The Senate

The Senate

The upper house of Congress, known for its prestige over the House of Representatives.

Size of the Senate

The Senate consists of only 100 senators, compared to 435 representatives.

Who are senators believed to be?

Senators are intended to be more enlightened and make more informed decisions.

Qualifications for being a senator

Must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the US for at least 9 years, and reside in the state being represented.

Expulsion of senators

Senators can be expelled for misconduct with a ⅔ vote.

Original method of choosing senators

Senators were originally chosen by state legislatures.

17th amendment

Passed in 1913, it established the popular election of senators.

Senatorial elections

States elect one senator at a time through popular vote.

Senate term length

Senators serve six-year terms with no term limits.

Continuous Body

Refers to the Senate where all seats are not up for election at the same time.

Expiring seats in the Senate

Only one-third of the Senate seats expire every two years.

Constituency

The people and interests a politician represents.

Impact of a larger constituency

A larger constituency allows senators to focus on bigger issues.

Prestige of the Senate

Being a senator is considered more prestigious than being a representative.

Qualifications for US senators

At least 30 years old, U.S. citizen for 9 years, and a resident of the state they represent.

Senators and misconduct

Senators can be expelled with a ⅔ vote for misconduct.

Amendment establishing direct election

The 17th amendment allowed for the direct election of senators.

Election cycle for senators

Senators are elected in staggered elections, with only a portion of seats up every two years.

Definition of a senator's role

Senators are intended to represent larger, broader interests of the state.

Characteristics of the Senate

The Senate is known for its smaller size, stricter qualifications, and longer terms compared to the House of Representatives.