South Carolina General Assembly

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox legislature

File:Donald Russell Addressing the SC General Assembly.jpg

Governor Donald Russell addressing the Assembly in 1964

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.

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<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.

RoleEdit

The main role of the South Carolina General Assembly is to pass laws "as the common good may require."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

QualificationsEdit

SenatorsEdit

According to the South Carolina Constitution, no person may serve as a senator who:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.

OfficersEdit

File:Acts and ordinances of the General Assembly of the state of South-Carolina- passed February 20th, 1790 Fleuron W030611-2.png

Seal of the General Assembly, c. 1790.

SenateEdit

Template:Chamber officers box begin Template:Chamber officers box position no party link Template:Chamber officers box position no party link Template:Chamber officers box position no party link Template:Chamber officers box end

House of RepresentativesEdit

Template:Chamber officers box begin Template:Chamber officers box position no party link Template:Chamber officers box position no party link Template:Chamber officers box position no party link Template:Chamber officers box position no party link Template:Chamber officers box end

Historic party controlEdit

Statehouse Party Control since 1868
YearTemplate:Efn	Senate Majority	House Majority	Governor Control
1868	rowspan=5 Template:Party shading/Republican\|Republican	rowspan=4 Template:Party shading/Republican\|Republican	rowspan=4 Template:Party shading/Republican\|Republican
1870
1872
1874
1876	rowspan=42 Template:Party shading/Democratic\|Democratic	rowspan=37 Template:Party shading/Democratic\|Democratic
1878	rowspan=42 Template:Party shading/Democratic\|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	Template:Party shading/Republican\|Republican
1978	rowspan=2 Template:Party shading/Democratic\|Democratic
1982
1986	rowspan=3 Template:Party shading/Republican\|Republican
1990
1994	rowspan=10 Template:Party shading/Republican\|Republican
1998	rowspan=8 Template:Party shading/Republican\|Republican	Template:Party shading/Democratic\|Democratic
2002	rowspan=8 Template:Party shading/Republican\|Republican
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2024
2026	TBD