The Senate is composed of senators that are elected by their respected state legislatures. Each state is given two senators and they are re-elected every 6 years.

119th Congress (2025–2027)
Majority Party: Republicans (53 seats)
Minority Party: Democrats (45 seats)
Other Parties: 2 Independents
Total Seats: 100

Majority Leader:

• The Majority Leader is the chief spokesperson for the party holding the most seats in the Senate. This leader manages the  legislative agenda, schedules debates, and coordinates party strategy. The Majority Leader is elected by the party caucus at  the beginning of each Congress. 

Minority Leader:

• The Minority Leader represents the party with fewer seats and works to advance their legislative agenda. Like the Majority  Leader, this position is also elected by the party caucus and plays a crucial role in coordinating strategies and responses to theMajority. 

President pro tempore:

• This role is constitutionally defined and is typically held by the most senior member of the majority party. The President pro  tempore presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President and is elected by the full Senate. This position is largely  ceremonial but holds significant historical importance. 

Vice President of the United States:

• The Vice President serves as the President of the Senate and can cast tie-breaking votes. This role is crucial during closely contested votes and adds a layer of influence to the legislative process. 

Whip:

• Assists the leaders in managing party discipline and ensuring member attendance for votes, and various committee chairs  who oversee specific legislative areas.

Powers and Procedures

Censure

Article I, section 5, of the U.S. Constitution provides that "Each House [of Congress] may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member." Censure is a form of discipline used by the Senate against its members (sometimes referred to as condemnation or denouncement). A formal statement of disapproval, a censure does not remove a senator from office. Since 1789 the Senate has censured nine of its members.

Contested Senate Elections

The United States Constitution gives each house of Congress the power to be the judge of the “elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members” (Article I, section 5). Since 1789 the Senate has carefully guarded this prerogative and has developed its own procedures for judging the qualifications of its members and settling contested elections.

Declarations of War

The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. Congress has declared war on 11 occasions, including its first declaration of war with Great Britain in 1812. Congress approved its last formal declaration of war during World War II. Since that time it has agreed to resolutions authorizing the use of military force and continues to shape U.S. military policy through appropriations and oversight.

Expulsion

Article I, section 5, of the U.S. Constitution provides that each house of Congress may "punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member." Since 1789 the Senate has expelled only 15 members.

Filibusters and Cloture

The Senate has a long history of using the filibuster—a term dating back to the 1850s in the United States—to delay debate or block legislation. Unlimited debate remained in place in the Senate until 1917, when the Senate adopted Rule 22 that allowed the Senate to end a debate with a two-thirds majority vote—a procedure known as "cloture." In 1975 the Senate reduced the number of votes required for cloture from two-thirds (67) to three-fifths (60) of the 100-member Senate.

Impeachment

Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the power to impeach a government official, in effect serving as prosecutor. The Senate has the sole power to conduct impeachment trials, essentially serving as jury and judge. Since 1789 the Senate has tried 20 federal officials, including three presidents.

Investigations

Congress has conducted investigations of malfeasance in the executive branch—and elsewhere in American society—since 1792. The need for congressional investigation remains a critical ingredient for restraining government and educating the public.

Nominations

The Constitution provides that the president "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States… (Article 2, Section 2)." The Senate has always jealously guarded its power to review and approve or reject presidential appointees to executive and judicial branch posts.

Treaties

The Constitution gives the Senate the power to approve, by a two-thirds vote, treaties made by the executive branch. The Senate has rejected relatively few of the hundreds of treaties it has considered, although many have died in committee or been withdrawn by the president. The Senate may also amend a treaty or adopt changes to a treaty. The president may also enter into executive agreements with foreign nations that are not subject to Senate approval.

Voting

The Senate takes action on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations, and treaties by voting. Senators vote in a variety of ways, including roll call votes, voice votes, and unanimous consent.

Rules