Senators serve for six-year terms, which are staggered so that elections are held in approximately one-third of the seats (a "class") every second year.
The senator from each state with the longer tenure is known as the "senior senator," and his or her counterpart as the "junior senator"; this convention, however, does not have any special significance.
UnitedStates, although the Senate's advice and consent is required for the appointment of certain executive branch officials, it is not necessary for their removal.
The Constitution of the UnitedStates endows the U.S. Senate, in addition to its duty of passing all legislation passed through Congress, with the exclusive responsibility of confirming certain Presidential appointments, particularly federal judges (as part of the system of checks and balances) and ratifying international treaties negotiated by the executive.
Unlike the UnitedStates House of Representatives there are no strict rules regarding the debate, and one strategy used by senators to kill a bill is to filibuster which is to continue to debate the bill thereby preventing its passage.
The first session of Senate to be open to the public was held on February 11, 1794 and on February 27, 1986 the Senate allowed its debates to be televised on a trial basis (which was later made permanent).
Feeds |
Contact