Composition, powers and functions of the senate under the USA constitution.
1) Introduction
The senate is one of Congress's two chambers, and part of the federal government's legislative branch. The legislature of the United States is called congress, the bicameral body. The upper house is called the Senate and lower house is called the House of Representatives and the main function of the congress is to make law. The number of voting senators in the senate is fixed by law and no more than 100, as well as they all are representing to their own states from which they belongs
2) Composition of congress
Article 1 sec 1 of the U.S constitution shows that congress is a bicameral body. It consists of two houses
1) Senate
2) House of Representatives
3) Composition of senate
The senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the senate are established by Article 1 of the United States Constitution. It is popular chamber of congress and more powerful than house of representatives
I. Number of members
The senate consists of 100 members on the basis of two senators from each of the states. These are direct elected members of the state and are senior politicians of the state
II. Term of senate
The term of senators is six years but one third of them retire after every two years
III. Senate a continuous body
Senators are chosen for six year and one third out of them gets retire after every two years and only one third are re-elected that’s why senate is continuous body because two third members always remain occupied on their seats and senate has been organized since 1789
4) Qualifications and election of senators
1. Qualification
Following are the qualifications of a senator
I. Age
A candidate must not be less than 30 years of age. Otherwise he will not be elected as senator
II. Citizenship
A candidate must be the citizen of the U.S.A for nine years
III. Residence
A candidate must be resident of the state from which he has been elected as senator
2. Elections of senators
⮚ Old method
It was constitutionally decided that senators should be chosen by the legislature and this method was active until 1913, then this method was changed by constitutional amendment
⮚ After seventeenth amendment
After 17th amendment, government of the state will elect two members from his state in order to appoint them as senator
5) Presiding officer of senate
According to the U.S constitution, the vice president of the united states is the presiding officer of the senate
6) Committees of senate
The Senate is divided into a number of committees. And each committee performs different functions of the senate. All issues before the senate are referred to the relevant committee for opinion and resolution
7) Powers and functions of senate
Following are the powers and functions of the senate
I. Legislative powers
a) Amendments
The Senate has power to amend the constitution. Senate can amend any law by its two third majority
b) Initiation of bills
Some important bills which only can be initiated by senate then forwarded to the house of representatives
c) Rejection of bills
The Senate has overall powers to reject any kind of bill without consent of any other. No one can interfere with senate in this regard
II. Executive powers
a) High appointments
All high ranked official’s appointments are subject to the consent of the senate and are advised by the senate
b) Aid and advice the president
Senate gives aid and advice to the president in all official affairs among the state
c) Internal administration control
Furthermore, the senate controls the internal administration of the country. And interferes in all administrative matter in the state
III. Control over foreign affairs
a) Ratification of treaties
All treaties are being made on the name of president but ratification or approval of senate is necessary in this regard
b) Foreign policies
Senators have power to make foreign policies of the country and guide the government in foreign affair
IV. Judicial power
a) Court of impeachment
Senate is court of impeachment and in this regard senate has power to impeach president, vice president and other officials of the country
b) Appointment of judges
The judges of the supreme court are appointed with the consent of senate by president
V. Electoral power
Senate has power to elect someone for presidential post when no candidate gets votes in majority
VI. Investigative powers
The Senate has investigative powers. Senate appoints a committee in order to search or find the purpose for the better administration of justice
8) Senate, the powerful chamber of the world
1. Reason why the senate is powerful?
I. Direct executive powers
Senate is only legislation authority in the world which has direct executive powers
II. Small membership
The number of members of senate is very less which is consisted on only 100 members
III. Long tenure
The tenure of the chamber is long because all senators are elected for the term of 6 years
IV. Senior politicians
The senators are the senior politicians of the state as well as the country
V. Direction election
It is constitutionally stated that Senators are directly selected by the people of the country
VI. Freedom of speech
The senators have freedom of speech. A senator can speak as long as he wants on the issue under consideration. There is no time limit upon them
VII. Absence of parliamentary government
There is no Parliament in the U.S system which makes the senate more powerful
VIII. Court for impeachment
Senate is court of impeachment and in this regard senate has power to impeach president, vice president and other officials of the country
IX. Unity
A very strong unity between the members of the senate makes them more powerful
X. Representatives of the people
The senate is the representative of the people in the U.S.A
XI. Representatives of the states
Each and every senators represents his state in the senate because members of the senate are elected on the basis of entire population of the state
XII. Special powers
Senate has special powers which makes it more powerful , emergency powers are one of those powers which have been vested in senate
XIII. Double role
Senate plays double role in U.S.A a lot of matter which are resolved by president and senate
XIV. Continuity of membership
American senate is permanent organ, its term is 6 years and it never dissolved as a whole
XV. Committees of investigation
The senate is empowered to appoint committees of investigation in order to control administrative issues of the country
9) Conclusion
Today the American senate is the most powerful legislative authority in the world. The senate has been created for the protection of the interest of the people of the U.S.A. Senate is the most powerful chamber of the congress