US Senate Facts for kids |
| US Senatorial Fact 1: | Congress is divided into two chambers. The upper house is another name for the Senate and the lower house is another name for the House of Representatives. |
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| US Senatorial Fact 2: | The Senate and the House of Representatives work in parallel to pass, repeal (cancel) and amend laws |
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| US Senatorial Fact 3: | The Senate is the smaller chamber having 100 members - each state has two senators. |
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| US Senatorial Fact 4: | Senators serve in office for six years and can be re-elected as many times as the people require |
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| US Senatorial Fact 5: | Qualifications: The qualifications and eligibility are that Candidates must be state residents. The Minimum Length of Citizenship to be eligible for the Senate is 9 years and the minimum age of Senators is 30 years old |
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| US Senatorial Fact 6: | The two houses in Congress have an equal voice in legislation but both the Senate and the House of Representatives have unique powers |
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| US Senatorial Fact 7: | Unique Powers: The Senate has the power to approve presidential appointments, confirm all federal judicial appointments, to ratify treaties and to try impeached government officials |
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| US Senatorial Fact 8: | The Staff System: A significant amount of people, called staffers, provide research, analysis and clerical help to members of the Senate and the House |
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| US Senatorial Fact 9: | The Budget: The House and the Senate has the "power of the purse" and must approve all government spending and appropriate the amount of money to be spent, called Appropriation Bills |
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| US Senatorial Fact 10: | Senatorial proceedings are recorded in the Congressional Record |
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| US Senatorial Fact 11: | The 17th Amendment enabled electors to vote for Senators as opposed to the state legislatures, encouraging American citizens to become more involved in the Government of the USA. |
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| US Senatorial Fact 12: | The terms of one third of the senators expire every two years |
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| US Senatorial Fact 13: | The Senate is presided over by the vice president of the United States |
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| US Senatorial Fact 14: | In the absence of the Vice President his duties are assumed by a president pro tempore, elected by the Senate as the presiding officer |
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| US Senatorial Fact 15: | Leaders: The political party holding the majority in the Senate elects a majority leader, the minority party elects a minority leader |
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| US Senatorial Fact 16: | Impeachment Trials: The Senate acquitted both Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1999 during their impeachment trials, so both presidents remained in office. |
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| US Senatorial Fact 17: | The Senate chamber is a room where Senators meet to conduct business |
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| US Senatorial Fact 18: | Each section of Congress has a majority party, which holds more than half of the seats, and a minority party, which holds less than half the seats |
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| US Senatorial Fact 19: | Political Parties: The dominant political parties in the United States are the Democratic Political Party and the Republican Political Party |
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| US Senatorial Fact 20: | The actual number of senators representing a particular political party often changes during a congress, due to the death or resignation of a senator, or as a consequence of a member changing parties. |
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| US Senatorial Fact 21: | Floor Debates: Unlike members of the House of Representatives Senators are not subject to the House Rules Committee and can speak for as long as they wish and offer as many amendments as they want which can result in a filibuster |
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| US Senatorial Fact 22: | Filibuster: A filibuster is a tactic employed by Senators to delay or obstruct legislation by making long speeches |
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| US Senatorial Fact 23: | Whips: Whips exist in both houses for each political party. The Whips make sure that legislators are present for important votes and for ensuring that important votes have the desired outcome for their party on major issues |
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| US Senatorial Fact 24: | Ranking: The highest ranking is United States Vice President (who is called President of the Senate when he is acting in this capacity), the Senate Majority Leader who is a Senator elected by the party to serve as their primary spokesperson, the President pro tempore, who presides over the Senate when the Majority Leader is absent and the Majority Whip |
US Senate Facts for kids |
