III. The Senate

“ The Senate is the place where bills go to die.” Dr. Fred Beuttler, Deputy House Historian

A. Why the Senate? Preserves the fundamental right of minority rule Compromise is necessary in the Senate because the minority is given so much power

American Mythology Thomas Jefferson asked George Washington why the Senate was created As Jefferson asked this question he poured his cup of hot tea into a cooling saucer Washington replied that his actions just answered is own question

What? You have 1 minute to work with a partner and discuss what you think Washington’s statement means.

B. Nebraska’s Senators 1) Ben Nelson 2) Mike Johanns Question: Which senator represents our district?

Nelson and Johanns

C. Senate at Work Each senator is equal and the voice of the minority is always heard Need 60 votes to end debate and vote in the Senate Senators represent their entire state Informal atmosphere provides maximum freedom of expression Allows unlimited debate time

Who’s this guy?

D. Vice President’s Role Constitution makes the vice president the president of the Senate Not allowed to take part in Senate debates Only votes in an event of a tie – John Adams Broke 29 ties as VP Modern vice presidents spend little time in the Senate Not viewed as being part of the Senate

Vice Presidents Chair

E. Pro Tem President Pro Tempore – Presides over the Senate in the absence of the vice president Always a member of the majority party

Daniel Inouyev – Current Pro Tempore

“Look, no hair”

F. Senate Floor Leaders Majority and minority leaders are also apart of the Senate Not as important as the majority and minority members of the House Why not?

“The Power of the Majority Leader is the power of persuasion.” - Lyndon Johnson

G. Filibuster Filibuster – Stalling legislative process by giving a really long speech – can also include the endless introduction of new amendments Delays bringing the bill to a vote Must stand without leaning on anything Usually the threat of a filibuster will defeat a bill Strom Thurmond – Gave the longest filibuster in Senate history at over 24 hours

Primary Source: Filibuster Against Civil Rights Act of 1957 – “There’s not enough troops in the army to force Southern people to break down segregation and allow the nigger race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes and into our churches.” Strom Thurmond (South Carolina)

Cloture – Stops filibusters by limiting each speaker to only one hour An official way to tell a member to “shut up” Requires 3/5 th (60 senators) Why wouldn’t members of the Senate want to vote for cloture?

“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” Is the Senate Broke?

H. Additional Senate Roles Has the power to approve executive nominations Has the power to approve treaties written by the President –Great example of the Senate’s power is their rejection of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919