John Cherry]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 28th Senate district|28]] || [[Sam Singh]]|| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[East Lansing, Michigan|East Lansing]] || 1st || Yes 
|-
| [[Michigan's 29th Senate district|29]] || [[Winnie Brinks]] || {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Dem  || [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 30th Senate district|30]] || [[Mark Huizenga]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  || [[Walker, Michigan|Walker]] || 2nd (1st full) || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 31st Senate district|31]] || [[Roger Victory]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  || [[Hudsonville, Michigan|Hudsonville]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 32nd Senate district|32]] || [[Jon Bumstead]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep ||  [[Newaygo, Michigan|Newaygo]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 33rd Senate district|33]] || [[Rick Outman]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Six Lakes, Michigan|Six Lakes]] || 2nd || No
|-
| [[Michigan's 34th Senate district|34]] || [[Roger Hauck]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Mount Pleasant, Michigan|Mount Pleasant]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 35th Senate district|35]] || ''Vacant''|| | || ||
|-
| [[Michigan's 36th Senate district|36]] || [[Michele Hoitenga]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Manton, Michigan|Manton]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 37th Senate district|37]] || [[John Damoose]]|| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep  || [[Harbor Springs, Michigan|Harbor Springs]] || 1st || Yes
|-
| [[Michigan's 38th Senate district|38]] || [[Ed McBroom]] || {{Party shading/Republican}} | Rep || [[Vulcan, Michigan|Vulcan]] || 2nd || No
|-
|}

== Past composition of the Senate ==
{{main|Political party strength in Michigan}}

==See also==
*[[Government of Michigan]]
*[[Michigan Legislature]]
*[[Michigan State Capitol]]
*[[Michigan House of Representatives]]
*[[Michigan Republican Party]]
*[[Michigan Democratic Party]]
*[[Lieutenant Governor of Michigan]]
*[[List of majority leaders of the Michigan Senate]]
*Michigan Senate elections:
**[[2002 Michigan Senate election|2002]]
**[[2006 Michigan Senate election|2006]]
**[[2010 Michigan Senate election|2010]]
**[[2014 Michigan Senate election|2014]]
**[[2018 Michigan Senate election|2018]]
**[[2022 Michigan Senate election|2022]]
**[[2026 Michigan Senate election|2026]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://senate.michigan.gov/ Michigan Senate]
* [http://www.misenategop.com/ Republican Party Caucus, Michigan Senate]
* [http://www.senate.michigan.gov/dem/ Democratic Party Caucus, Michigan Senate]

{{Michigan Senate}}
{{United States legislatures}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michigan Senate}}
[[Category:Michigan Senate| ]]
[[Category:State upper houses in the United States]]
[[Category:Government of Michigan]]
[[Category:Lansing, Michigan]]