Unit III Lesson 5

Intro to the U.S. Senate

Essential Question:

• What are the institutions and

policy-making processes of

the national government?

• What are the links between

the branches of the national

government, political parties,

interest groups, public

opinion, the media, and state

and local governments?

Think of two colleges:

One of them is large, reasonably hard to get into, and

brings with it a certain amount of prestige

The other is smaller, more exclusive, and is held in the

highest esteem

Whereas Congressmen speak only for a district

Congressman

Tom Graves

Whereas Congressmen speak only for a district

U.S. Senators represent the entire state

Congressman

Tom Graves

Senator

David Perdue

2014

2014

Article I Section 3

“The Senate of the United States

shall be composed of two Senators

from each State Chosen by the (State’s) Legislature

State Legislatures

State

Lawmakers

1912

The 17th Amendment- Changes the election of U.S. Senators

from state legislatures to the citizens of that state

The Senate of the

United States shall be

composed of two

Senators from each

State, elected by the

people thereof

Power to the People

StateDistrict

Congressman

Doug Collins

2012

2014

2016

U.S. Senators serve a six-year

term

2012

2014

2016Senator

Susan Collins

6 Years2 Years

House =

Most Responsive To The Will

Of Voters

Senate =

More “Deliberate”

But is Wildly Unpopular

The Country

Needs…

Congressman Scare D. Katt

2 Year

6 Year

6 Years2 Years

50 X 2

100

435

There are only 100 U.S. Senators

100

Formal “Constitutional” Qualifications A Person Must Meet

In Order to Run for the U.S. Senate:

1) Must be at least 30 years old

1985 Mr. Sea

Second formal requirement to be a U.S. Senator…

2) Must be a citizen of the U.S. for at least 9

years

Natural Born

Naturalized

There is one more formal requirement to be a U.S. Senator…

At Least 30 Years Old

A Citizen for At Least 9

Years

3) Must be a legal resident of the state you want to

represent (The other two requirements for the

Senate are a bit tougher than the House of

Representatives but this one is the exact same!)

“Am I Qualified

?”

1.I’ve lived in the U.S. for the last 10 years

2.I’m on a Green Card

3.I live in Georgia

4. I’m 30 years old

Can I be one of Georgia’s Senators?

1.I was born in Georgia

2. I’ve lived in the U.S. for over 20 years

3.I live in Mississippi now

4. I’m 30 years old

Can I be one of Georgia’s Senators?

1.I was born in Mississippi

2.I’ve lived in Georgia for the last 20 years

3. I’m 25 years old

Can I be one of Georgia’s Senators?

1.My parents were illegal immigrants

2.I was born in Mississippi

3.I’ve lived in Georgia for the last 20 years

4. I’m 30 years old

Can I be one of Georgia’s Senators?

U.S. Senators are elected for how long?

A.Two-Year Terms

B.Four-Year Terms

C.Six-Year Terms

D.Life

Which of the following is NOT a formal

qualification for election to the U.S. Senate?

A.At least 30 years old

B.A legal resident of the state of election

C.Service in the House of Representatives

for at least two terms

D.A U.S. citizen for at least nine years

There are two U.S. Senators from each

state, therefore the Senate is based on:

A.Population

B.The Census

C.Who the State Legislators Choose

D.Equal Representation