Senate

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Senate

Annotation

The Senate was established to represent the states. With two senators per state, and not proportional to population, smaller states retain significant influence. The Senate has specific responsibility for approval of treaties and judges, and to try impeached officials. The Seventeenth Amendment provides for direct election of senators; prior to that they were generally appointed by state legislators.

Citations

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Article 1, Section 3, Cluase 1

Article 1, Section 3, Clause 2

Article 1, Section 3, Clause 3

Article 1, Section 3, Clause 4

Article 1, Section 3, Cluase 5

Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6

Article 1, Section 3, Clause 7

Amendment 17, Cluase 1

Amendment 17, Clause 2

Amendment 17, Cluase 3

Citations

Article 1, Section 3, Clause 1

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof [Modified by Amendment XVII], for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

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Article 1, Section 3, Clause 2

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies [Modified by Amendment XVII].

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Article 1, Section 3, Clause 3

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

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Article 1, Section 3, Clause 4

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

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Article 1, Section 3, Clause 5

The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

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Article 1, Section 3, Clause 6

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

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Article 1, Section 3, Clause 7

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

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Amendment 17, Clause 1

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

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Amendment 17, Clause 2

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

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Amendment 17, Clause 3

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

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