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The '''United States Senate''' is one of the two Houses of [[Congress]]. It is composed of 100 members, two from each of the 50 [[state]]s.  The Senate convenes in [[Washington, D.C.]].  As of 2007, the Senate is equally divided, with 49 [[Republican]]s and 49 [[Democrat]]s.  [[Independent]]s [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Joe Lieberman]] caucus with the [[Democratic Party]], giving Democrats the majority and control. However, certain actions require a two thirds majority to pass.  Also, if one Democratic senator votes against party lines, is ill, or abstains from voting, the Republican minority will win the vote.

The '''United States Senate''' is one of the two Houses of [[Congress]]. It is composed of 100 members, two from each of the 50 [[state]]s.  The Senate convenes in [[Washington, D.C.]].  As of 2007, the Senate is equally divided, with 49 [[Republican]]s and 49 [[Democrat]]s.  [[Independent]]s [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Joe Lieberman]] caucus with the [[Democratic Party]], giving Democrats the majority and control of the committees.

 

As far as voting on individual bills, most votes are not strictly along party lines, and senators from both parties can and do cross lines against what their leadership endorses on different issues.  It should also be pointed out that many bills have bipartisan support, meaning that the bill has strong support among both Republicans and Democrats.

The position of '''President of the Senate''' is filled by the [[Vice President of the United States]], and he casts the deciding vote in case of a tie.  The Senate's current Majority Leader is [[Democrat]] [[Harry Reid]], and the Minority Leader is the [[Republican]] [[Mitch McConnell]]. <ref>http://senate.gov/pagelayout/senators/a_three_sections_with_teasers/leadership.htm</ref>

The position of '''President of the Senate''' is filled by the [[Vice President of the United States]], and he casts the deciding vote in case of a tie.  The Senate's current Majority Leader is [[Democrat]] [[Harry Reid]], and the Minority Leader is the [[Republican]] [[Mitch McConnell]]. <ref>http://senate.gov/pagelayout/senators/a_three_sections_with_teasers/leadership.htm</ref>

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[[Category: United States Government]]

[[Category: United States Government]]

[[Category: United States Elected Officials]]

[[Category: United States Elected Officials]]

[[Category: United States Congress]]

[[Category: United States Congress]]