The Senate has 100 members and is the upper house of the United States Congress. It is called the upper house because it has fewer members than the House of Representatives and has powers not granted to the House, such as giving approval to appointments of Cabinet secretaries and federal judges.
What is the difference between the House and the Senate?
Senators represent their entire states, but members of the House represent individual districts. The number of districts in each state is determined by a state's population. ... Today, Congress consists of 100 senators (two from each state) and 435 voting members of the House of Representatives.
What powers does the Senate have over the House?
The Senate shares full legislative power with the House of Representatives. In addition, the Senate has exclusive authority to approve–or reject–presidential nominations to executive and judicial offices, and to provide–or withhold–its “advice and consent” to treaties negotiated by the executive.
How long does a senator serve?
A Senate term is six years long, so senators may choose to run for reelection every six years unless they are appointed or elected in a special election to serve the remainder of a term.
How many terms can a senator serve?
Senators are elected to six-year terms, and every two years the members of one class—approximately one-third of the senators—face election or reelection.
What are 3 powers only the Senate can do?
The Senate takes action on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations, and treaties by voting . Senators vote in a variety of ways, including roll call votes, voice votes, and unanimous consent.
What are the 4 powers denied to Congress?
Today, there are four remaining relevant powers denied to Congress in the U.S. Constitution: the Writ of Habeas Corpus, Bills of Attainder and Ex Post Facto Laws, Export Taxes and the Port Preference Clause .
What can the president do without Senate approval?
make laws. declare war. ... interpret laws. choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval.
Do Congressmen pay for flights home?
Official travel usually includes travel paid for out of Congressional funds, as well as the travel of Members, Senators or staff abroad as part of an official delegation. All official travel must be paid for or authorized by the House or Senate .
Do Congressmen get free housing?
Members of Congress pay income taxes just like every other American. The U.S. tax code states that everyone who receives revenue must pay an income tax, including Representatives and Senators. ... FACT: Members of Congress do not receive free housing or any housing reimbursement.
How many US Senators are up for election in 2022?
The 2022 United States Senate elections will be held on November 8, 2022, with 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested in regular elections, the winners of which will serve six-year terms in the United States Congress from January 3, 2023, to January 3, 2029.
Have there ever been term limits for Congress?
In May 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5–4 in U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779 (1995), that states cannot impose term limits upon their federal Representatives or Senators. In the 1994 elections, part of the Republican platform included legislation for term limits in Congress.
How old does someone have to be to be a senator?
The Constitution prescribes that the Senate be composed of two senators from each State (therefore, the Senate currently has 100 Members) and that a senator must be at least thirty years of age, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and, when elected, be a resident of the State from which he or she ...
What is the minimum age for a senator?
The framers of the Constitution set the minimum age for Senate service at 30 years.
Why is Congress the most powerful branch?
The most important power of Congress is its legislative authority; with its ability to pass laws in areas of national policy . The laws that Congress creates are called statutory law. Most of the laws which are passed down by Congress apply to the public, and on some cases private laws.
Can the Senate declare war?
The Senate maintains several powers to itself: It ratifies treaties by a two-thirds supermajority vote and confirms the appointments of the President by a majority vote. ... Congress also holds the sole power to declare war.
