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| | 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. |
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| − | 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 [[Republican]]s and [[Democrat]]s. |
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| | Unless rules specify otherwise, the Senate may agree to any question by a majority of Senators voting, if a [[quorum]] is present. The [[Chair]] puts each question by [[Voice Vote|voice vote]] unless the "yeas and nays" are requested, in which case a roll call vote occurs.<ref>https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/b_three_sections_with_teasers/glossary.htm</ref> | | Unless rules specify otherwise, the Senate may agree to any question by a majority of Senators voting, if a [[quorum]] is present. The [[Chair]] puts each question by [[Voice Vote|voice vote]] unless the "yeas and nays" are requested, in which case a roll call vote occurs.<ref>https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/b_three_sections_with_teasers/glossary.htm</ref> |
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| | ==Powers of Senate== | | ==Powers of Senate== |
| | In addition to passing legislation, the Senate also has a number of unique and special powers. | | In addition to passing legislation, the Senate also has a number of unique and special powers. |
| − | * The Senate has the power to try cases of impeachment of federal officials, should such officials be impeached by the House of Representatives. When the [[President]] is on trial, such proceedings are overseen by the Chief Justice of the United States. This has happened only three times: the impeachment proceedings of Presidents [[Andrew Johnson]], [[Bill Clinton]], and [[Donald Trump]]. None of them were removed from office. (The closest that a President has come to being removed was [[Richard Nixon]]; however, realizing that he would likely be removed from office, he chose to resign instead.) | + | * The Senate has the power to try cases of impeachment of federal officials, should such officials be impeached by the House of Representatives. When the [[President]] is on trial, such proceedings are overseen by the Chief Justice of the [[United States]]. This has happened only three times: the impeachment proceedings of Presidents [[Andrew Johnson]], [[Bill Clinton]], and [[Donald Trump]]. None of them were removed from office. (The closest that a President has come to being removed was [[Richard Nixon]]; however, realizing that he would likely be removed from office, he chose to resign instead.) |
| − | * The Constitution gives the Senate the power to "advice and consent" appointments made by the [[President]]. Major appointments subject to this include heads of Cabinet-level federal departments, [[Supreme Court]] justices, [[U.S. District Court]] and [[United States Court of Appeals]] judges, [[U.S. Attorney]]s, ambassadors to foreign powers, high-ranking military commands and certain federal agencies such as [[NASA]] or the [[Environmental Protection Agency]]. | + | * The Constitution gives the Senate the power of "advice and consent" to appointments made by the [[President]]. Major appointments subject to this include heads of Cabinet-level federal departments, [[Supreme Court]] justices, [[U.S. District Court]] and [[United States Court of Appeals]] judges, [[U.S. Attorney]]s, ambassadors to foreign powers, high-ranking military commands and certain federal agencies such as [[NASA]] or the [[Environmental Protection Agency]]. |
| | * 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. |
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| | ==Bibliography== | | ==Bibliography== |
| − | [[File:Seal of the Senate.png|right|200px|thumb|The third Seal of the United States Senate, adopted in 1886. At the top of the circle can be seen a red [[Liberty Cap]]]] | + | [[File:Seal of the Senate.png|right|200px|thumb|The third Seal of the United States Senate, adopted in 1886. At the top of the circle, a red [[Liberty Cap]] can be seen.]] |
| | ===Official Senate histories=== | | ===Official Senate histories=== |
| | The following are published by the Senate Historical Office. | | The following are published by the Senate Historical Office. |
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| | ===Scholarly studies === | | ===Scholarly studies === |
| | * Baker, Richard A. ''The Senate of the United States: A Bicentennial History'' (1988). | | * Baker, Richard A. ''The Senate of the United States: A Bicentennial History'' (1988). |
| − | * Baker, Richard A., ed., ''First Among Equals: Outstanding Senate Leaders of the Twentieth Century'' Congressional Quarterly, 1991. biographies of famous Senators | + | * Baker, Richard A., ed., ''First Among Equals: Outstanding Senate Leaders of the Twentieth Century'' Congressional Quarterly, 1991. Biographies of famous Senators |
| | * Barone, Michael, and Grant Ujifusa, ''The Almanac of American Politics 1976: The Senators, the Representatives and the Governors: Their Records and Election Results, Their States and Districts'' (1975); new edition every 2 years; latest issue August 2009. | | * Barone, Michael, and Grant Ujifusa, ''The Almanac of American Politics 1976: The Senators, the Representatives and the Governors: Their Records and Election Results, Their States and Districts'' (1975); new edition every 2 years; latest issue August 2009. |
| | * David W. Brady and Mathew D. McCubbins. ''Party, Process, and Political Change in Congress: New Perspectives on the History of Congress'' (2002) | | * David W. Brady and Mathew D. McCubbins. ''Party, Process, and Political Change in Congress: New Perspectives on the History of Congress'' (2002) |
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| | * 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) |