Senate

The name of the less numerous of the two bodies constituting the legislative branch of the government of the United States, and of the several states.

The name of the less numerous of the two bodies constituting the legislative branch of the government of the United States, and of the several states. See the ar- The Senate of the United States is composed of two senators from each state; and each senator has one vote. Under the 17th amendment to the federal constitution, senators are elected by popular vote. See Constitution of United States. The equal representation of states in the senate is secured to them.beyond the ordinary power of amendment; no state can be deprived thereof without its consent. Art. 5. The senate has been, from the first formation of the government, divided Into three classes. The rotation of the classes was originally determined by lot, and the seats of one class were vacated at the end of the second year, so that one-third of the senate is chosen every second year. Const, art. 1, s. 3. This provision was borrowed from a similar one in some of the state constitutions, of which Virginia gave the first example. The qualifications which the constitution requires of a senator are that he should be thirty years of age, have been nine years a citizen of the United States, and, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that state for which ho shall be chosen. Const, art. 1, s. 3. Seo Congress. They do not hold their places "under the government of the United States” within the meaning of the Revised Statutes that any one convicted under its provisions shall be incapable of holding any office of honor, trust or profit under that government; Burton v. U. S., 202 U. S. 344, 26 Sup. Ct. 688, 50 L. Ed. 1057, 6 Ann. Cas. 392.

In American law. The name of the upper chamber or less numerous branch, of the congress of the United States. Also the style of a similar bsdy in the legislatures of several of the states.

In Roman law. The great administrative council of the Roman commonwealth.

See Congress; House, 3.

t. Court, 103.

government, is the less numerous branch of the legislature. The constitution of the United States, art. 1, s. 3, cl. 1, directs that “ the senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof for six years; and each senator — shall have one vote.” In the senate each state, in its political capacity, is represented upon a footing of perfect equality, like a congress of sovereigns or ambassadors, or like an assembly of peers. It is unlike the house of representatives where the people are represented. Story, Const. ch. 10. In most of the states In such a body the people are represented as well as in the other house. Vide article Congress; and, for the senates of the several states, the name of each state. See also ane Courts of the Untted States,