Virginia Senate

Senate of Virginia
Senate of Virginia
163rd Virginia General Assembly
	Coat of Arms of the Virginia Senate
	Seal of the Virginia Senate
Type
Type	Upper House
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 10, 2024
Leadership
President	Winsome Sears (R) ; since January 15, 2022
President pro tempore	Louise Lucas (D) ; since January 8, 2020
Majority Leader	Scott Surovell (D) ; since January 10, 2024
Minority Leader	Ryan McDougle (R) ; since January 10, 2024
Structure
Seats	40
Political groups	Majority Democratic (21); Minority Republican (19);
Length of term	4 years
Authority	Article IV, Virginia Constitution
Salary	$18,000/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 7, 2023; (40 seats)
Next election	November 2, 2027; (40 seats)
Redistricting	Commission
Meeting place
	State Senate Chamber; Virginia State Capitol; Richmond, Virginia
Website
	Virginia General Assembly

37°32′20.3″N 77°26′1.7″W / 37.538972°N 77.433806°W / 37.538972; -77.433806

The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the lieutenant governor of Virginia. Prior to the American War of Independence, the upper house of the General Assembly was represented by the Virginia Governor's Council, consisting of up to 12 executive counselors appointed by the colonial royal governor as advisers and jurists.

The lieutenant governor presides daily over the Virginia Senate. In the lieutenant governor's absence, the president pro tempore presides, usually a powerful member of the majority party. The Senate is equal with the House of Delegates, the lower chamber of the legislature, except that taxation bills must originate in the House, similar to the federal U.S. Congress. The 40 senatorial districts in Virginia elect their representatives every four years on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The last election took place in November 2023. There are no term limits for senators. The Senate also employs 36 pages (ages 13–14) to help with daily tasks during each general session in a full-time residential program of high regard.