Utah's Constitution provides that a part-time citizen
legislature meets for 45 days each year, beginning on the fourth Monday in
January. Members then return home
to live under the laws they create. The Utah State Senate and House of
Representatives together comprise the
citizen legislature of the State of Utah.
The 60th Senate (2013)
is made up of twenty-four men and five women with twenty-four Republicans and
five Democrats. Their occupations include five attorneys, eight
businessmen/women, three bankers, two former educators, one engineer, two
CPA's, a homemaker, a pharmacist, a nurse, a doctor, a dentist, an
orthodontist, a licensed social services worker, and a non-profit director. Nine
of the 29 senators served in the House of Representatives prior to being
elected to the Senate.
Senator Lyle Hillyard has the
distinction of serving the longest in the Senate, 27 years thus far. He served
two terms in the House of Representatives prior to his election to the Senate
in 1984. Other senior senators (served more than two terms) include Senators Gene Davis, Peter Knudson, Scott Jenkins, Howard Stephenson, John Valentine, Curt Bramble, Allen Christensen, and Mark Madsen.
Do you want to serve? The
state constitution outlines the qualifications to become a senator:
·
A citizen of the United
States
·
A resident of the state
of Utah for three years
·
At least 25 years old
·
A resident of the
district from which they are elected for six months
·
A qualified voter in
that district
The 29 members of the Senate are elected to four-year terms, with
half up for election every two years.
Please contact us anytime.