Jonah Patel
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It outlines the basic framework of the federal government and consists of seven articles, which embody the doctrine of the separation of powers. The legislative branch, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I), includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Constitution outlines the manner of election and qualifications of members of each body, with the Senate composed of two senators from each state, originally chosen by the state legislature for six-year terms. The process of amending the Constitution involves two steps: adoption and ratification. The Senate plays a crucial role in the legislative process, with powers such as advising and consenting to treaties and nominations made by the President.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of senators from each state | Two |
| Voting rights of senators | Individuals, not states |
| Term of senators | Six years |
| Election of senators | Direct popular vote |
| Election of Representatives | Every second year |
| Age requirement for Representatives | 25 years |
| Citizenship requirement for Representatives | 7 years |
| Residence requirement for Representatives | Inhabitant of the state in which elected |
| Annual meeting date of Congress | First Monday in December |
| Quorum requirement for Congress | Majority of each House |
| Role of Senate in treaty-making | Power shared with President |
| Role of Senate in impeachment | Judge of elections, returns, and qualifications of its members |
| Role of Senate in presidential succession | Chooses Vice President if there is a tie |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution outlines the framework for the federal government, including the legislative branch, Congress
- Congress consists of a Senate and House of Representatives, with two senators from each state
- Senators are elected by the people of each state and serve six-year terms
- The Constitution outlines the powers of Congress, including the ability to amend it
- The Constitution also outlines the process for electing the President, with the Senate choosing the Vice President if there is a tie
The US Constitution outlines the framework for the federal government, including the legislative branch, Congress
The US Constitution is a document that outlines the framework for the federal government of the United States. It divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch, also known as Congress, consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
Article I of the US Constitution describes the design of the legislative branch of the US government. It establishes that all legislative powers granted shall be vested in the Congress of the United States, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states, with each state having specific elector qualifications.
The Constitution also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the legislative branch. The Congress has the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, and excise taxes, as well as borrow money on behalf of the country. They are responsible for regulating commerce with foreign nations and establishing uniform rules for naturalization and bankruptcy laws. Additionally, Congress can coin money, regulate its value, and fix the standard of weights and measures.
The Constitution also addresses the election of Senators and Representatives, as well as the process of law-making. It specifies the times, places, and manner of holding elections, although Congress can make or alter these regulations. Each house of Congress is responsible for judging the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members, and a majority constitutes a quorum to do business.
The US Constitution was authored by the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. It provides the framework for the US government, including the legislative branch, Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
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Congress consists of a Senate and House of Representatives, with two senators from each state
The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government and is made up of two chambers: the lower House of Representatives and the upper Senate. Congress has a total of 535 voting members, including 100 senators and 435 representatives. The House of Representatives has six additional non-voting members.
The Senate is made up of two senators from each state, totalling 100 senators. Senators are elected for six-year terms, and every two years, one-third of the Senate is up for re-election. To be eligible for election to the Senate, a person must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for nine years or more, and a resident of the state that they will represent.
The House of Representatives, on the other hand, faces election every two years. The number of representatives from each state is based on the state's population, as determined by the census. The House is, therefore, a larger body than the Senate and is considered the "popular branch".
The Senate and the House of Representatives each have distinct roles and powers. The Senate is considered a "continuing body" due to the rotation of senators and the fact that two-thirds of its members carry over from Congress to Congress. The Senate also has the power to ratify treaties, a power shared with the President but not the House. The House of Representatives, meanwhile, is responsible for the governing of the District of Columbia, the current seat of the federal government.
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Senators are elected by the people of each state and serve six-year terms
The United States Senate is composed of two senators from each state, elected by the people of that state, for six-year terms. This is outlined in Article 1, Section 3 (as amended) of the US Constitution, which states: "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 idea of equal representation for each state in the Senate was agreed upon by delegates to the Constitutional Convention on July 16. The delegates also decided that senators would vote as individuals, rather than by state, as had been the practice under the Articles of Confederation.
The length of senators' terms was a subject of debate during the Constitutional Convention. The Virginia Plan, which set the initial terms of debate, did not specify a length of term for either house of Congress, only proposing that members of the Senate "hold their offices for a term sufficient to ensure their independence." Some delegates proposed longer terms to ensure the independence of the Senate, while others worried that long terms would create too much distance from the states.
Ultimately, the delegates compromised and adopted six-year terms for senators, with one-third of the Senate facing election or reelection every two years. This rotation of senators established the idea of the Senate as a "continuing body," in contrast to the House of Representatives, which holds elections for all members every two years. The longer, overlapping Senate terms provide Congress with stability and continuity and reduce the immediate pressure of public opinion on senators.
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The Constitution outlines the powers of Congress, including the ability to amend it
The US Constitution was authored by the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, and it outlines the powers of Congress, one of which is the ability to amend the Constitution.
Article I of the US Constitution describes the design of the legislative branch of the US government, or Congress. It establishes the separation of powers between branches of government (checks and balances), the election of Senators and Representatives, the process by which laws are made, and the powers that Congress has.
Article I, Section 2, for example, was changed by the 14th Amendment. It states that the House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. No person shall be a Representative who has not attained the age of twenty-five years, been a citizen of the United States for seven years, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of the state in which they are chosen.
Article I, Section 6, outlines that Senators and Representatives shall receive compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. The Virginia Plan proposed that members of Congress "receive liberal stipends" as compensation for their public service, but not all delegates believed that senators ought to be paid for their service.
Article I, Section 3, Clause 1, states that the Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature for six years. Senators vote as individuals, rather than having one vote per state.
The Constitution also outlines the powers of the Senate in cases of impeachment. The Senate has 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. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of honour, trust, or profit under the United States.
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The Constitution also outlines the process for electing the President, with the Senate choosing the Vice President if there is a tie
The U.S. Constitution, as amended, outlines the process for electing the President and Vice President. The Twelfth Amendment, ratified on June 15, 1804, outlines the procedure for electing the President and Vice President, specifically stating that they are to be elected together.
The Twelfth Amendment states that electors meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President. The Electors are expected to select two candidates for office, one of whom must not be an inhabitant of the same state as themselves. The Electors then make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President and Vice-President, along with the number of votes for each. These lists are then sent to the President of the Senate, who opens the certificates in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives.
If no presidential candidate receives a majority of votes or in the case of a tie, the House of Representatives chooses the President. Similarly, if there is no majority for Vice President or a tie, the Senate chooses the Vice President from the two candidates with the highest number of votes. A quorum for this purpose is two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number is necessary for a choice.
The Twelfth Amendment also addresses the concern of the country being without a leader during the inter-term phase. It stipulates that if a new President is not decided by the original inauguration day of March 4, the elected Vice President will assume the responsibilities of the President until a proper candidate is chosen by Congress.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The US Constitution establishes a bicameral Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate's role is to represent the states, with two senators from each state, and to act with "more coolness, with more system, and with more wisdom" than the popular House.
Originally, the US Constitution provided that senators were to be chosen by the state legislatures. However, the Seventeenth Amendment changed this, providing for the direct election of senators by the people of the states.
Yes, the US Constitution can be amended through a two-step process. First, an amendment must be proposed and adopted by either a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress or a national convention. Second, the amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states through either the consent of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions.
Examples of amendments to the US Constitution include the Seventeenth Amendment, which changed the manner of electing senators, and the Twentieth Amendment, which changed the date on which a new president, vice president, and Congress take office. Other amendments, such as the Nineteenth and Twenty-fourth Amendments, expanded voting rights by prohibiting the denial of the right to vote based on sex or the payment of taxes, respectively.
