Purpose Of A State Senator
The Maryland State Senate is the upper chamber of the Maryland General Assembly. Alongside the Maryland House of Delegates, it forms the legislative branch of the Maryland state government and works alongside the governor of Maryland to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Maryland State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.​
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The Maryland State Senate meets in the State House in Annapolis, Maryland.
Leadership
The president and president pro tem of the Senate are elected by the full body. The president appoints the majority leader. These two leaders then appoint the deputy majority leader and majority whip. Minority leaders are named by the minority party
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Current Leadership
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Senate president: William Ferguson IV (D)
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President Pro Tempore: Melony Griffith (D)
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Majority leader: Nancy King (D)
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Minority leader: Bryan Simonaire (R)
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Membership Eligibility
Section 9 of Article 3 of the Maryland Constitution states, "A person is eligible to serve as a Senator or Delegate, who on the date of his election, (1) is a citizen of the State of Maryland, (2) has resided therein for at least one year next preceding that date, and (3) if the district which he has been chosen to represent has been established for at least six months prior to the date of his election, has resided in that district for six months next preceding that date.
If the district which the person has been chosen to represent has been established less than six months prior to the date of his election, then in addition to (1) and (2) above, he shall have resided in the district for as long as it has been established.
A person is eligible to serve as a Senator, if he has attained the age of twenty-five years, or as a Delegate, if he has attained the age of twenty-one years, on the date of his election.