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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.]]. Currently, Democrats control the Senate, with 51 Democrats and 47 Republicans. [[Independent]]s [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Joe Lieberman]] caucus with the [[Democratic Party]], though the latter sometimes takes centrist viewpoints on certain issues.

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.]]. Currently, Democrats control the Senate, with 51 Democrats and 47 Republicans. [[Independent]]s [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Joe Lieberman]] caucus with the [[Democratic Party]], though the latter sometimes takes centrist viewpoints on certain issues.

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.  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.

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.

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>