In this week’s edition of our Advocacy Summer School series, we will be looking more closely at the South Carolina Senate. If you missed our first two emails in this series, take a moment to go back and review!
Background
South Carolina has had a bicameral legislature since 1776, but it was not until two years later that the upper house would be called the Senate.
It would take another several years before the Senate was elected by voters. For decades, Senators were elected to represent one county, leading to 46 Senators in the body. Starting in the late 20th century, Senators were elected to districts drawn based on population, not county lines.
Until recently, the Lieutenant Governor presided over the Senate. This changed when the Lt. Governor position became a running mate of the Governor instead of a separately elected position in 2019.
Since then, the President of the Senate has been an elected Senator. Just like the House of Representatives, the Senate typically meets from the second Tuesday in January to the second Thursday in May every year.
Present Day
Today the Senate is comprised of 30 Republicans, 14 Democrats, 1 Independent, and 1 vacant seat (previously held by Democratic Senator Marlon Kimpson).
Senators are elected to four-year terms, and they have no term limits. The last regular election was held in 2020 and the next one will be held in 2024.
Leaders
Since 2021, Senator Thomas Alexander has served as the President of the Senate. President Alexander is a Republican from Oconee County and has served in the Senate since 1994. He served in the House of Representatives from 1987 to 1994.
Senator Shane Massey is the majority leader of the Senate. He is a Republican from Edgefield County and was elected to the Senate in 2007.
Senator Brad Hutto serves as the minority leader in the Senate. He is a Democrat from Orangeburg County and was elected to the Senate in 1996.
Committee Process
When bills are introduced in the Senate they are assigned to a committee by the President of the Senate. There are fifteen standing committees, and, unlike the House, Senators each serve on multiple committees. Every Senator serves on either the Judiciary or Finance committee, but not both.
Unlike the House, the Chairman for a standing committee is assigned to the Senator, belonging to the majority party, with the most seniority on the committee.
A bill must first be heard and pass subcommittee before it goes on to the full committee and then the floor of the Senate. Once a bill reaches the floor of the Senate, it can be debated and voted on. Just like the House, the first roll call vote on the bill is typically called the “second reading,” and the “third reading” usually occurs on the next legislative day by unanimous consent.
One thing that makes the South Carolina Senate unique is the ability of just one senator to stall a bill. If a senator contests a bill, the bill cannot be taken up by the body until after, in most cases, the objection is removed. This procedural ability makes it especially important to build consensus in the body and work with every Senator to pass a bill.
If a bill that originates in the Senate passes the Senate, it goes to the House of Representatives to start the committee process over again. Many introduced bills are never heard in subcommittees, and of the ones that are heard, only a small percentage become law.
Legislator Spotlight: Sen. Katrina Shealy
Senator Katrina Shealy was elected the South Carolina Senate in 2013. She is from Lexington County and serves as the Chair of the Family and Veteran Services Committee.
Senator Shealy has received many awards and accolades for supporting South Carolina’s children and families. She also started a non-profit, Katrina’s Kids, with the aim of providing resources to foster children and children living in group homes.
This year Senator Shealy introduced the KinGAP bill, which allows kinship caregivers to receive much-needed financial support. That bill was passed into law this year and was supported by Children’s Trust.
Pop Quiz
The answers will be included in next week’s post.
Question 1. Only residents of South Carolina can give public testimony at the State House. True or False?
Question 2. Legislators can only introduce 40 bills a year. True or False?
Question 3. Approximately what percentage of bills introduced in 2023 have become law?
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4%
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23%
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72%
Extra Credit
Read about the history, and mystery, surrounding South Carolina’s Sword of State.
The answers to last week’s quiz:
Question 1. The last day of the legislative session is usually called Sine Die.
Question 2. You must be at least 35 years old to be a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. False.
Question 3. Members of the House of Representatives are required to disclose who they have received campaign contributions from. True.
