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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 of the committees.

The '''United States Senate''' is the upper house of the [[United States Congress]], the lower house being the [[United States House of Representatives]]. It is composed of 100 Senators, two from each of the 50 [[state]]s. The Senate convenes in [[Washington, D.C.]]. After the 2006 midterm elections, 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.

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.

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>http://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>http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/b_three_sections_with_teasers/glossary.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 noted liberal [[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 Senate is named for the [[Roman Senate]], the governing council of ancient Rome. The Latin word means a council of elders, and derives from the same Latin root as ''senior.''

The Senate is named for the [[Roman Senate]], the governing council of ancient Rome. The Latin word means a council of elders, and derives from the same Latin root as ''senior.''

 

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]] [[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>

==Powers of Senate==

==Powers of Senate==

 

The Senate has the power to try cases of impeachment and remove officials from office. It is also responsible to give "advice and consent" to the actions of the [[president]]. The Senate approves appointments made by the [[President]] and ratifies his treaties.<ref>US Government and Politics</ref>

* The Senate has the power to try cases of impeachment of federal officials, should such officials be impeached by the House of Representatives. Such proceedings are overseen by the Chief Justice of the United States. Two notable instances of this were the impeachment proceedings of Presidents [[Andrew Johnson]] and [[Bill Clinton]]. Neither were removed from office.

 

* 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]] 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.

* If there is a tie in the [[Electoral College]], the Senate elects the Vice President while the House elects 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.  

==References==

==References==

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==See also==

==See also==

* [[Congress]]

* [[Congress]]