President pro tempore of the California State Senate

The president pro tempore of the California State Senate (President Pro Tem) is the highest-ranking leader and most powerful member of the California State Senate. The officeholder also chairs the Senate Rules Committee. At the beginning of each two-year session, all members of the body elect a new State Senate President pro tempore.[1] The President pro tempore is chosen by the other Senators.

President pro tempore of the California State Senate
Seal of the Senate of the State of California
California State Flag
Incumbent
Toni Atkins
since March 21, 2018
Member ofCalifornia State Senate
Term length2 years
Inaugural holderE. Kirby Chamberlain
Formation1849
Unofficial namesPresident Pro Tem

The current President pro tempore is Toni Atkins, a Democratic member from the 39th district, who was sworn in on March 21, 2018.[2]

Powers and duties

The President pro tempore acts as the chair of the Senate while the President, the Lieutenant Governor of California, is absent during meetings, having the same powers of the president.[3] If the President Pro Tempore is absent, another Senator appointed by the President pro tempore can act as chair.[4] The President pro tempore has a responsibility to "secure the prompt and businesslike disposition of bills and other business before the Senate."[5]

List of presidents pro tempore of the California State Senate
No. President pro tempore Political party Term start Term end
1 E. Kirby Chamberlain Democratic 1849 1851
2 Elcan Heydenfeldt Whig 1851 1852
3 Benjamin F. Keene Democratic 1852 1854
4 Royal Sprague Democratic January 6, 1855 December 1855
5 Delos R. Ashley American 1856 1856
6 Samuel H. Dosh Democratic 1857 1857
7 Samuel Augustus Merritt Democratic 1858 1858
8 W. B. Dickinson Democratic 1859 1859
9 Isaac N. Quinn Democratic 1860 1860
10 Charles J. Lansing Democratic 1860 1860
11 Richard Irwin Northern Democratic 1861 1861
12 James McMillan Shafter Republican 1862 1862
13 A. M. Crane Unionist 1863 1863
14 Ransom Burnell Unionist 1865 1865
15 S. P. Wright Unionist 1866 1866
16 Lansing B. Mizner Unionist 1867 1868
17 Edward J. Lewis Democratic 1870 1872
18 James T. Farley Democratic 1872 1874
19 William Irwin Democratic 1874 1876
20 Benjamin F. Tuttle Democratic 1876 1878
21 Edward J. Lewis Democratic 1878 1880
22 George F. Baker Republican 1880 1881
23 William Johnston Republican 1881 1882
24 Reginaldo Francisco del Valle Democratic 1882 1883
25 Benjamin Knight Democratic 1885 1887
26 Stephen M. White Democratic 1887 1889
27 Thomas Fraser Republican 1891 1893
28 Richard B. Carpenter Republican 1983 1983
29 Thomas Flint Jr. Republican 1895 1903
30 Edward I. Wolfe Republican 1905 1911
31 A. E. Boynton Republican 1911 1913
32 Newton W. Thompson Republican 1915 1917
33 Arthur H. Breed Sr. Republican 1917 1935
34 William P. Rich Republican 1935 1939
35 Jerrold L. Seawell Republican 1939 1941
36 William P. Rich Republican 1941 1943
37 Jerrold L. Seawell Republican 1943 1945
38 Harold J. Powers Republican 1947 1953
39 Clarence C. Ward Republican 1954 May 9, 1955
40 Ben Hulse Republican June 6, 1955 January 7, 1957
41 Hugh M. Burns Democratic 1957 1969
42 Howard Way Republican May 14, 1969 February 10, 1970
43 Jack Schrade Republican February 10, 1970 November 30, 1970
44 James R. Mills Democratic November 30, 1970 November 30, 1980
45 David Roberti Democratic November 30, 1980 January 31, 1994
46 Bill Lockyer Democratic January 31, 1994 February 5, 1998
47 John Burton Democratic February 5, 1998 November 30, 2004
48 Don Perata Democratic November 30, 2004 August 21, 2008
49 Darrell Steinberg Democratic August 21, 2008 October 15, 2014
50 Kevin de León Democratic October 15, 2014 March 21, 2018
51 Toni Atkins Democratic March 21, 2018 Incumbent

See also

References
  1. "Glossary of Legislative Terms". California Legislative Counsel. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. "Toni Atkins Sworn In as State Senate President". California State Association of Counties. March 22, 2018.
  3. "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA (1849)" (PDF). p. 16.
  4. "Overview of California Legislative Process" (PDF). California State Association of Counties. p. 10.
  5. Journal of the Senate, Legislature of the State of California. Vol. 1. California State Print. Office. 1942. p. 9.
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