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 146 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.
The 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]
Qualificationsedit
Senatorsedit
According 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.
Representativesedit
According 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.
^Years reflected in chart match gubernatorial elections
Referencesedit
^"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.
External linksedit
South Carolina Legislature Online
February 15, 2024
south, carolina, general, assembly, also, called, south, carolina, legislature, state, legislature, state, south, carolina, legislature, bicameral, consists, lower, south, carolina, house, representatives, upper, south, carolina, senate, together, general, ass. 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 AssemblyGreat Seal of the State of South CarolinaTypeTypeBicameralHousesSenate House of RepresentativesLeadershipPresident of the SenateThomas Alexander R since December 6 2021Speaker of the HouseMurrell Smith R since May 12 2022StructureSeats170 voting members 46 Senators124 RepresentativesSenate political groups Republican 30 Democratic 15 Independent 1 House political groups Republican 88 Democratic 36 1 ElectionsLast Senate electionNovember 2020Last House electionNovember 2022Meeting placeSouth Carolina State House ColumbiaWebsitehttp www scstatehouse gov Governor Donald Russell addressing the Assembly in 1964Prior 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 146 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 Contents 1 Role 2 Qualifications 2 1 Senators 2 2 Representatives 3 Officers 3 1 Senate 3 2 House of Representatives 4 Historic Party Control 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksRole 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 edit According 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 edit According 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 nbsp Seal of the General Assembly c 1790 Senate edit South Carolina Senate officersPosition Name Party President of the Senate Thomas C Alexander Republican Majority Leader A Shane Massey RepublicanHouse of Representatives edit South Carolina House of Representatives officersPosition Name Party Speaker pro tempore Tommy Pope Republican Majority Leader Davey Hiott RepublicanHistoric Party Control editStatehouse Party Control since 1868 Year a SenateMajority HouseMajority GovernorControl1868 Republican Republican Republican1870187218741876 Democratic Democratic1878 Democratic188018821884188618881890189218941896189819001902190419061908191019121914191619181920192219241926193019341938194219461950195419581962196619701974 Republican1978 Democratic19821986 Republican19901994 Republican1998 Republican Democratic2002 Republican2006201020142018202220242026 TBDSee also editSouth Carolina State House South Carolina House of Representatives South Carolina Senate South Carolina government and politics Governor of South Carolina Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina South Carolina Code of LawsNotes edit Years reflected in chart match gubernatorial electionsReferences 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 External links editSouth Carolina Legislature Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title South Carolina General Assembly amp oldid 1197007198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
