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