Indiana Senate

Upper house of the Indiana General Assembly

The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U. S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four year terms without term limits. According to the 2010 U. S. census, the average state senator represents 129,676 people. The Senate convenes at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Indiana Senate was established in 1816 along with the Indiana House of Representatives in 1816, when Indiana became a state. In 1897, the Indiana House passed a bill rounding the value of pi to 3.2. However, the intervention of State Senator Orrin Hubbel postponed the voting of the bill indefinitely, effectively rejecting it.

The Indiana State Senate is operated according to a set of internal regulations developed and maintained largely by tradition. These rules are similar to the rules that govern the upper house most of the state senates in the United States. The Senate convenes its annual session the first Tuesday following the first Monday of January every year. In odd numbered years the senate must meet for 61 days (not necessarily consecutive days), and must adjourn no later than April 30. This is typically called a long session. In even numbered years, when elections are held, the Senate must meet for 30 days (not necessarily consecutive days) and adjourn no later than March 15. This is typically called the short session. The only time the senate may convene outside of these dates is if the governor calls a special assembly. The senate must convene by 1:30 pm each day a session is scheduled. Two thirds of the senators must be present for the session to begin. Senators must be present at each session unless they are explicitly excused by the president pro tempore. Members who are not present can be forced to attend the session or be censured and expelled from the body. The senate can contain no more than 50 members. The term of a senator lasts four years with 25 senators being elected every two years. There is no limit to how many terms a senator may be elected.