The magnitude of the shift in the legislative branch of state government doesn’t hit home until you see it close up.

Last year the Senate was made up of 23 Democrats and 12 Republicans; today there are 23 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Jim Folsom, who was lieutenant governor longer than anyone in history, no longer presides. The gavel is wielded by Republican Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey. Even the Senate secretary has changed. McDowell Lee, who not only was the longest-serving Senate secretary in state history but also nationwide, has been replaced by his longtime assistant, Pat Harris.

Ivey’s power as presiding Senate officer is limited. Since the Senate took the organizational power away from the lieutenant governor in 1999, they have continued with this protocol. Essentially the only duty bestowed on the lieutenant governor by the Alabama Constitution is to become governor if the governor dies.

The power in the Senate is centered around five members. Sen. Del Marsh of Anniston is president pro tem and has the power formerly held by the lieutenant governor. Veteran Sen. Jabo Waggoner of Vestavia Hills is the majority leader. Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale chairs the powerful Rules Committee. Sens. Trip Pittman of Baldwin County and Arthur Orr of Decatur chair the prestigious Budget committees.

A cursory observation of the State House of Representatives reveals the same dramatic scenario as the Senate. Seth Hammett of Andalusia sat in the Speaker’s chair for 12 years. Now he is across the street heading the Alabama Development Office in Gov. Robert Bentley’s Cabinet.

The Speaker’s chair is held by ultra-partisan Republican Mike Hubbard from Auburn, whose years of laboring in the GOP vineyards have catapulted him to that throne. He is joined by veteran and respected Mobile House member Victor Gaston as speaker pro tem. Gaston is a favorite among Republican House members and has been a confidant and father figure to many over the years.

Reps. Jay Love of Montgomery and Jim Barton of Mobile chair the Budget committees in the House. Blaine Galliher of Gadsden is chairman of the Rules Committee. Mickey Hammon of Decatur is the majority leader.

Gov. Robert Bentley is unique in that he is one of the few men in history to move directly from the Legislature to the Governor’s office. By virtue of this experience he will have an excellent working relationship with the legislative branch. He is well liked and respected by his former colleagues. He built a solid reputation of being totally honest and straightforward. He was known as not only having impeccable integrity but his word was good. He does not wear his partisan badge on his sleeve. He can and will work across the aisle in a bipartisan manner to seek solutions to complex problems.

This composition of a Republican governor, Senate and House should portend for a harmonious working relationship over the next four years. Let’s hope so because we do not need partisan wrangling and acrimony this quadrennium with the daunting financial dilemma facing our state.

Steve Flowers’ political column appears weekly in 72 Alabama newspapers. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.