The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. All together, the General Assembly consists of 170 members. The legislature convenes at the State House in Columbia.
South Carolina General Assembly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate House of Representatives |
| History | |
| Founded | 1753 |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 170 voting members: 46 Senators 124 Representatives |
 | |
Senate political groups | Republican (30) Democratic (15) Independent (1) |
 | |
House political groups | Republican (88) Democratic (36)[1] |
| Elections | |
Last Senate election | November 2020 |
Last House election | November 2022 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| South Carolina State House Columbia | |
| Website | |
| scstatehouse.gov | |
| Constitution | |
| Constitution of South Carolina | |
Prior to the 1964 federal Reynolds v. Sims decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, each county doubled as a legislative district, with each county electing one senator and at least one representative. Moreover, each county's General Assembly delegation also doubled as its county council, as the state constitution made no provision for local government.
The "one man, one vote" provision of Reynolds v. Sims[2] caused district lines to cross county lines, causing legislators to be on multiple county councils. This led to the passage of the Home Rule Act of 1975, which created county councils that were independent of the General Assembly. However, the General Assembly still retains considerable authority over local government. As a result, the legislature still devotes considerable time to local matters, and county legislative delegations still handle many matters that are handled by county governments in the rest of the country.[3]
There are 124 members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, who are elected every two years, and the South Carolina Senate has 46 members, elected every four years concurrent to the presidential election. For both houses, there are no term limits. The General Assembly meets in joint session to elect judges, with all 170 members having an equal vote in such elections.
Role
editThe main role of the South Carolina General Assembly is to pass laws "as the common good may require."[4] In order for a bill to become law, both the Senate and House of Representatives must vote to pass the bill by a simple majority. Then the bill must be sent to the governor. If the governor vetoes the bill, both houses can either sustain the veto or override the veto. Veto overrides require a two-thirds majority. Once he receives the bill, if the governor neither signs nor vetoes the bill, it becomes law after five days, Sundays excluded.[5]
Qualifications
editSenators
editAccording to the South Carolina Constitution, no person may serve as a senator who:[6]
- Is not qualified to vote in state elections
- Is not a resident of the district in which he or she seeks to represent
- Is not at least 25 years of age
- Has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony or voter fraud or bribery unless 15 years has elapsed since the time was served.
Representatives
editAccording to the South Carolina Constitution, no person may serve as a representative who:[7]
- Is not qualified to vote in state elections
- Is not a resident of the district in which he or she seeks to represent
- Is not at least 21 years of age
- Has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony or voter fraud or bribery unless 15 years has elapsed since the time was served.
Officers
edit
Senate
edit| South Carolina Senate officers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Name | Party |
| President of the Senate | Thomas C. Alexander | Republican |
| Majority Leader | A. Shane Massey | Republican |
| Minority Leader | Brad Hutto | Democratic |
House of Representatives
edit| South Carolina House of Representatives officers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Name | Party |
| Speaker | Murrell Smith | Republican |
| Speaker pro tempore | Tommy Pope | Republican |
| Majority Leader | Davey Hiott | Republican |
| Minority Leader | J. Todd Rutherford | Democratic |
Historic party control
edit| Year[a] | Senate Majority |
House Majority |
Governor Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1868 | Republican | Republican | Republican |
| 1870 | |||
| 1872 | |||
| 1874 | |||
| 1876 | Democratic | Democratic | |
| 1878 | Democratic | ||
| 1880 | |||
| 1882 | |||
| 1884 | |||
| 1886 | |||
| 1888 | |||
| 1890 | |||
| 1892 | |||
| 1894 | |||
| 1896 | |||
| 1898 | |||
| 1900 | |||
| 1902 | |||
| 1904 | |||
| 1906 | |||
| 1908 | |||
| 1910 | |||
| 1912 | |||
| 1914 | |||
| 1916 | |||
| 1918 | |||
| 1920 | |||
| 1922 | |||
| 1924 | |||
| 1926 | |||
| 1930 | |||
| 1934 | |||
| 1938 | |||
| 1942 | |||
| 1946 | |||
| 1950 | |||
| 1954 | |||
| 1958 | |||
| 1962 | |||
| 1966 | |||
| 1970 | |||
| 1974 | Republican | ||
| 1978 | Democratic | ||
| 1982 | |||
| 1986 | Republican | ||
| 1990 | |||
| 1994 | Republican | ||
| 1998 | Republican | Democratic | |
| 2002 | Republican | ||
| 2006 | |||
| 2010 | |||
| 2014 | |||
| 2018 | |||
| 2022 | |||
| 2024 | |||
| 2026 | TBD |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Years reflected in chart match gubernatorial elections
References
edit- ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - House of Representatives".
- ^ "Reynolds v. Sims 377 U.S. 533 (1964)". Justia Law. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ "Scoppe: The Home Rule Act that didn't really allow home rule". thestate. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ "ARTICLE III LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT" (PDF). scstathouse.gov. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "ARTICLE IV EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT" (PDF). scstatehouse.gov. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "ARTICLE III LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT" (PDF). scstathouse.gov. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "ARTICLE III LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT" (PDF). scstathouse.gov. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved August 4, 2022.