Chapter 10 sections 3
and 4
Senate
• The Constitution says
Basics
• 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
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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
• 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
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Whip: John Cornyn
Chosen by majority party
Assists Majority Leader
Rounds up members for
key votes
• Heads group of deputy
whips
Senate Majority:
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
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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
House
Senate
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 floor
Lower visibility in the news media
Higher visibility in the news media
Compensation
• Congressmen make: $174,000
• Fringe Benefits
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Special tax deductions
Travel allowance
Medical Insurance
Retirement plan
Franking privilege
• Mail things post free
Qualifications
House
Senate
Age
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