What changed that?
Formal qualifications for the Senate
- minimum 30 years of age
- US citizen for a minimum of 9 years
- resident of the state to be represented
Now that the people at-large get to elect their senators, there are certain informal qualifications that the people look for (whether they mean to or not)
- older (wiser)
- prior experience
- high education (ivy league)
- whiter (Senate is less diverse than House)
- manlier (Senate has fewer women proportionally than House)
- wealthier (called the 'millionaire's club')
"In a recent election, Senate candidates spent over $400 million in 33 races." -- from the text
Do the math. How much spent per race? Average of how much per candidate?
Leadership positions in the Senate
(again, selected by party caucus)
Party leaders (majority and minority) special note: majority leader most powerful in Senate
Party whips (majority and minority)
President of the Senate
President Pro-tempore
Committee structure is roughly the same thought the committees themselves are different. Also, pay attention to the seniority rule.
The most unique thing about Senate procedure is the filibuster.
Basically, a filibuster is an attempt to talk a bill to death. By perpetuating debate, the opposition hopes that the party in the majority will table the bill in order to move on to other legislation.
1917 - Senate adopts rule which allows motion for cloture to be adopted with 2/3 vote
1975 - cloture motion rules changed from requirement of 2/3 support to 60 votes
The Senate too has rules on expulsion and filling a vacancy. read p.147
