the senate. the upper house about 1/3 of the members of the senate have served in the house of...
TRANSCRIPT
The Upper House
About 1/3 of the members of the Senate have served in the House of Representatives House is a stepping stone to Senate
It is seen as a more distinguished position
It has more stringent requirements for election
Thus, it is called the “upper house”
Size of the Senate
We know that is has two Senators from each state Total of 100 (50 x 2) But why?
The Framers though it would be “more enlightened and responsible” if it we smaller
The Senate is driven by stability and the future The House is driven by the now and popular
sentiment
Election to the Senate
Election process for the Senate has been changed since the adoption of the Constitution
Prior to 1913, they were chosen by state legislatures Leaders always tried to manipulate the system Bribes were not uncommon
The 17th Amendment brought the direct election of Senators
They are elected in November in the general election
Terms in the Senate
Senators are elected for six year terms There is no term limit in the Senate Senators’ terms are staggered Only 1/3 are elected every two years The six year term gives them greater job
security They are less prone to special interest groups They are able to grab more national attention They focus on the big picture more
16 Senators have gone on to be President
Presidents Who Were Senators Richard Nixon Benjamin
Harrison Barack Obama John Quincy
Adams J.F.K. Harry Truman Franklin Pierce Martin Van Buren
W.H.H. Warren Harding James Buchanan Andrew Jackson Andrew Johnson L.B.J. James Monroe John Tyler
Qualifications for the Senate Senators must be 30 years old Senators must have been a citizen for 9 years Senators must live in the state they are
elected from These are slightly high requirements than the
House of Representatives The same types of informal requirements
apply for Senators as well Like the House, members may be expelled or
not seated for various reasons
Punishment and Expulsion
Fifteen members have been expelled from the Senate in its history One in 1797 (organizing an attack on
Spanish Florida) Fourteen during the Civil War (confederate
Senators for supporting secession) Although not common, people are
reprimanded and resign on their own accord Bob Packwood in 1995