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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.]]. As of 2026, Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, plus the tie-breaking vote held by [[Vice President]] [[J.D. Vance]]. Included with the Democrat voting strength are two Independents, [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Angus King]], who caucus with the [[Democrat Party]] and almost always vote with the [[Democrat]]s.

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 2026, Republicans have a 53–47 majority in the Senate, plus the tie-breaking vote held by [[Vice President]] [[J.D. Vance]]. Included with the Democrat voting strength are two Independents, [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Angus King]], who caucus with the [[Democrat Party]] and almost always vote with the [[Democrat]]s.

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.

* The Senate ratifies all treaties between the United States and foreign powers.

* The Senate ratifies all treaties between the United States and foreign powers.

* If there is no majority in the [[Electoral College]], the Senate selects the Vice President while the House selects the President. The Senate has only used this power once: in 1837, when it elected [[Richard Mentor Johnson]] Vice President after Virginia's delegates to the Electoral College voted for Martin Van Buren but refused to vote for him, giving him one vote shy of a majority. Under the Twelfth Amendment, the Senate elected Johnson 36 to 16 with three abstentions along sharp party lines.

* If there is no majority in the [[Electoral College]], the Senate selects the Vice President while the House selects the President. The Senate has only used this power once: in 1837, when it elected [[Richard Mentor Johnson]] Vice President after Virginia's delegates to the Electoral College voted for Martin Van Buren but refused to vote for him, giving him one vote shy of a majority. Under the Twelfth Amendment, the Senate elected Johnson 36 to 16 with three abstentions along sharp party lines.

* A notable difference between the Senate and the House of Representatives is the ability for the minority to filibuster; in other words, 60 votes are required to force legislation to continue onto a voting period. The filibuster is important to prevent a majority of even 51 to 49 from forcing legislation through. This was crucial during the 110th Congress from 2007-2009, where the Democratic Party had a majority of merely 51-49, and, if not for the filibuster, could have forced potentially harmful legislation through. However, in recent years the filibuster has been watered down.

* A notable difference between the Senate and the House of Representatives is the ability for the minority to filibuster; in other words, 60 votes are required to force legislation to continue onto a voting period. The filibuster is important to prevent a majority of even 51 to 49 from forcing legislation through. This was crucial during the 110th Congress from 2007 to 2009, where the Democratic Party had a majority of merely 51–49, and, if not for the filibuster, could have forced potentially harmful legislation through. However, in recent years the filibuster has been watered down.

==Current Composition==

==Current Composition==

** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1965–1968 '' (1969)

** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1965–1968 '' (1969)

** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1945–1964 '' (1965), the first of the series

** Congressional Quarterly, ''Congress and the Nation: 1945–1964 '' (1965), the first of the series

* Cooper, John Milton, Jr. ''Breaking the Heart of the World: Woodrow Wilson and the Fight for the League of Nations.'' (2001).

* Cooper, John Milton Jr. ''Breaking the Heart of the World: Woodrow Wilson and the Fight for the League of Nations.'' (2001).

* Davidson, Roger H., and Walter J. Oleszek, eds. ''Congress and Its Members'', (CQ, 10th ed. 2007) (Legislative procedure, informal practices, and member information)

* Davidson, Roger H., and Walter J. Oleszek, eds. ''Congress and Its Members'', (CQ, 10th ed. 2007) (Legislative procedure, informal practices, and member information)

* Gould, Lewis L. ''The Most Exclusive Club: A History Of The Modern United States Senate'' (2005), the best history, by a leading historian

* Gould, Lewis L. ''The Most Exclusive Club: A History Of The Modern United States Senate'' (2005), the best history, by a leading historian

* Valeo, Frank. ''Mike Mansfield, Majority Leader: A Different Kind of Senate, 1961–1976'' (1999) Montana Democrat and majority leader

* Valeo, Frank. ''Mike Mansfield, Majority Leader: A Different Kind of Senate, 1961–1976'' (1999) Montana Democrat and majority leader

* VanBeek, Stephen D. ''Post-Passage Politics: Bicameral Resolution in Congress.'' (1995)

* VanBeek, Stephen D. ''Post-Passage Politics: Bicameral Resolution in Congress.'' (1995)

* Weller, Cecil Edward, Jr. ''Joe T. Robinson: Always a Loyal Democrat.'' (1998). (Arkansas Democrat who was [[Majority Leader]] in 1930s)

* Weller, Cecil Edward Jr. ''Joe T. Robinson: Always a Loyal Democrat.'' (1998). (Arkansas Democrat who was [[Majority Leader]] in 1930s)

* Wirls, Daniel and Wirls, Stephen. ''The Invention of the United States Senate'' (2004). (Early history)

* Wirls, Daniel and Wirls, Stephen. ''The Invention of the United States Senate'' (2004). (Early history)

* Zelizer, Julian E. ''On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948–2000'' (2006)

* Zelizer, Julian E. ''On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948–2000'' (2006)