Week 3 Flashcards
According to the Constitution, how were senators originally chosen?
By state legislatures
Who presides over the Senate?
Vice president
Who is the most powerful person in the Senate?
The Majority Leader
How does the Senate limit debate?
The Senate has very few limits. One limit is a cloture vote of 2/3 to end debate
How are Senate committee chairs chosen?
By secret ballot
What are the three official qualifications of Senate?
-30 years old
-U.S. citizen for 9+ years
-Resident of the state they represent
What did the 17th Amendment establish?
The direct popular election of Senators by the people
What is required for expulsion, how many times has this happened and when?
-2/3 vote
-Happened 15 times
-Hasn’t occurred since the Civil War
What happens if a Senator retires or dies in office?
The Governor of the state appoints a replacement until a special election is held
Why is the Senate often referred to as the “millionaires” club?
Senators are often older and wealthier than Reps and Senate elections are very costly averaging between 10-15 million dollars
What is seniority rule in the senate and how has it changed?
The longest serving member would automatically be the committee chair, in 1995 they switched to a secret ballot system
Explain how many committees a Senator can be on and why they would choose certain committees?
They are limited to three committees and five sub committees and they usually choose based on personal interest, previous experience and/or the interests of their state.
