Rhode Island Senate

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Rhode Island Senate
Seal of the Rhode Island Senate
Type
Type	Upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 3, 2023
Leadership
President	Dominick J. Ruggerio (D) since March 23, 2017
President pro tempore	Hanna M. Gallo (D) since January 5, 2021
Majority Leader	Ryan W. Pearson (D) since January 3, 2023
Minority Leader	Jessica de la Cruz (R) since August 2, 2022
Structure
Seats	38
Political groups	Majority (33)   Democratic (33) Minority (5)   Republican (5)
Length of term	2 years
Authority	Article VI, Constitution of Rhode Island
Salary	$19,036/year
Elections
Voting system	First-past-the-post
Last election	November 8, 2022 (38 seats)
Next election	November 5, 2024 (38 seats)
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place
Senate Chamber Rhode Island State Capitol Providence, Rhode Island
Website
Rhode Island Senate

The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, the lower house being the Rhode Island House of Representatives. It is composed of 38 Senators, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Rhode Island is one of the 14 states where its upper house serves at a two-year cycle, rather than the normal four-year term as in most states. There is no limit to the number of terms that a Senator may serve. The Rhode Island Senate meets at the Rhode Island State Capitol in Providence.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to executive departments, commissions and boards and Justices to the Rhode Island Judiciary.