The Legislative Branch

The Senate

Qualifications (Senate)1. Must be at least 30 years of age2. Must be a citizen of the United

States for at least 9 years3. Must be a resident of the state

that he/she represents

Election and Term of Office (Senate)• 1/3 of the Senate is elected

every two years.• Every Senator serves a six

year term.• The Constitution does not limit

the number of terms that a Senator may serve.

Senate Representation

•Each state has equal representation in the Senate.

•There are 100 Senators, so each state has 2 Senators.

Tennessee’s Senators• Lamar Alexander (Republican) and

Bob Corker (Republican) are the two Senators from Tennessee.

Senate Leadership• The Constitution makes the Vice-

President of the United States the President of the Senate.

• Vice-President Joe Biden is the President of the Senate.

• The only time that the Vice-President has a vote is in order to break a tie.

Vice-President Biden

The President Pro Tempore• The Constitution provides for the

position of President Pro Tempore. • This is for when the Vice-President is

absent from the Senate. • Traditionally, the majority party in the

Senate selects their longest serving member to be the President Pro Tempore.

The President Pro Tempore of the Senate• Senator Daniel Inouye (Democrat)

from Hawaii is the current President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Senate Majority and Minority Leaders• The job of the Senate Majority and

Minority Leaders is the same as their counterparts in the House of Representatives.

Senate Majority Leader• Senator Harry Reid (Democrat)

from Nevada is the Senate Majority Leader.

Senate Minority Leader• Senator Mitch McConnell

(Republican) from Kentucky is the Senate Minority Leader.

Party Whips• The job of the Senate Majority and

Minority Whips is the same as their counterparts in the House of Representatives.

Senate Majority Whip• Senator Dick Durbin (Democrat)

from Illinois is the Senate Majority Whip.

Senate Minority Whip• Senator John Kyl (Republican) from

Arizona is the Senate Minority Whip.