SEATTLE — The 2018 United States midterm elections that saw people voting for senate, congress and governors, among others, were historic. Over 47 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, which marks the highest percentage in the last 50 years of midterm elections. The last time these many people voted in midterm elections was in 1966 when 49 percent of eligible voters turned out for the election. While there are many reasons for such a high voter turnout, one thing that sometimes gets lost is what are the people actually voting for. For instance, what is a Senator? In this article, the question of what is a Senator and what are his roles will be answered.
Origins and Limitations for Senators
The Senate, much like the rest of the government, was conceived and laid out in the Constitution of the United States, which was written in 1787 and has been in operation since 1789. The Constitution declares that each state has two Senators and that they serve a term of six years, and one-third of the Senate goes up for reelection every two years. There are no limits on the number of terms a Senator can serve. All senators must be at least 30 years of age, must have U.S. citizenship for at least nine years and must be a citizen of the state they represent. The Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate, but does not have a vote unless the votes among Senators are equally split.
The Senator’s Duties
The Senate, along with Congress, makes up the Legislative branch of the United States Government. The Legislative branch drafts proposed laws, confirms Presidential nominations like Supreme Court judges and the heads of government agencies and even has the ability to declare war. The Senate also has the “sole power to try all Impeachments”.
The most important Senatorial duty is drafting laws. Any member of the Legislative Branch (Senate of Congress) can propose a law that is called a bill. Once a Senator proposes a bill, it is then assigned to a committee that will research, design, and make changes. Once it goes through the committee, the bill is put to a vote in the Senate. If the vote passes, it is sent to Congress, where a similar process happens. Once both the Senate and Congress agree on the bill, it is voted on again. If it passes, it is sent to the President for approval.
What is a Senator?
Senators play a vital role in the U.S. Government, and it is important to remember that United States citizens have a full right to contact them with any concerns, comments, or grievances they might have. Although senators work in Washington D.C., they represent the people of the state from which they were elected, and if someone has something to say, he should not hesitate to reach them. For any possible information and concerns regarding any topics, senators can be reached by using this link.
What is a Senator? Senators of the United States are a major part of the government. These people can draft laws and declare war and oversee Impeachments. They represent the citizens of the United States, they are elected from the people and it is their job to speak for each and every citizen of the country.
– Peter Zimmerman
Photo: Google