West Virginia Senate

There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms. The body is generally considered more conservative than the West Virginia House Of Delegates . Democrats and Republicans are more evenly matched in the Senate. Women are underrepresented in the Senate.

The state's districting system is unique in the United States. The state's most populous county, Kanawha County constitutes two "superimposed" districts. In practical effect, this means that Kanawha County is a single district electing two members every two years. The remaining 54 counties of the state are divided into 15 districts, with county lines not respected in most cases. Under the unique rule, no district may have more than one senator from the same county, no matter the population. This means, for example, that the 99% of the population of the 6th District residing in Cabell County can vie for only one Senate seat, and the tiny portion of Wayne County in the district acts as a sort of Rotten Borough , as it must have one senator. This, combined with the Gerrymandering of the districts, has contributed to what many observers have called the most unrepresentative districting system in the United States.

SENATE PRESIDENT

The Senate elects its own president from its membership. As of the 77th Legislature, Earl Ray Tomblin is Senate President.

While the West Virginia Constitution does not create or even mention the title of Lieutenant Governor, West Virginia Code 6A-1-4 creates this designation for the Senate President. The Senate President is first in the line of succession to the office of governor. As stated in the constitution: "In case of the death, conviction or impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation, or other disability of the governor, the president of the Senate shall act as governor until the vacancy is filled, or the disability removed." However, the Senate President may not always serve the remainder of the term as the constitution also states: "Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of governor before the first three years of the term shall have expired, a new election for governor shall take place to fill the vacancy."

FLOOR LEADERSHIP

Majority Leader: H. Truman Chafin

Majority Whip: Billy Wayne Bailey

Minority Leader: Vic Sprouse

Minority Whip: Andy McKenzie

COMMITTEES

At the start each new Legislature, standing committees are appointed. The Senate President selects the chairpersons. The Rules of the Senate call for the following committees to be formed:

Agriculture (11 members) - Larry J. Edgell ''chair''

Banking and Insurance (14 members) - Joseph M. Minard ''chair''

Confirmations (9 members) - Shirley Love ''chair''

Economic Development (14 members) - Brooks McCabe ''chair''

Education (14 members) - Robert H. Plymale ''chair''

Energy, Industry and Mining (14 members) - William R. Sharpe, Jr. ''chair''

Finance (17 members) - Walt Helmick ''chair''

Government Organization (14 members) - Edwin Bowman ''chair''

Health and Human Resources (14 members) - Roman W. Prezioso, Jr. ''chair''

Interstate Cooperation (7 members) - Evan H. Jenkins ''chair'' (Senate President is ex-officio cochairperson)

Judiciary (17 members) - Jeffrey V. Kessler ''chair''

Labor (11 members) - Michael Oliverio II ''chair''

Military (9 members) - Jon Blair Hunter ''chair''

Natural Resources (14 members) - John Pat Fanning ''chair''

Pensions (7 members) - Dan Foster ''chair''

Rules (11 members) - Earl Ray Tomblin as Senate President is ex-officio chairperson

Transportation and Infrastructure (9 members) - John Unger II ''chair''

EXTERNAL LINKS

Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin

West Virginia Legislature - official website

Information About

West Virginia Senate