1. The Senate
STANDARD SSCG9

2. Standard
SSCG9: The student will explain the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate, with emphasis on terms of office, powers, organization, leadership, and representation of each house.

3. Basics about the Senate
Qualifications
Age: 30
US citizen
Live in US for 9 years
Resident of the State from which you are elected
Term
6 year terms

4. How many Senators do we have?
More Basics!
How many Senators do we have?
From each State 2
Total

5. Why is the Senate considered a continuous body?
The 100 member Senate is divided into three groups
Elections are held every two years
Only one group is up for reelection at a time.
Unlike the House the Senate could never be replaced at the same time.

6. Debate in the Senate – How is it different?
No time limit for speaking – Why? Open debate and there are only 100 people in the Senate
They usually agree, when the bill is brought before the Senate, on a specific time to debate
Two-speech rule – Senators may only speak twice a day on the same topic

7. Filibuster Stalling tactic – “talking a bill to death”
Hopes to force the Senate to drop the bill or change it
Record filibusterers:
Strom Thurman – 1957
24 hours, 18 minutes against Civil Rights Bill of 1957
Remember he was in the Senate until he was 99 Years old.

8. Huey Long – aka The Kingfish - 15 ½ hours
1935
Louisiana Senator
wanted to keep a provision to make National
Recovery Administration senior officers be
approved by the Senate (opposed by FDR)
Read the Constitution and analyzed each section,
read from the Washington DC phone book, and gave out recipes
Wayne Morris
22 hours, 26 minute
1953
Against Tideland Oil Legislation

9. Cloture: can end a Filibuster
Adopted in 1917 – Rule XXII
Allows for a limit on debate in the Senate
16 Senators must ask for a cloture
Historically it must be supported by at least 3/5ths of the Senate or 60 members. -- In 2017 the number was changed to a majority or 51 votes.
If passed, 30 hours of floor time are allowed and then a final vote must be taken
Only been done about 130 times
Why not supported?
Some think it hinders free debate
Don’t want it to be used too much

10. What else can the Senate do that the House cannot?
How can they check the power of the Presidential appointments?
They can refuse to approve a nominee.
The Senate can have an Impeachment Hearing

11. What appointments must they approve?
Cabinet Members
Federal judges
Supreme Court Justices
Ambassadors and Consuls

12. What part do they play in making treaties with other countries?
The Senate must approve all treaties made by the President.

13. Look up the Following: Senate.gov Look up our two Senators
What Political Party do they belong to?
When will they be up for reelection?