Changes

[[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.]]. As of January 6, 2021, Republicans will control the Senate, with 52 Republicans, 46 Democrats, and 2 Independents, including [[Bernie Sanders]], who vote and caucus with the [[Democrat Party]].

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.]]. As of 2021, Democrats control the Senate, with 48 Democrats, 50 Democrats, and 2 Independents, including [[Bernie Sanders]] and  [[Angus King]], who vote and caucus with the [[Democrat Party]].

The U.S. Senate, along with the [[House]] in a joint session of [[Congress]] held on January 6, 2021, accepts or rejects the [[Electoral College]] votes for president.  If the Senate declines to certify 270 votes for a candidate amid alternate slates of Electors, then the presidential election is transferred to the [[House]] to select the president from the top three contenders, with each State having an equal vote, rather than voting by population proportion as the House usually does.

The U.S. Senate, along with the [[House]] in a joint session of [[Congress]] held on January 6, 2021, accepts or rejects the [[Electoral College]] votes for president.  If the Senate declines to certify 270 votes for a candidate amid alternate slates of Electors, then the presidential election is transferred to the [[House]] to select the president from the top three contenders, with each State having an equal vote, rather than voting by population proportion as the House usually does.

Senators are elected by each of the fifty states. They serve for six-year terms, without term limits. Approximately one-third of the Senate comes up for re-election every two years. Although originally elected by the state legislatures, the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913 gave that power to the citizens. If a Senator resigns or dies in office, that state's Governor appoints a temporary Senator to maintain that state's representation.

Senators are elected by each of the fifty states. They serve for six-year terms, without term limits. Approximately one-third of the Senate comes up for re-election every two years. Although originally elected by the state legislatures, the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913 gave that power to the citizens. If a Senator resigns or dies in office, that state's Governor appoints a temporary Senator to maintain that state's representation.

The position of '''President of the Senate''' is filled by the [[Vice President of the United States]]. The Vice President only votes in the case of a tie. The Senate's current Majority Leader is [[Republican]] [[Mitch McConnell]] and the Minority Leader is the [[Democrat]] [[Chuck Schumer]].

The position of '''President of the Senate''' is filled by the [[Vice President of the United States]]. The Vice President only votes in the case of a tie. The Senate's current Majority Leader is [[Democrat]] [[Chuck Schumer]] and the Minority Leader is the [[Republican]] [[Mitch McConnell]].

Since all 50 states are represented equally in the Senate, because of the [[federalist]] principles in the Constitution, it is likely that conservatives will continue to have relatively strong influence in the Senate even if future demographic shifts favor leftist Democrats.<ref>Kurtz, Howard (October 12, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/change-the-rules-why-the-left-is-slamming-the-senate-and-electoral-college Change the rules? Why the Left is slamming the Senate and Electoral College]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 12, 2018.</ref><ref>Kirkwood, R. Cort (July 18, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/29571-post-demographic-shift-really-be-bad-for-democracy Would Demographic Shift Really Be Bad For “Democracy”?] ''The New American''. Retrieved October 12, 2018.</ref>

Since all 50 states are represented equally in the Senate, because of the [[federalist]] principles in the Constitution, it is likely that conservatives will continue to have relatively strong influence in the Senate even if future demographic shifts favor leftist Democrats.<ref>Kurtz, Howard (October 12, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/change-the-rules-why-the-left-is-slamming-the-senate-and-electoral-college Change the rules? Why the Left is slamming the Senate and Electoral College]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 12, 2018.</ref><ref>Kirkwood, R. Cort (July 18, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/29571-post-demographic-shift-really-be-bad-for-democracy Would Demographic Shift Really Be Bad For “Democracy”?] ''The New American''. Retrieved October 12, 2018.</ref>

==Current Composition==

==Current Composition==

*Republican Party (Majority): 53

*Democrat Party (Majority): 48

*Democrat Party (Minority): 45

*Republican Party (Minority): 50

*Independent (caucus with Democrats) : 2

*Independent (caucus with Democrats) : 2