South Carolina Senate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Carolina State Senate
South Carolina General Assembly
Seal of the South Carolina Senate
Type
Type	Upper House
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 9, 2024
Leadership
President	Thomas C. Alexander (R) Since December 6, 2021
Majority Leader	A. Shane Massey (R) Since April 6, 2016
Minority Leader	Brad Hutto (D) Since November 17, 2020
Clerk	Jeffrey S. Gossett Since January 9, 2001
Assistant Clerk	Kenneth M. Moffitt Since September 2, 2014
Reading Clerk	John O. Wienges Since January 11, 1994
Structure
Seats	46
Political groups	Majority      Republican (30) Minority      Democratic (15)      Independent (1)
Length of term	4 years
Authority	Article III, South Carolina Constitution
Salary	$10,400/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 3, 2020 (46 seats)
Next election	November 5, 2024 (46 seats)
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber South Carolina State House Columbia, South Carolina
Website
South Carolina Senate

A diagram of the Senate Chamber, 1917

The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives. It consists of 46 senators elected from single member districts for four-year terms at the same time as United States presidential elections.

The South Carolina Constitution of 1895 provided for each county to elect one senator for a four-year term. The election of senators was staggered so that half of the state Senate was elected every two years. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1964 for the case Reynolds v. Sims, the state Senate was reapportioned in 1966 as a temporary measure into 27 districts with 50 members for two-year terms. In 1967, the state Senate was again reapportioned, this time into 20 districts with 46 members for four-year terms. The number of districts was reduced to 16 in 1972 and in 1984, they were eliminated with the creation of single member districts.

The annual session of the General Assembly convenes at the State Capitol Building in Columbia on the second Tuesday of January of each year. However, after convening, either the House or the Senate may call for itself a 30-day recess by a majority vote, or a longer recess by a two-thirds vote.

Composition

Members of the South Carolina Senate

Except as noted, all senators were elected in November 2020 and terms began on January 12, 2021. All terms expire in January 2025.

*Senator was first elected in a special election

Composition of the Senate over time