The Senate
The Senate is composed of 100 Members, two from each state, elected by the people in accordance with the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. A Senator must be at least 30 years of age, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and, when elected, be a resident of the state for which the Senator is chosen. The term of office is six years and one-third of the total membership of the Senate is elected every second year.
The terms of both Senators from a particular state are arranged so that they do not terminate at the same time. Of the two Senators from a state serving at the same time the one who was elected first or if both were elected at the same time, the one elected for a full term, is referred to as the ‘‘senior’’ Senator from that state. The other is referred to as the ‘‘junior’’ Senator.
If a Senator dies or resigns during the term, the governor of the state must call a special election unless the state legislature has authorized the governor to appoint a successor until the next election, at which time a successor is elected for the balance of the term. Most of the state legislatures have granted their governors the power of appointment.
Each Senator
has one vote.