title: Rhode Island Senate
text: 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.
  
  Senate leadership
  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 most other states, the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island does not preside over the Senate, and is instead active in other areas such as state commissions on health and businesses. In the Senate President's absence, the President Pro Tempore presides.
  
  Democratic Leadership 
   Dominick J. Ruggerio (D) - President of the Senate
   Ryan W. Pearson (D) – Majority Leader
   (vacant) (D) – Majority Whip
   Hanna Gallo (D) – President Pro Tempore
  
  Republican Leadership 
  
   Jessica de la Cruz (R) – Minority Leader
   Gordon Rogers (R) – Minority Whip
  
  Committee leadership
  
  Make-up of the Senate 
  
  2019-2021 Legislative Session
  
  Members of the Rhode Island Senate
  
  Past composition of the Senate
  
  See also 
  Rhode Island State Capitol
  Rhode Island General Assembly
  Rhode Island House of Representatives
  
  References
  
  External links 
  Downloadable Rhode Island District Maps
  
  Rhode Island General Assembly
  State upper houses in the United States