How does the US Senate election work?
Each state has two Senators who are elected to serve six-year terms. Every two years one third of the Senate is up for reelection. If a candidate is unopposed, there may not be a primary election. Those who represent a major political party are automatically placed on a state’s primary ballot.
Why does the US have 100 senators?
Every U.S. state elects two people to represent them in the US Senate. These people are called senators. Since there are 50 US states, there are 100 senators. Senators only serve six years at a time, and one-third of them are picked every two years.
What are the qualifications of a senator?
The Constitution sets three qualifications for service in the U.S. Senate: age (at least thirty years of age); U.S. citizenship (at least nine years); and residency in the state a senator represents at time of election.
What are the special powers of the Senate?
The special powers of the Senate are to approve treaties, impeach public officials and approve people appointed to office by the president. The Senate is also able to censure its own members for inappropriate behavior. Treaties can only be passed by the Senate with a two-thirds vote in favor.
What does Senate do exactly?
Senators pass laws as part of the legislative branch. Senators serve as representatives of their state in the federal government. They also provide assistance to their constituents in navigating federal agencies. The Senate votes on presidential appointments, such as cabinet members and federal judges.
What are facts about the Senate?
10 Facts About the Senate. Today, senators are elected by direct vote of the people in their state, needing a plurality of the votes. Originally, they were elected by state legislatures, but this was changed by the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913 because of rampant corruption in this practice.
What is the difference between Congress and the Senate?
So, as you can see, the difference between Congress and Senate is quite simple. Congress is the legislative branch of the government. It has two parts; the Senate and the House of Representatives. So, the Senate is a part of the congress.