U.s. Senate

Senate)
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Type
Upper house

President of the Senate
Richard B. Byrd, (D)
since January 4, 2007

Majority Leader
Harry Reid, (D)
since January 4, 2007

Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell, (R)
since January 4, 2007

Members
100

Political groups
Democratic Party
(49 Members*)
Republican Party
(49 Members)
Independent
(1 member)
Independent Democratic
(1 member)
(* Both independents caucus with Democrats, for a 51-49 Majority)

Last elections
November 7, 2006

Meeting place
Senate Chamber
United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.
United States

Web site
http:www.senate.gov

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the lower house being the House of Representatives.

The composition and powers of the Senate and the House are established in Article One of the Constitution (which does not use the terms "upper" and "lower"). Regardless of population, each U.S state is represented by two senators and is therefore based on the equal representation of each state.

According to a theory long popular among scholars of United States government, the Senate is regarded as a more deliberative body than the House of Representatives because the Senate is smaller and its members serve longer terms, allowing for a more collegial and less partisan atmosphere that is somewhat more insulated from public opinion than the House. One house was intended to be a "people's house" that would be sensitive to public opinion.

It was to be a more deliberate forum of 'elite wisdom' where six-year terms insulated the senators from public opinion. The Constitution provides that the approval of both chambers is necessary for the passage of legislation.
The Senate of the United States was formed on the example of the ancient Roman Senate.The name derives from the senatus, Latin for council of elders (from senex meaning old man in Latin).
The chamber of the United States Senate is located in the north wing of the Capitol building, in Washington, D.C., the national capital. Direct election was established in 1913 by the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, although as many as 29 had previously provided for direct election by way of referendum confirmed by the legislature. The Constitution further stipulates that no constitutional amendment may deprive a state of its equal representation in the Senate without that state's consent.

The staggering of the terms is arranged such that both seats from a given state are never contested in the same general election (except when a mid-term vacancy is being filled).
Senate elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years, Election Day, and coincide with elections for the House of Representatives. Each senator is elected by his or her state as a whole. Generally, a primary election is held first for the Republican and Democratic parties, with the general election following a few months later.

Ballot access rules for Independent and minor party candidates vary from State to State.
The winner is the candidate who receives a plurality of the popular vote. In some states, runoffs are held if no candidate wins a majority.

Once elected, a senator continues to serve until the end of his or her term, death, or resignation.
Expulsion
The Constitution permits the Senate to expel any member by a two-thirds majority vote. Fifteen senators have been expelled in the history of the Senate: William Blount, for treason, in 1797, and fourteen in 1861 and 1862 for supporting the Confederate secession.The Senate has also passed several resolutions censuring or condemning members; censure requires only a simple majority and does not remove a senator from office.
Vacancies
The Seventeenth Amendment provides that vacancies in the Senate, however they arise, may be filled by the executive of a state. The interim appointee remains in office until the special election can be held.

In 1984, all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching for FERS. As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions.

In 2006, the average annual pension for retired senators and representatives under CSRS was $60,972, while those who retired under FERS, or in combination with CSRS, was $35,952.
In general, Senators are regarded as more important political figures than members of the House of Representatives because there are fewer of them, and because they serve for longer terms, represent larger constituencies (except for House at-large districts, which also comprise entire states), sit on more committees, and have more staffers. The age and citizenship qualifications for senators are more stringent than those for representatives.

During its early years, however, the Senate did not closely scrutinize the qualifications of members. This provision, which came into force soon after the end of the Civil War, was intended to prevent those who sided with the Confederacy from serving.That Amendment, however, also provides a method to remove that disqualification: a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress.
Officers


The Senate meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The "Majority party" is the political party which either has a majority of seats or can form a coalition or caucus with a majority of seats; if two or more parties are tied, the Vice President's affiliation determines which party is the majority party. The Constitution authorizes the Senate to elect a President pro tempore (Latin for "president for a time") to preside in the Vice President's absence; the most senior senator of the majority party is customarily chosen to serve in this position.

Like the Vice President, the President pro tempore does not normally preside over the Senate, but typically delegates the responsibility of presiding to junior senators of the majority party. Frequently, freshmen senators (newly elected members) are allowed to preside so that they may become accustomed to the rules and procedures of the body.
The presiding officer sits in a chair in the front of the Senate chamber.

The Senate Majority Leader is responsible for controlling the agenda of the chamber; for example, by scheduling debates and votes. Each party elects a whip to assist the leader; the whip works to ensure that his party's senators vote as the party leadership desires.
Non-member officers
The Senate is served by several officials who are not members.

By custom, the leader of each party sits in the front row along the center aisle. A hold may be placed for any reason and can be lifted by a senator at any time.Holds are considered to be private communications between a senator and the Leader, and are sometimes referred to as "secret holds." A senator may disclose that he or she has placed a hold.
The Constitution provides that a majority of the Senate constitutes a quorum to do business. Once the need for a delay has ended, any senator may request unanimous consent to rescind the quorum call.
During debates, senators may only speak if called upon by the presiding officer, but the presiding officer is required to recognize the first senator who rises to speak.

Thus, the presiding officer has little control over the course of debate. Such temporary committees cease to exist after fulfilling their tasks.
The Congress includes joint committees, which include members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Other joint committees serve to make advisory reports; for example, there exists a Joint Committee on Taxation. (Audio help)
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
United States Senate

The United States Senate Official Website.
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding the Senate
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 to Present.
Standing Rules of the Senate
Chart of all U.S.