The Senate of Liberia is the upper house

Upper house

An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...

 of the bicameral legislative branch of Liberia

Liberia

Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...

, and together with the House of Representatives

House of Representatives of Liberia

The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the bicameral Liberian Legislature. Legislative elections took place on 11 October 2005, and the elected members took office in January 2006.-Candidate eligibility:...

 comprises the Legislature of Liberia

Legislature of Liberia

The Legislature of Liberia is bicameral, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives , in the same manner as the Congress of the United States....

. Each of the fifteen counties

Counties of Liberia

||There are 15 counties in Liberia, as of 2008.-External links:** Comprehensive resource about counties and districts of Liberia....

 are equally represented by two senators, elected to serve staggered

Staggered elections

In staggered elections, not all places in an elected body are up for election at the same time. The staggered election keeps some continuity in the elected body....

 nine-year terms.

Candidate eligibility

Citizens of Liberia who have attained the age of 30 years are eligible to contest Senate elections and become members of the Legislature.

Electoral system

The simple majority (or First Past the Post) voting system

Voting system

A voting system or electoral system is a method by which voters make a choice between options, often in an election or on a policy referendum....

 is used in electing members to both chambers of the Liberian Legislature. In Senate elections, the two candidates who obtain the highest number of votes in their respective county are elected.

The 15 candidates who finished first (known as 'Senior Senators') will serve a nine-year term, while the remaining 15 candidates who finished second (known as 'Junior Senators') will serve a six-year term.

Leadership

While the Vice President is the President of the Senate, the President Pro Tempore leads the day-to-day business of the Senate. On 13 January 2006, Isaac Nyenabo was elected as President pro tempore of the Senate. However, Nyenabo was removed from his position on 29 July 2008 for poor behavior.

On 26 March 2009, Cletus Wotorson

Cletus Wotorson

Cletus Segbe Wotorson is a Liberian politician and geologist. On March 26, 2009 he was elected as Acting President Pro Tempore of the Senate of Liberia, beating out fellow Senator Gbehzongar Findley.-Positions:...

 was elected as the current President pro tempore of the Senate.

Current members

County	Senior Senator	Party	Year elected	Junior Senator	Party	Year elected
Bomi Bomi County Bomi is a county in the northwestern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has four districts. Tubmanburg serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring . As of the 2008 Census, it...	Lahai Gbabye Lansanah Lahai Gbabye Lansanah Adjutant Lahai Gbabye Lansanah is a Liberian politician and former military officer. Lansanah is a member of the National Democratic Party of Liberia. Lansanah was elected to the Senate of Liberia in the 2005 general election as Senior Senator from the Bomi County. He is one of two senators from...	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005	Richard Blamah Devine	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005
Bong Bong County Bong is a county in the north-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has twelve districts. Gbarnga serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Jewel Howard-Taylor Jewel Taylor Jewel Cianeh Howard Taylor is a Liberian politician and the current senior senator from Bong County. The former wife of President Charles Taylor, she is a former First Lady of Liberia. In 2005, Taylor was elected to the Senate of Liberia in Bong County as a member of the National Patriotic Party...	NPP National Patriotic Party The National Patriotic Party is a political party in Liberia. It was formed in 1997 by members of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia following the end of the First Liberian Civil War....	2005	Franklin Obed Siakor Franklin Siakor Franklin Obed Siakor , currently Junior Senator for Bong County, and member of the Senate's Committee on Planning and Economic Affairs.-Life:...	Ind. Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...	2005
Gbarpolu Gbarpolu County Gbarpolu is a county in the northern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Bopulu serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Theodore J. Momo	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2007	Daniel Flomo Naatehn	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005
Grand Bassa Grand Bassa County Grand Bassa is a county in the west-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has eight districts. Buchanan serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Gbehzohngar Milton Findley	Ind. Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...	2005	Nathaniel Innis	LP Liberty Party (Liberia) The Liberty Party is a political party in Liberia. It fielded candidates in the 11 October 2005 elections.LP candidate Charles Brumskine placed third in the presidential poll, winning 13.9% of the vote...	2005
Grand Cape Mount Grand Cape Mount County Grand Cape Mount is a county in the northwestern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has five districts. Robertsport serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Abel Momolu Massalay	NPP National Patriotic Party The National Patriotic Party is a political party in Liberia. It was formed in 1997 by members of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia following the end of the First Liberian Civil War....	2005	James Kormah Momo	NPP National Patriotic Party The National Patriotic Party is a political party in Liberia. It was formed in 1997 by members of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia following the end of the First Liberian Civil War....	2005
Grand Gedeh Grand Gedeh County Grand Gedeh is a county in the eastern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has three districts. Zwedru serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Isaac Wehyee Nyenabo	NDPL National Democratic Party of Liberia The National Democratic Party of Liberia is a political party in Liberia.The NDPL was formed in August 1984 by supporters of Samuel Doe, who came to power in a 1980 military coup. The party contested the 15 October 1985 elections with Doe as its presidential candidate. He won 50.93% of the vote in...	2005	William Cheyety Sandy	ULD Union of Liberian Democrats The Union of Liberian Democrats is a political party in Liberia. It fielded candidates in the 11 October 2005 elections.Robert Kpoto, presidential candidate of the ULD, won 0.4% of the vote. The party failed to win any seats in the Senate or House of Representatives....	2005
Grand Kru Grand Kru County Grand Kru is a county in the southeastern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has eighteen districts. Created in 1984, Barclayville serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Cletus Segbe Wotorson	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005	Blamoh Nelson	APD Alliance for Peace and Democracy The Alliance for Peace and Democracy is a coalition of two Liberian political parties, the Liberian People's Party and the United People's Party , that contested the 11 October 2005 elections....	2005
Lofa Lofa County Lofa is a county in the northernmost portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Voinjama serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Sumo G Kupee	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005	Fomba K. Kanneh	ALCOP All Liberia Coalition Party The All Liberia Coalition Party is a political party in Liberia.In the last elections held on 19 July 1997, the ALCOP presidential candidate Alhaji G.V. Kromah won 4.02% of the vote. The party won 3 of 64 seats in the House of Representatives and 2 of 26 in the Senate...	2005
Margibi Margibi County Margibi is a county on the north to central coast of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has four districts. Kakata serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Clarice Alpha Jah	LP Liberty Party (Liberia) The Liberty Party is a political party in Liberia. It fielded candidates in the 11 October 2005 elections.LP candidate Charles Brumskine placed third in the presidential poll, winning 13.9% of the vote...	2005	Roland Cooper Kaine	ULD Union of Liberian Democrats The Union of Liberian Democrats is a political party in Liberia. It fielded candidates in the 11 October 2005 elections.Robert Kpoto, presidential candidate of the ULD, won 0.4% of the vote. The party failed to win any seats in the Senate or House of Representatives....	2005
Maryland Maryland County Maryland County is a county in the southeastern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has two districts. Harper serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	John Ballout	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005	Gloria Maya Musu-Scott	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005
Montserrado Montserrado County Montserrado County is a county in the northwestern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has four districts. Bensonville serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the smallest...	Joyce Musu Freeman Sumo	CDC Congress for Democratic Change Congress for Democratic Change is a Liberian political party formed by supporters of George Weah's 2005 presidential candidacy.In the 11 October 2005 elections, Weah placed first in the presidential poll, winning 28.3% of the vote...	2005	Geraldine Doe-Sheriff	CDC Congress for Democratic Change Congress for Democratic Change is a Liberian political party formed by supporters of George Weah's 2005 presidential candidacy.In the 11 October 2005 elections, Weah placed first in the presidential poll, winning 28.3% of the vote...	2009
Nimba Nimba County Nimba is a county in the north-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Sanniquellie serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the largest in the nation...	Prince Yormie Johnson	NUDP National Union for Democratic Progress The National Union for Democratic Progress is a political party in Liberia. It was founded by Prince Yormie Johnson, Senator for Nimba County and former head of the rebel Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia, to contest the 2011 presidential and legislative elections....	2005	Saye-Taayor Adolphus Dolo Saye-Taayor Adolphus Dolo Adolphus Dolo is a member of the Liberian Senate representing Nimba County. He served an Army general during the presidency of Charles G. Taylor.Senator Saye-Taayor A. Dolo is the junior senator for Nimba County...	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005
River Cess River Cess County River Cess is a county in the south-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Cesstos City serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Jay Jonathan Banney	Ind. Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...	2005	George D. Moore	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005
River Gee River Gee County River Gee is a county in the southern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Fish Town serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...	Frederick Doe Cherue	UP Unity Party (Liberia) The Unity Party is a political party in Liberia that was started in 1984 by the late Dr. Edward B. Kesselly, also its first standard bearer. The Unity Party participated the first post-1980 coup elections, running against then-President Samuel Doe in October 1985...	2005	J. Nathaniel Williams	LDP Liberian Destiny Party The Liberian Destiny Party is a political party in Liberia. It fielded candidates in the 11 October 2005 elections.LDP candidate Nathaniel Barnes won 1.0% of the vote in the presidential poll. The party failed to win any seats in the Senate or House of Representatives....	2009
Sinoe Sinoe County Sinoe is one of Liberia's 15 counties and it has 17 districts. Greenville is the county's capital.As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 104,932, making it one of the least populous counties in Liberia....	Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan	APD Alliance for Peace and Democracy The Alliance for Peace and Democracy is a coalition of two Liberian political parties, the Liberian People's Party and the United People's Party , that contested the 11 October 2005 elections....	2005	Joseph Nyenetue Nagbe	APD Alliance for Peace and Democracy The Alliance for Peace and Democracy is a coalition of two Liberian political parties, the Liberian People's Party and the United People's Party , that contested the 11 October 2005 elections....	2005

2005 election results

More info: Liberia elections, 2005

See also

• Liberia
  Liberia
  Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
  
  
• House of Representatives of Liberia
  House of Representatives of Liberia
  The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the bicameral Liberian Legislature. Legislative elections took place on 11 October 2005, and the elected members took office in January 2006.-Candidate eligibility:...
  
  
• Legislature of Liberia
  Legislature of Liberia
  The Legislature of Liberia is bicameral, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives , in the same manner as the Congress of the United States....
  
  
• National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia
  National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia
  The National Transitional Legislative Assembly was Liberia's legislative body during the country's transition from civil war to democratic rule .-Background:...
  
   - the country's unicameral legislative body during the transition period (October 2003-January 2006)
• Legislative Branch
• List of national legislatures
• List of Presidents Pro Tempore of the Senate of Liberia
• List of Speakers of the House of Representatives of Liberia