THE SENATE What is the Senate? The Senate is one of the two houses of Congress. The other house is the House of Representatives. Congress is the legislative branch of government. Congress meets in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. There are two senators from each state, with 100 total senators. Senators are elected by the voters in their state. Most senators are in one of the two main political parties—Republican or Democrat. Below is a list of things that must be true if you want to be a senator: 1. Must be at least 30 years old 2. Must be a resident of the state where you are elected 3. Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years During a 6-year term, a senator can help do many important jobs. 1. Help make laws 2. Introduce bills, vote on bills 3. Ratify (approve) treaties 4. Approve Supreme Court Justices that the president nominates 5. Amend the Constitution 6. Work on a committee 7. Make a speech about a bill 8. Listen to special interest groups and voters 9. Communicate with voters 10. Decide about taxes There are many special names for people working in the Senate: • Congressional page – young person who works for a Senator • Majority leader – leader of the majority party • Minority leader – leader of the minority party • Whip – helps the floor leader keep in touch with the party • President of the Senate – the vice president of the U.S. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Try This! Underline the jobs that a Senator can help do. make speeches approve treaties impeach the president vote on bills break laws steal from the government take bribes amend the Constitution send letters to voters Circle the two groups that make up Congress. Supreme Court Senate Divorce Court School Teachers Union House of Representatives Justices U.S. President Make an X through the people who cannot vote for the Ohio senator. Iowa teacher Ohio teacher Ohio lawyer Ohio truck driver U.S. President Indiana mayor Kansas preacher Ohio woman vice president © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.