Gaining Senate Majority: The Magic Number Of Seats

The United States Senate is composed of 100 senators, with each of the 50 states being represented by two senators who serve staggered six-year terms. The majority party in the Senate is the one that holds more than 50 seats, and this majority party has the power to shape legislation and control key committees. The majority party also chairs the committees and receives the most seats on them. The Senate has the ability to check and balance the powers of other elements of the federal government, such as approving treaties and confirming federal judges. In recent years, the partisan split in the Senate has been relatively even, with slim majorities becoming more common.

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The US Senate has 100 members

Since 1913, senators have been elected by a statewide popular vote. Before this, from 1789 onwards, senators were appointed by the state legislature of their respective states.

The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral US Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower house. The Senate has historically had stronger norms of conduct for its members compared to the House of Representatives.

The number of seats in the Senate has been 100 since 1959, when the United States reached its current total of 50 states.

The Senate plays an important role in US politics, with the power to confirm presidential appointments, approve or reject treaties, and convict or exonerate impeachment cases brought by the House.

Each state has two senators

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. The U.S. Constitution, which has been in continuous effect since March 4, 1789, establishes the composition and powers of the Senate.

Each of the 50 states is represented by two senators, regardless of the state's population. This means that there are 100 senators in total. The Constitution's 17th Amendment, ratified in 1913, stipulates that senators are elected through a statewide popular vote. Senators serve staggered six-year terms, with approximately one-third of the seats being filled with each general election.

The Senate's apportionment scheme, which apportions seats based on states rather than population, gives small states an advantage. This countermajoritarianism enables a minority of the chamber to block action through the filibuster.

The vice president of the United States serves as the presiding officer and president of the Senate. In the vice president's absence, the president pro tempore, typically the most senior member of the Senate's majority party, presides over the Senate. The majority leader of the Senate manages and schedules its legislative and executive business.

The majority party chairs committees

The US Senate consists of 100 members, with each of the 50 states being represented by two senators who serve staggered six-year terms. The majority party in the Senate is the one with more than 50 seats.

The majority party in the Senate has significant powers, including the ability to shape legislation and control committee chairs and memberships. The committee assignment process is guided by Senate rules, party rules, and practices. While senators are formally elected to standing committees by the entire membership of the Senate, each party conference is largely responsible for determining its committee members. Party conferences appoint a "committee on committees" or a "steering committee" to make committee assignments, considering qualifications such as seniority, expertise, and relevance of committee jurisdiction to a senator's state.

Historically, the method of assigning committee chairs and memberships has shifted between the use of secret balloting and the presiding officer determining the slate of committee memberships. The emergence of the Democratic and Whig Parties influenced these shifts. Beginning in the late 19th century, seniority within the party became the primary factor in determining who chaired committees. Senators typically retained their committee seats until they left the Senate or voluntarily gave up their seat.

The number of committees increased significantly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to some senators from the minority party chairing committees. In 1921, the Republican majority abolished 41 committees as part of their commitment to reducing government spending. The committee system underwent further reforms during the Great Depression and World War II, with the 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act reducing the number of committees from 33 to 15 and redefining their jurisdictions.

Today, the majority party in the Senate continues to play a crucial role in shaping committee leadership and legislative agendas. The ability to connect with committee chairs and members is essential for influencing public policy and driving desired outcomes.

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Independents can caucus with a party

In the US Senate, a majority is constituted by 51 seats out of a total of 100. The remaining 49 seats are those of the minority party. At times, there are also independent senators or those from other parties.

Independents can choose to caucus with a party, which means they align with that party's senators and vote with them. This is significant because it can change which party has the majority in the Senate. For example, in 2001, Senator James Jeffords of Vermont announced his switch from Republican to Independent status and said he would caucus with the Democrats, giving them a one-seat advantage and changing control of the Senate.

There have been several other instances of independents caucusing with a party in the Senate. For example, in the 119th Congress, the Democratic Caucus included two independent senators (Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine), bringing the total number of members to 47. In the 117th Congress (2021-2023), there were two independents who caucused with the Democrats, and in the 116th Congress (2019-2021), there were also two independents who caucused with the Democrats.

At the state level, there are also independent legislators who caucus with a party. For example, in the Alaska House of Representatives, there are currently two independent members (Alyse Galvin and Rebecca Himschoot) who caucus with the Democrats.

It is important to note that while independents can choose to caucus with a party, they may also choose not to. For example, U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona switched her affiliation to Independent in 2022 but opted to caucus with neither party while maintaining her seniority and committee assignments through the Senate Democratic Caucus.

The vice president breaks ties

The US Senate is comprised of 100 senators, with each of the 50 states being represented by two senators. The Senate requires a majority to pass federal legislation, and in the event of a tie, the vice president can cast a tie-breaking vote. While the vice president serves as the president of the Senate, they may only vote when the Senate is equally divided.

Historically, the vice president's role in the Senate has been influential in shaping policy and legislation. John Adams, the first vice president, cast 29 tie-breaking votes during his tenure, using them to preserve the president's authority and influence key decisions. In 1832, John C. Calhoun became the only vice president to cast a tie-breaking vote against his own president, defying President Andrew Jackson's nomination.

In recent years, the tie-breaking role of the vice president has become more prominent due to a closely divided Senate. Following the 2020 Senate elections, the Senate was split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, and Vice President Kamala Harris played a critical role in passing Democratic legislation. Harris set records for the most tie-breaking votes in her first year, surpassing John Adams' previous record.

The vice president's tie-breaking vote can have a significant impact on the Senate's proceedings, especially when the Senate is closely divided. It allows the vice president to shape legislation and influence policy, even when there is no clear majority. This power is an important aspect of the Senate's functioning and can be a crucial tool for the administration in power.

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