Type Upper House New session started January 21, 2015 | Term limits None | |
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President of the Senate Ronald D. Kouchi (D)
Since May 5, 2015 Vice President of the Senate Michelle N. Kidani (D)
Since November 5, 2014 Majority Leader J. Kalani English (D)
Since November 4, 2014 | ||
The Hawaiʻi State Senate is the upper chamber of the Hawaii State Legislature. The senate consists of twenty-five members elected from an equal number of constituent districts across the islands. The senate is led by the President of the Senate, elected from the membership of the body, currently Ron Kouchi. The forerunner of the Hawaii State Senate during the government of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was the House of Nobles originated in 1840. In 1894 the Constitution of the Republic of Hawaii renamed the upper house the present senate. Senators are elected to four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Like most state legislatures in the United States, the Hawaii State Senate is a part-time body and senators often have active careers outside government. The lower chamber of the legislature is the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives. The membership of the Senate also elects additional officers to include the Senate Vice President, Senate Chief Clerk, Assistant Chief Clerk, Senate Sergeant at Arms and Assistant Sergeant at Arms.
Contents
Map of Hawaii, USA
The Hawaiʻi Senate convenes in the Hawaiʻi State Capitol in Honolulu.
Composition
The Democratic Party is the sole party in the Hawaii Senate, holding all 25 seats. The Hawaiʻi Senate is also the only state legislative chamber with no minority members.
See also: Politics of Hawaiʻi
Capitol
The Hawaiʻi State Senate has been meeting at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol in downtown Honolulu since March 15, 1969. Previous to the decision of Governor John A. Burns to build the new Capitol building, the Hawaiʻi State Senate met in ʻIolani Palace.