About the Senate

The Senate

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, which, alongside the United States House of Representatives (the lower chamber), constitutes the legislature of the United States.

There are 100 senators – two from each of the 50 states. The term of each senator is 6 years, much longer than the term lengths served by the President (4 years) or House Representatives (2 years). Following the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators are elected by popular vote.

The Senate chamber, where Senate business is usually conducted, has been located in the north wing of the United States Capitol since 1859. The chamber contains 100 individual desks, one per Senator, on a multi-tiered semicircular platform, which faces a central rostrum at the front of the room. On the rostrum sits the desk of the presiding officer.

The Senate president and presiding officer is the Vice President of the United States.

In addition to passing legislation, the Senate is responsible for approving treaties and confirming the appointment of senior officials, including Cabinet secretaries, Supreme Court justices, federal judges and ambassadors.

Political Parties

There are three political parties currently represented in the Senate. Additionally, a number of senators sit as independents. You can see some basic details about the different parties below.