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The Alaska Senate is the upper house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The Senate consists of 20 members, each of whom represents a district of about 31,347 people (2000 figures). Senators serve four-year terms, without term limits. Half of the Alaska Senate is up for re-election every two years. With just 20 Senators, the Alaska Senate is the smallest legislative chamber in the United States.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.

The Senate convenes at the State Capitol in Juneau.

Contents 1 Current composition 2 Leadership 2.1 Current leadership 2.2 Republican split 3 Current membership 4 References 5 External links 6 See also

Affiliation				Members
	Coalition
			Democratic	9	15
			Coalition Republican	6
	Non-Coalition Republican			5
Total				20
Majority				10

The President of the Senate presides over the body, appointing members to all of the Senate's committees and joint committees, and may create other committees and subcommittees if desired. Unlike other states, the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska does not preside over the Senate. Instead, the Lieutenant Governor oversees the Alaska Division of Elections, fulfilling the role of Secretary of State as in a majority of U.S. states. Only two other states, Hawaii and Utah, have similar constitutional arrangements for their lieutenant governors. The other partisan Senate leadership positions, such as the Majority and Minority leaders, are (usually) elected by their respective party caucuses to head their parties in the chamber.

The President of the Senate is Republican Lyda Green of District G (Matanuska-Susitna Valley). The Majority Leader is Republican Gary Stevens of District R (Kodiak). The Minority Leader is Republican Gene Therriault of District F (North Pole).

Position	Name	Party	Residence	District
President of the Senate	Lyda Green	Republican	Matanuska-Susitna Valley	District G
Majority Leader	Gary Stevens	Republican	Kodiak	District R
Minority Leader	Gene Therriault	Republican	North Pole	District F

Shortly after the 2006 November election, a bi-partisan coalition was announced between all nine senate Democrats and six [1] senate Republicans. Democrats will chair the Judiciary, Health, Education, & Social Services, Labor and Commerce, Community and Regional Affairs, and Transportation Committees, as well as co-chair the powerful Finance Committee. The senate Republicans in the coalition will also have a co-chair for the Finance Committee (the minority Republicans will only be giving one seat on the committee), and chair the State Affairs, Resources, and Rules Committees [2].

Because of the Republican split, the Democrats control a majority of committee chairmanships while Republicans in the governing coalition chair the others. The majority leader is the same legislator as it was in the last session, a Republican, who has joined the bi-partisan coalition. Because of this, the minority leader is head of the five-member Republican organization. Hence, all three listed officers of the body are Republicans, as different aspects are in the majority (with the chamber-wide minority Democrats) while others are in the official minority.

The split is largely viewed as over the senate presidency. The minority leader was the Republicans' suspected, initial choice for Senate President [3]. The coalition commands three-quarters of the body.

A similar move was made in the 24th Legislature, on the House side. It, however, was torn apart.

Alaska State Senate
25th Alaska Legislature, 2007-2008^[1][2]

District	Name	Party	Location	Term Up
A	Bert Stedman	Rep	Sitka	2008
B	Kim Elton	Dem	Juneau	2010
C	Albert Kookesh	Dem	Angoon	2008
D	Joe J. Thomas	Dem	Fairbanks	2010
E	Gary Wilken	Rep	Fairbanks	2008
F	Gene Therriault	Rep	North Pole	2010
G	Lyda Green	Rep	Matanuska-Susitna Valley	2008
H	Charlie Huggins	Rep	Wasilla	2010
I	Fred Dyson	Rep	Eagle River	2008
J	Bill Wielechowski	Dem	Anchorage	2010
K	Bettye Davis	Dem	Anchorage	2008
L	Johnny Ellis	Dem	Anchorage	2010
M	Hollis French	Dem	Anchorage	2008
N	Lesil McGuire	Rep	Anchorage	2010
O	John Cowdery	Rep	Anchorage	2008
P	Con Bunde	Rep	Anchorage	2010
Q	Thomas Wagoner	Rep	Kenai	2008
R	Gary Stevens	Rep	Kodiak	2010
S	Lyman F. Hoffman	Dem	Bethel	2010
T	Donald Olson	Dem	Nome	2008

• Alaska Senate

• Alaska State Capitol
• List of Alaska State Legislatures
• 25th Alaska State Legislature (2006-2007), the current state legislature
• Alaska political corruption probe

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