Organization of the Senate

• The Senate of Virginia consists of 40 members.  Each member is elected for a term of four years and receives an annual salary of $18,000.  A Senator represents approximately 200,000 citizens of the Commonwealth.

• Article IV, Section 4 of the Virginia Constitution details the following qualifications for a Senator:

  • at least 21 years of age

• a resident of the senatorial district for which they are seeking to represent

• qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly

The Clerk of the Senate is elected by the Senate for a four-year term and continues in office until another is chosen.  The Rules of the Senate allow for the Clerk to hire staff as necessary to perform the work of the Senate.  Duties with which the Clerk is tasked include:

• overseeing the daily operation of the Senate

• maintaining all Senate records

• keeping the daily Journal

• referring bills to committees

• overseeing personnel

• coordinating information technology needs

• managing facilities.

The Lieutenant Governor of Virginia is the presiding officer of the Senate and is elected in a statewide election for a four-year term.  In the event of their absence, the President pro tempore, a Senator elected by the Senate as a whole, carries out the duties of the presiding officer.

In the event of the Lieutenant Governor's absence, the President pro tempore carries out the duties of the presiding officer.  The President pro tempore is a member of the Senate elected by the Senate for a term of four years.

In 1972, the Senate established new officers to provide the Senators from each major political party to elect a Floor Leader to represent them on issues relating to the rules and the administration of the Senate.

The Majority Leader represents the political party with the most members.  The Minority Leader represents the political party with the second highest number of members.

The Senate has standing committees in order to handle the large volume of bills introduced.  This affords the opportunity for all bills to receive careful consideration.  The Clerk of the Senate refers all Senate bills to one of the ten standing committees or the Committee on Rules, according to the subject matter.  The following is a list of Senate committees:

• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

• Commerce and Labor

• Courts of Justice

• Education and Health

• Finance and Appropriations

• General Laws and Technology

• Local Government

• Privileges and Elections

• Rehabilitation and Social Services

• Rules

• Transportation