Senate

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UNITED STATES SENATE​

Public​

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE​

Richard Blumenthal (I-Connecticut)​

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE​

Olympia Snowe (I-Maine)​

MAJORITY LEADER​

John Cornyn III (R-Texas)​

MINORITY LEADER​

Chuck Whitehouse (D-New York)​

DEMOCRATS​

42​

REPUBLICANS​

54​

INDEPENDENT​

4​

The United States Senate is designated as the senior congressional chamber. Originally, senators were not directly elected by the people but were instead appointed by the state legislatures from wince they came. Senators are elected to terms of six years, which is substantially longer than their colleagues in the House of Representatives. The Senate is responsible for approving appointments made by the President. Also, if the House of Representatives were to impeach the President, Vice President, or other federal official, the Senate conducts a trial with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court acting as judge. Senators are often considered seasoned political veterans who often considered for President. As outlined by the Constitution, the Vice President is the presiding officer (officially, "President") of the Senate, and the most senior member of the majority is the President Pro Tempore who takes the Vice President's place when he is absent.

"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote."
-Article 1, Section 3, Clause 1, United States Constitution​

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FLAG OF THE SENATE

 

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VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Richard Blumenthal

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The Vice President of the United States, who is the only person that can legally occupy the office of "President of The Senate" is, as directly enumerated by the Constitution, the presiding officer of the Senate. The Constitution also states that the Vice President, when presiding over the Senate as President, cannot vote except in the event of a tie. The Senate previously placed exceptional limitations on the President's ability to speak while the Senate is in session, but this was recently overturned after the inauguration of Vice President Sinclair. This is in part due to America's first Vice President, John Adams. His lengthy monologues made him unpopular among his senatorial colleagues and led to the President only being permitted to keep order, recognize others to speak, take certain procedural stances, and of course vote in the case of ties. Nevertheless, the President has the privilege of chairing any meeting of the Senate for any reason and at any time with or without warning. Today, Vice President Sinclair has taken a much more active role in the Senate than any of his more recent predecessors.​

"The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."
-Article 1, Section 3, United States Constitution​