The president of the Illinois Senate is the presiding officer of the Illinois Senate, the upper house of the Illinois General Assembly. The post dates from the General Assembly's 32nd session, in 1881.

From 1881 to 1973, the lieutenant governor was constitutionally President of the Senate. The highest elected post in the chamber, until then, was known as president pro tempore, and presided over the body in the absence of the lieutenant governor. Since then, the Illinois Senate has elected its president from its membership. The president is sixth (behind the lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller, and treasurer, respectively) in the line of succession to the office of Governor of Illinois.

While the Illinois Constitution does not impose any term limits on legislators or constitutional officers, Senate Rules limit the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate to five general assemblies, or ten years of service in that role. The Senate first adopted such rule during the 100th General Assembly.

The colors indicate the political party affiliation of each presiding officer.

Ex officio presidents

Presidents pro tempore # President Party General Assembly Date of election 1 William J. Campbell Republican 32nd January 6, 1881 33rd 34th 2 August W. Berggren Republican 35th January 5, 1887 3 Theodore S. Chapman Republican 36th January 9, 1889 4 Milton W. Matthews Republican 37th January 7, 1891 5 John W. Coppinger Democrat 38th January 4, 1893 6 Charles Bogardus Republican 39th January 9, 1895 7 Hendrick V. Fisher Republican 40th January 6, 1897 8 Walter Warder Republican 41st January 4, 1899 9 John J. Brenholt Republican 42nd January 9, 1901 10 John C. McKenzie Republican 43rd January 7, 1903 11 Leon A. Townsend Republican 44th January 4, 1905 12 Orville F. Berry Republican 13 Stanton C. Pemberton Republican 45th January 9, 1907 14 Robert S. Hamilton Republican 46th January 6, 1909 15 Henry M. Dunlap Republican 47th January 4, 1911 16 Walter I. Manny Democrat 48th January 22, 1913 17 Stephen D. Canady Democrat 49th January 6, 1915 18 Adam C. Cliffe Republican 50th January 3, 1917 51st 19 William S. Jewell Republican 52nd January 5, 1921 20 Richard J. Barr Republican 53rd January 3, 1923 54th 55th 21 Martin R. Carlson Republican 56th January 9, 1929 22 Richard J. Barr Republican 57th January 7, 1931 23 Richey V. Graham Democrat 58th January 4, 1933 59th 24 George M. Maypole Democrat 60th January 6, 1937 61st 25 Arnold P. Benson Republican 62nd January 8, 1941 63rd 26 Edward E. Laughlin Republican 64th January 3, 1945 65th 27 Wallace Thompson Republican 66th January 10, 1949 67th 28 Walker Butler Republican 68th January 7, 1953 29 Arthur J. Bidwill Republican 69th January 5, 1955 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 30 W. Russell Arrington Republican 74th January 6, 1965 75th 76th 31 Cecil A. Partee Democrat 77th January 6, 1971

Presidents # President Party General Assembly Date of election 32 William C. Harris Republican 78th January 10, 1973 33 Cecil A. Partee Democrat 79th January 8, 1975 34 Thomas C. Hynes Democrat 80th February 16, 1977 35 Philip J. Rock Democrat 81st January 10, 1979 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 36 James "Pate" Philip Republican 88th January 13, 1993 89th 90th 91st 92nd 37 Emil Jones, Jr. Democrat 93rd January 8, 2003 94th 95th 38 John Cullerton Democrat 96th January 14, 2009 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 39 Don Harmon Democrat 101st January 19, 2020 102nd 103rd 104th

See also List of Illinois state legislatures

References

External links Illinois General Assembly - Senate official government site Illinois Blue Book 2009-10 official government document