South Carolina General Assembly

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
Coat of arms or logo
Great Seal of the State of South Carolina
Type
Type
HousesSenate
House of Representatives
Leadership
Thomas Alexander (R)
since December 6, 2021
Murrell Smith (R)
since May 12, 2022
Structure
Seats170 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
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/
Governor Donald Russell addressing the Assembly in 1964

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.

Role

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]

Qualifications

Senators

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

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
Seal of the General Assembly, c. 1790.

Senate
South Carolina Senate officers
Position Name Party
President of the Senate Thomas C. Alexander Republican
Majority Leader A. Shane Massey Republican

House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives officers
Position Name Party
Speaker pro tempore Tommy Pope Republican
Majority Leader Davey Hiott Republican

Historic Party Control
Statehouse Party Control since 1868
Year[lower-alpha 1] 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

Notes
  1. Years reflected in chart match gubernatorial elections

References
  1. "South Carolina Legislature Online - House of Representatives".
  2. "Reynolds v. Sims 377 U.S. 533 (1964)". Justia Law. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  3. "Scoppe: The Home Rule Act that didn't really allow home rule". thestate. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  4. "ARTICLE III LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT" (PDF). scstathouse.gov. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  5. "ARTICLE IV EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT" (PDF). scstatehouse.gov. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  6. "ARTICLE III LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT" (PDF). scstathouse.gov. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  7. "ARTICLE III LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT" (PDF). scstathouse.gov. South Carolina Legislature. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
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