United States Government Cuyahoga Heights High School

 Based upon Parliament’s House of Lords in England, it is the upper house of Congress.  Senators were originally selected by the state legislatures.  Today, Senators are elected directly by the people of a state in federal elections as prescribed by the Seventeenth Amendment, passed in  Its members serve 6 year terms. A term of office begins Jan. 1 of an odd-year to Dec.31 of an even-year.

 Two (2) Members per State – currently 100 Senators  The composition is set in Article I of the Constitution, as a result of the Connecticut (Great Compromise)  Unlike the House, the number of Senators does not have a limit set by law

 You are elected. Only one-third of the Senate seats are up for election every two years. The Senate’s terms are staggered so that two-thirds of its members will always have experience following an election.  You are appointed by a Governor of a State due to the death, resignation, expulsion, or the retirement of a Member during the course of a term.  As with the House, there are no term limits on the number of times a senator may be elected.

 The Members of the Senate represent all residents of the State they come from, so are elected “at-large” by voters of each state.  Who are our two Senators from Ohio? ◦ Senator Sherrod Brown (Senior Senator; Democrat from Avon (Lorain County); first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in 2012) ◦ Senator Rob Portman (Junior Senator; Republican from Cincinnati (Hamilton County); elected in 2010 for the first time)

 No representation (unlike the House)! ◦ The United States Territories: (DC, USVI, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands) do not have any representation (AT ALL) in the Senate.

 Advisory and Approval role on many key Presidential appointments;  Approval Authority over all Treaties;  Open debate – meaning no time limits on debate on the Senate floor, making a filibuster possible;  It is a “continuous body”. Again, its terms are staggered so two-thirds that of the Senate will always have experience following an election.  It’s qualifications are more strict

 Be at least 30 years of age  Be Citizen (Natural Born or Naturalized) of the US for 9 years  Be an Inhabitant (resident) of the State you’re running in and wish to serve.

 Senate members also earn $174,000 annually, while leadership positions earn more (for instance the President pro-tempore earns $193,500 ). /a/Annual-Salaries-Of-Top-Us-Government- Officials.htm /a/Annual-Salaries-Of-Top-Us-Government- Officials.htm  Senate members also receive the same fringe benefits as the House including: medical coverage, a pension, and the franking privilege.  Senators also enjoy legislative immunity that protects and promotes their free speech

 Well, if you do something really bad, other members of the Senate may vote to expel you. As with the House, this requires a two- thirds majority vote of the its members.  Like the House, Senators may vote by simple majority to censure or punish its members for “disorderly behavior”.