The Ultimate United States Senate Quiz

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber.

The Senate is composed of 100 senators, with each state equally represented by two senators who serve staggered terms of six years.

The Senate has several powers of advice and consent which are unique to it, including the approval of treaties, and the confirmation of Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, and other federal executive officials.

The Senate conducts trials of those impeached by the House of Representatives.

The Senate is located in the north wing of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

The vice president of the United States serves as presiding officer and president of the Senate by virtue of that office, despite not being a senator, and has a vote only if the Senate is equally divided.

Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been citizens of the United States for at least nine years, and be inhabitants of the states they seek to represent at the time of their election.

Senators serve terms of six years each; the terms are staggered so that approximately one-third of the seats are up for election every two years.

Vacancies in the Senate are filled by special election, and the Seventeenth Amendment permits state legislatures to empower their governors to make temporary appointments until the required special election takes place.

Senators are paid an annual salary of $174,000, and receive retirement and health benefits that are identical to other federal employees.

Seniority is a factor in the selection of physical offices and in party caucuses' assignment of committees.

The Senate may expel a senator by a two-thirds vote, and fifteen senators have been expelled in the Senate's history.Overview of the United States Senate

• The United States Senate is one of two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives.

• The Senate is made up of 100 senators, two from each of the 50 states, who serve staggered six-year terms.

• The Senate has the power to approve presidential nominations, including Supreme Court justices and federal judges, and to approve or reject treaties.

• The Senate can also remove federal officials from office through impeachment and conviction.

• The majority party in the Senate is responsible for controlling the agenda of the chamber by scheduling debates and votes.

• Each senator chooses a desk based on seniority within the party, and the Democratic Party traditionally sits to the presiding officer's right, and the Republican Party traditionally sits to the presiding officer's left.

• The Senate has several officers who are not members, including the secretary of the Senate, the assistant secretary of the Senate, and the sergeant at arms.

• The filibuster is a tactic used to defeat bills and motions by prolonging debate indefinitely, and the Senate may end a filibuster by invoking cloture, which requires the support of three-fifths of the Senate.

• The Senate often votes by voice vote, but a senator may challenge the presiding officer's assessment and request a recorded vote.

• On occasion, the Senate may go into what is called a secret or closed session, usually held only when the Senate is discussing sensitive subject matter such as information critical to national security or private communications from the president.

• The Senate maintains a Senate Calendar and an Executive Calendar, which identify bills and resolutions awaiting Senate floor actions and executive resolutions, treaties, and nominations reported out by Senate committee(s) and awaiting Senate floor action, respectively.

• The Senate uses committees (and their subcommittees) for a variety of purposes, including the review of bills and the oversight of the executive branch, and the whole Senate appoints committee members.Overview of the United States Senate

• The Senate is one of two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives.

• The Senate has 100 members, two from each state, who are elected to six-year terms.

• The Senate is led by the Vice President of the United States, who serves as its President, but can only vote in the event of a tie.

• The Senate is responsible for confirming presidential nominations to executive and judicial offices, as well as ratifying treaties with foreign countries.

• The Senate has the power to try impeachments of federal officials, with a two-thirds majority required for conviction.

• The Senate is divided into committees, which are responsible for conducting hearings, drafting legislation, and overseeing executive branch agencies.

• The Senate has several standing committees, each with jurisdiction over a specific area, such as finance or foreign relations.

• Committee chairs are typically chosen based on seniority, although they are elected by the members of the committee.

• The Senate has several unique functions, including the ability to advise and consent on presidential appointments and treaties with foreign countries.

• The Senate is criticized for its representation bias, with small states having disproportionate power compared to larger states.

• The Senate is also criticized for its rules, particularly the filibuster, which some argue prevents beneficial legislation from passing.

• The Senate has three office buildings, where senators and their staff work.

• The Senate is a key part of the checks and balances system of the United States government.