chapter 10 sections 3 and 4 senate. basics the constitution says senate “shall be composed of two...
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Chapter 10 sections 3 and 4
Senate
Basics• The Constitution says • Senate “shall be composed of two Senators from each
State.”• So how many are there today??????
• Originally, the Constitution provided that senators were chosen by the State legislatures.
• Now the Seventeenth Amendment calls for the popular election of senators.
• Senators serve for six-year terms.
Why 6 years• Less subject to the pressures of public
opinion and special interest• They have more to do because there are less
of them• Higher Qualifications• Upper House• No Term limits• Strom Thurmond (South Carolina)
• 9 terms• 1954-2003
Continuous Body
• meaning that all of its seats are never up for election at the same time. • Every 2 years (what date)• 1/3 of the senators are up for reelections
• This means there is never a federal election where no senators are running• Incumbents: running for re-election
Seniority Rule
• This is an unwritten rule about who gets the most important committee posts• The best goes to the longest serving member
• Like how the Pro Tempore is chosen
• Most strict in choosing Committee chairs
• Criticism• Not based on ability and discourages younger
members
• Defense• More experienced members=gets more respect
President of the Senate
• Vice President Joe Biden (D)• Elected in general presidential
election• Chief presiding officer
(constitutionally) of the Senate• Cannot participate in floor
debate• Casts vote only in case of tie
President Pro Tempore
• Patrick Leahy (D) • Chosen by majority
party; often most senior member• Presides over Senate
in absence of vice-president
Senate Majority:• Leader: Mitch McConnell (R)
• Chosen by majority party• Majority. party leader in
Senate• Steers party’s bills
through Senate• Plans Senate’s work
schedule in consultation with minority leader
• Whip: John Cornyn• Chosen by majority party• Assists Majority Leader• Rounds up members for
key votes• Heads group of deputy
whips
Senate Minority:• Leader: Harry Reid (D)• Chosen by minority party• Minority party leader in
Senate• Develops criticisms of
bills from majority party• Consults with Majority
Leader• Tries to keep members
working together
• Whip: Richard Durban (D)
• Chosen by minority party• Assists Minority Leader• Rounds up members for
key votes• Heads group of deputy
whips
The differences between House and SenateHouse Senate
435 Members (larger body) 100 Members (smaller body)
2 year terms of office 6 year terms of office
Less prestige More prestige
Strict rules, limited debate time
Flexible rules, nearly unlimited debate time
Most work is done in Committees not on the floor
Work is split more evenly between committees and the
floorLower visibility in the news
mediaHigher visibility in the news
media
Compensation• Congressmen make: $174,000• Fringe Benefits• Special tax deductions• Travel allowance• Medical Insurance• Retirement plan• Franking privilege
• Mail things post free
Qualifications
House SenateAge 25 30
Residency
Must live in the state you are being elected from
Must live in the state you are being elected from
Citizenship
Citizen of US for 7 years
Citizen of US for 9 years
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