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[[File:US senate seal.png|right|200px]]

[[File:US senate seal.png|right|200px]]

[[File:US Senate Chamber.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Senate chamber, showing visitors gallery (top) and Senator's desks on the floor.]]

[[File:US Senate Chamber.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Senate chamber, showing visitors gallery (top) and Senator's desks on the floor.]]

The '''United States Senate''' is the upper house of the [[United States Congress]], the lower house being the [[United States House of Representatives]]. The U.S. Senate is composed of 100 Senators, two from each of the 50 [[state]]s. The Senate convenes in [[Washington, D.C.]]. Currently, Democrats control the Senate, with 51 Democrats and 47 Republicans. [[Independent]]s [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Joe Lieberman]] caucus with the [[Democratic Party]], though the latter sometimes takes centrist viewpoints on certain issues.

The '''United States Senate''' is the upper house of the [[United States Congress]], the lower house being the [[United States House of Representatives]]. The U.S. Senate is composed of 100 Senators, two from each of the 50 [[state]]s. The Senate convenes in [[Washington, D.C.]]. Currently, Republicans control the Senate, with 44 Democrats and 52 Republicans. [[Independent]]s [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Joe Lieberman]] caucus with the [[Democratic Party]], though the latter sometimes takes centrist viewpoints on certain issues.

On social issues like [[abortion]] the U.S. Senate is more [[liberal]] than the U.S. House, probably due to the greater influence of the media on the statewide Senate elections.  Most votes on controversial issues are along party lines, although a few senators from both parties may cross lines against what their leadership endorses. Due to the clubby nature of the Senate, many bills have bipartisan support among both Republicans and Democrats.

On social issues like [[abortion]] the U.S. Senate is more [[liberal]] than the U.S. House, probably due to the greater influence of the media on the statewide Senate elections.  Most votes on controversial issues are along party lines, although a few senators from both parties may cross lines against what their leadership endorses. Due to the clubby nature of the Senate, many bills have bipartisan support among both Republicans and Democrats.