CH. 10-3 THE SENATEAMERICAN GOVERNMENT

SIZE, ELECTION, AND TERMS

Why are there 100 members in the Senate? Have the members of the Senate always

been elected directly by voters? Why do Senators serve 6-year terms?

SIZE Constitution says 2 senators from each state 22 members(11 states) in March 1789 (2

states had not ratified the Constitution yet)

The Framers hoped that the smaller Senate would be a more enlightened and responsible body than the House

People thought the House would be swayed by the immediate impact of events

Senators receive a longer term and more difficult qualifications to get in to counter-act the impulsiveness of the House

James Madison saw those provisions as “a necessary fence” against the “fickleness and passion” of the House.

Senators represent entire states Nearly all Senators represent more

diverse populations and a broader range of interests the House

ELECTION Originally the Constitution provided

that Senators would be elected by state legislatures

XVIIth Amendment (1913) directed that Senators be chosen directly by the voters

Only 1 senator is elected from a state during a given election (exception: death, resignation, expulsion)

Senate twice defeated House-passed amendments to create popular election of Senators

The Senate finally bowed to public pressure in 1912

TERM 6-year term No term limits

Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) was first elected in 1958 and served until his death in 2010.

Senator’s terms are staggered 1/3 (33 or 34) are up for re-election

every 2 years The Senate is a CONTINUOUS BODY.

Not all members are up for re-election at the same time.

CONSTITUENCIES—people and interests the senators represent

Senators are supposed to be less concerned about small specific locations and more concerned about the “big picture”.

Senators normally receive more national press coverage than House members

Most presidential candidates come from the Senate

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SENATORS

1) must be at least 30 years old 2) must be a citizen of the USA for 9 years 3) must be an inhabitant of the state from

which he/she is elected Senators judge the qualifications of its

members Members may be excluded by majority vote Members may be punished by majority vote

“for disorderly behavior” Members may be expelled by a 2/3 vote

15 members have been expelled 1 in 1797—Senator William Blount (TN)

supported Native Americans against the USA

14 during the Civil War—Senators from confederate states that supported secession

A few senators have resigned because they would have been expelled

The Senate Ethics Committee recommended that Sen. Bob Packwood (R-OR) by expelled for several instances of sexual misconduct.

Packwood fought the charges for years The Ethics Committee chairman Sen. Mitch

McConnell (R-KY) (currently Senate minority leader) noted a habitual pattern of misconduct.

Packwood resigned October 1, 1995 The End