In the current legislative session, the Republican Party holds 36 seats while the Democratic Party holds 16 seats, creating a Republican trifecta in the state government.

The Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions, and boards and can create and amend bills.

[8] A majority in the Senate establishes a quorum, though less members can adjourn,[9] though not for more than 3 days without the House's consent.

[12] The Senate, in conjunction with the Mississippi House of Representatives, draws and approves both congressional and district boundaries.

[16] The President of the Senate is Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann, who is Republican.

[23] Although the Democratic Party retained their majority in the Senate after the 2003 general election, a party switch by Democratic Senator James Shannon Walley of Leakesville in January 2007 threw control of the chamber to the Republicans.

[25] In the November 6, 2007 statewide elections, Democrats won back control of the chamber,[26] however party switches from Senators Nolan Mettetal in February 2008 and Cindy Hyde-Smith in December 2010 gave the Republicans a de facto majority, with Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant holding the tiebreaker vote.

[27][28] After another party switch in February 2011, the Republicans expanded their majority to 27–24, with one vacancy.