What Is the Job of a State Senator?
State senators are elected officials that represent the constituents of their respective states. Each state is divided into districts, which state senators represent and serve. A state senator's duties reflect the needs and demands of the representative district, similar to the duties of U.S. Senators, who serve their states in Washington, D.C. Ultimately, state senators are responsible for making state legislation into law.
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Function
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A state senator is elected from a district that is defined by the state. In Nebraska, senators serve in a unicameral legislative house, while other states have a bicameral legislature and senators serve alongside the state's House of Representatives, House of Delegates or State Assembly. In Nebraska, the state senators are responsible for drafting, passing and presenting bills to the governor for passage into law. In all other states, senators receive a bill from the state's House, and pass or defeat bills that are signed into law by the state's governor.
State senators frequently send newsletters to stay in touch with the members of their districts. In addition, they often hold meetings and visit the members of their representative districts to discuss major issues and to identify the concerns of the citizens. Additionally, state senators work with county and city officials to ensure that projects are completed and that their votes in the Senate represent their districts' needs and concerns.
Geography
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State senate districts are divided by census data on the population of the state, though each state has a different way of identifying state senate districts. In the Gray vs. Sanders case of 1963, the Supreme Court of the United States required that each state create legislative districts in line with the state's population.
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Considerations
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As well as being in touch with the citizens of their representative districts, state senators must also stay in contact with their constituents. State senators receive letters, phone calls and emails from their citizens and consider their suggestions for bills and changes to existing law.
Terms
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State senate term lengths vary by state. Some senates, such as the Illinois State Senate, feature two-year terms, while others, such as the Texas State Senate, features four-year terms. Term limits are in place for members of some state senates. Ohio only allows two terms of four years each for state senators, while Massachusetts allows members to serve an unlimited amount of two-year terms.
Fun Fact
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Though the office does not hold a lot of glamor or notoriety, state senate seats have become springboards for other offices. Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama were all members of their state senates before campaigning for the the job of President of the U.S.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit colorado state capitol image by Evan Meyer from Fotolia.com
