How SC Government Works

South Carolina is a representative democracy.

Governor is Henry McMaster (salary  $106,078)

The governor is the ex officio commander-in-chief of the National Guard when not called into federal service. The governor's responsibilities include making yearly "State of the State" addresses to the South Carolina General Assembly, submitting an executive budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced.

Lieutenant Governor is Pamela Evette (salary $46,545)

The Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina is the second-in-command to the Governor of South Carolina. Beyond overseeing the Office on Aging and the responsibility to act or serve as governor in the event of the office's vacancy, the duties of the lieutenant governor are chiefly ceremonial.

South Carolina Senate

The legislative power of the State of South Carolina is vested in a bicameral General Assembly comprised of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate consists of 46 members who are elected from single member districts of approximately 87,200 citizens. Senators must be citizens of the United States and the State of South Carolina, at least 25 years old at the time of their election, and residents of the district in which they are elected. Senators serve four year terms. The political make up of the current Senate is 27 Republicans and 19 Democrats. 

Our current state senator is     SC Senate District 16 - Chauncey K. Gregory

State Senator elect is Republican Michael Johnson

South Carolina House of Representatives

The South Carolina House of Representatives consists of 124 part-time citizen legislators elected every two years to represent our state's 124 separate single-member districts. The current House membership is made up of 79 Republicans and 44 Democrats with 1 vacancy. As outlined by our State's Constitution, the General Assembly's annual session begins on the second Tuesday in January and runs through the second Thursday in May.

 Our current State Representative is  SC House District 45 - Brandon Michael Newton

Each county had a number of representatives based on population, with each county guaranteed at least one Representative, while each county had one Senator.

Responsibilities of the South Carolina State Senate and House of Representatives include creating laws that govern our state, passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

Salary of legislators is $10,400/year ($170/legislative day)