Meta tags:
Headings (most frequently used words):
and, senate, officers, elections, term, united, states, contents, history, functions, membership, majority, minority, parties, procedure, office, buildings, criticism, see, also, notes, references, bibliography, external, links, legislation, appointment, confirmations, treaty, ratification, impeachment, trials, election, of, the, vice, president, qualifications, oath, salary, benefits, seniority, titles, expulsion, other, disciplinary, actions, seating, presiding, officer, party, leaders, non, member, daily, sessions, committees, counter, arguments, official, histories, vacancies, debate, filibuster, cloture, voting, closed, session,
Text of the page (most frequently used words):
the (1097), #senate (339), and (307), states (167), united (115), for (114), from (112), that (80), are (79), congress (78), senators (74), retrieved (71), archived (64), original (62), president (60), senator (60), house (55), may (54), party (53), not (52), with (50), majority (50), january (49), members (49), constitution (48), has (47), congressional (43), state (43), who (41), office (40), election (39), was (35), other (35), list (35), have (35), this (34), their (34), filibuster (33), vote (33), federal (32), needed (31), american (30), new (30), two (30), each (30), when (29), they (29), 2023 (28), committee (28), national (27), history (27), vice (27), article (27), november (27), which (27), chamber (26), rules (26), one (26), february (25), law (25), officer (25), presiding (25), 2020 (24), its (24), years (24), citation (24), bill (23), been (23), december (23), bills (23), since (23), executive (22), amendment (22), government (21), representatives (21), time (21), war (21), 2021 (21), votes (21), also (21), democratic (20), elections (20), only (20), 2025 (19), washington (19), consent (19), press (19), minority (19), articles (18), service (18), political (18), general (18), capitol (18), 2009 (18), power (18), quarterly (18), more (18), were (18), parties (17), elected (17), but (17), leader (17), most (17), september (16), all (16), legislative (16), legislatures (16), member (16), committees (16), session (16), cloture (16), caucus (16), pdf (16), appointments (16), than (16), must (16), under (15), 2026 (15), 2022 (15), procedure (15), leaders (15), term (15), nation (15), see (15), some (15), three (15), march (14), system (14), special (14), democracy (14), standing (14), sessions (14), how (14), over (14), practice (14), seats (14), same (14), wikipedia (13), terms (13), present (13), 2010 (13), building (13), floor (13), seniority (13), closed (13), voting (13), officials (13), after (13), usually (13), required (13), april (12), health (12), public (12), powers (12), john (12), 2018 (12), first (12), gov (12), appointment (12), quorum (12), does (12), provides (12), however (12), legislation (12), those (12), such (12), upper (11), 1789 (11), library (11), rights (11), act (11), court (11), pro (11), tempore (11), york (11), call (11), process (11), impeachment (11), chair (11), representation (11), seventeenth (11), july (11), until (11), any (11), main (11), day (11), officers (11), about (10), 2019 (10), south (10), third (10), recess (10), primary (10), august (10), robert (10), equal (10), popular (10), daniel (10), october (10), shall (10), make (10), population (10), during (10), both (10), there (10), debate (10), toggle (9), policy (9), non (9), page (9), june (9), 2024 (9), republican (9), foreign (9), electoral (9), independent (9), alaska (9), civil (9), world (9), 2016 (9), rule (9), university (9), vol (9), democrats (9), isbn (9), smaller (9), can (9), held (9), oath (9), them (9), before (9), support (9), thirds (9), had (9), used (9), called (9), motion (9), last (8), number (8), legislature (8), wayback (8), houses (8), control (8), politics (8), class (8), budget (8), district (8), council (8), chief (8), supreme (8), governor (8), current (8), 2017 (8), 2006 (8), 2002 (8), johnson (8), booker (8), hold (8), journal (8), advice (8), wilson (8), information (8), 978 (8), america (8), constitutional (8), his (8), desks (8), times (8), what (8), like (8), while (8), least (8), generally (8), pass (8), agreements (8), use (7), links (7), pages (7), authority (7), related (7), security (7), income (7), secretary (7), century (7), 2014 (7), 2013 (7), 2012 (7), 2004 (7), virginia (7), north (7), official (7), madison (7), unanimous (7), salaries (7), seat (7), speeches (7), following (7), woodrow (7), ritchie (7), nominees (7), being (7), machine (7), end (7), elects (7), trials (7), example (7), structure (7), revenue (7), section (7), six (7), these (7), larger (7), considered (7), result (7), cases (7), subject (7), requires (7), salary (7), retirement (7), treaties (7), subsection (7), text (6), research (6), open (6), people (6), care (6), media (6), city (6), courts (6), secret (6), cabinet (6), age (6), ratification (6), treaty (6), resolution (6), 2011 (6), 1999 (6), massachusetts (6), maine (6), california (6), king (6), hill (6), old (6), historical (6), offices (6), conference (6), clause (6), breaking (6), reconciliation (6), business (6), trial (6), serve (6), appointed (6), 1993 (6), reform (6), donald (6), richard (6), based (6), further (6), less (6), james (6), levitsky (6), steven (6), ziblatt (6), why (6), review (6), chairs (6), institution (6), long (6), body (6), many (6), temporary (6), vacancies (6), 1913 (6), judiciary (6), nomination (6), requirement (6), wirls (6), between (6), include (6), against (6), block (6), even (6), including (6), into (6), order (6), request (6), holds (6), without (6), five (6), another (6), next (6), elect (6), appoint (6), year (6), candidates (6), qualifications (6), contents (5), view (5), commons (5), english (5), short (5), different (5), republic (5), islands (5), movement (5), native (5), women (5), transportation (5), presidency (5), clerk (5), justices (5), police (5), force (5), great (5), 1991 (5), era (5), lee (5), 2008 (5), 2005 (5), 2001 (5), 1998 (5), dakota (5), chuck (5), buildings (5), presidential (5), hall (5), set (5), directory (5), employees (5), roll (5), divided (5), joint (5), tie (5), expulsion (5), historically (5), former (5), works (5), series (5), 1995 (5), every (5), among (5), republicans (5), become (5), within (5), would (5), place (5), desk (5), candidate (5), ballot (5), trump (5), will (5), typically (5), uses (5), provide (5), regardless (5), where (5), receives (5), nine (5), several (5), small (5), rarely (5), known (5), unless (5), fifths (5), simple (5), calls (5), name (5), either (5), take (5), sometimes (5), speak (5), senior (5), presides (5), functions (5), fers (5), top (5), approval (5), languages (4), search (4), code (4), legal (4), using (4), wikidata (4), latin (4), dates (4), branch (4), yale (4), lower (4), union (4), africa (4), empire (4), northern (4), post (4), coast (4), issues (4), criticism (4), insurance (4), social (4), columbia (4), college (4), county (4), recognized (4), judicial (4), judges (4), justice (4), publishing (4), speaker (4), enforcement (4), longest (4), mississippi (4), arkansas (4), west (4), kennedy (4), suffrage (4), federalist (4), period (4), 1917 (4), 2015 (4), 2007 (4), 2000 (4), wyoming (4), vermont (4), texas (4), oklahoma (4), connecticut (4), schumer (4), russell (4), dirksen (4), room (4), large (4), sergeant (4), arms (4), parliamentarian (4), 1790 (4), seal (4), whole (4), traditions (4), senatorial (4), classes (4), veto (4), procedures (4), appropriation (4), length (4), bipartisan (4), single (4), expelled (4), membership (4), via (4), 89056 (4), 00889 (4), help (4), 1992 (4), presidents (4), four (4), 1989 (4), always (4), 1976 (4), making (4), david (4), baker (4), character (4), nations (4), 1973 (4), 1972 (4), twentieth (4), bibliography (4), parliament (4), tyranny (4), reached (4), issn (4), elizabeth (4), doi (4), speech (4), numbers (4), jstor (4), filibusters (4), deliberative (4), address (4), benefits (4), daily (4), vacancy (4), provided (4), direct (4), measure (4), origination (4), laws (4), taxes (4), adopted (4), earned (4), check (4), favor (4), serves (4), led (4), citizens (4), 100 (4), important (4), consider (4), due (4), passed (4), approve (4), proceedings (4), matter (4), require (4), provision (4), whether (4), amount (4), certain (4), hours (4), actions (4), tools (4), few (4), sits (4), receive (4), date (4), identified (4), junior (4), csrs (4), plurality (4), aged (4), hide (4), move (4), sidebar (4), safety (3), contact (3), you (3), wikimedia (3), categories (3), internet (3), statements (3), needing (3), confirmed (3), chambers (3), argentina (3), international (3), bicameral (3), germany (3), ireland (3), free (3), kingdom (3), change (3), lgbtq (3), action (3), life (3), race (3), poverty (3), personal (3), middle (3), society (3), statue (3), television (3), flag (3), wealth (3), science (3), communications (3), relations (3), blue (3), school (3), minor (3), commission (3), indian (3), tribes (3), attorney (3), territorial (3), corps (3), central (3), intelligence (3), agencies (3), supply (3), southern (3), pacific (3), atlantic (3), points (3), 1968 (3), 1865 (3), confederation (3), declaration (3), continental (3), 1980 (3), 1964 (3), 1945 (3), 1815 (3), 2003 (3), carolina (3), rhode (3), island (3), montana (3), louisiana (3), kentucky (3), hawaii (3), georgia (3), sanders (3), reed (3), grassley (3), hart (3), takes (3), revolutionary (3), george (3), center (3), manual (3), historian (3), chaplain (3), congr (3), span (3), biographical (3), memoirs (3), hearings (3), discharge (3), ranking (3), courtesy (3), nuclear (3), option (3), fix (3), multiple (3), censure (3), privileges (3), oversight (3), necessary (3), jewish (3), hispanic (3), caucuses (3), did (3), served (3), censured (3), outside (3), youngest (3), 119th (3), website (3), file (3), minutes (3), external (3), almanac (3), published (3), zelizer (3), overview (3), transaction (3), edward (3), stephen (3), 1996 (3), 1787 (3), oxford (3), harvard (3), papers (3), bruce (3), martin (3), cambridge (3), well (3), annual (3), 1977 (3), 1988 (3), report (3), perspectives (3), 1975 (3), governors (3), records (3), provinces (3), chosen (3), studies (3), amar (3), biography (3), william (3), partisanship (3), 209 (3), gives (3), now (3), fell (3), far (3), our (3), oclc (3), run (3), getting (3), ending (3), idea (3), brookings (3), cory (3), greatest (3), sit (3), down (3), seating (3), arrangement (3), millionaires (3), news (3), could (3), references (3), refer (3), empower (3), choice (3), voted (3), form (3), method (3), interpretation (3), usa (3), rejected (3), tradition (3), made (3), wrote (3), 1959 (3), book (3), agenda (3), content (3), angus (3), proportional (3), respective (3), notes (3), size (3), share (3), clinton (3), argues (3), stability (3), ensuring (3), voice (3), representative (3), interests (3), account (3), populous (3), defeat (3), despite (3), counter (3), compromise (3), represented (3), maintain (3), voters (3), influence (3), allows (3), person (3), rather (3), second (3), along (3), continued (3), extensive (3), consideration (3), full (3), amendments (3), collegial (3), customs (3), highest (3), work (3), jurisdiction (3), amend (3), considers (3), nominations (3), instance (3), duties (3), individual (3), aisle (3), remove (3), should (3), rare (3), overcome (3), recorded (3), cast (3), question (3), often (3), then (3), frequently (3), confirmations (3), because (3), motions (3), instead (3), previous (3), referred (3), limits (3), right (3), matters (3), rises (3), debates (3), absence (3), give (3), once (3), placed (3), changes (3), convene (3), addition (3), leadership (3), desires (3), whip (3), total (3), significant (3), except (3), eight (3), traditionally (3), although (3), final (3), whose (3), staggered (3), expired (3), effect (3), statewide (3), runoff (3), winner (3), greater (3), nominee (3), early (3), create (3), impeached (3), confirmation (3), add (2), topic (2), table (2), statistics (2), conduct (2), privacy (2), additional (2), foundation (2), archive (2), librivox (2), link (2), coordinates (2), spoken (2), disputed (2), disputes (2), clarification (2), unsourced (2), description (2), org (2), croatia (2), poland (2), korea (2), portugal (2), data (2), france (2), unicameral (2), bicameralism (2), japan (2), pre (2), 1947 (2), iraq (2), ethiopia (2), egypt (2), east (2), dominican (2), british (2), austria (2), afghanistan (2), puerto (2), rico (2), mariana (2), man (2), samoa (2), territories (2), nepal (2), jordan (2), indonesia (2), guinea (2), congo (2), unitary (2), switzerland (2), sudan (2), mexico (2), brazil (2), australia (2), portal (2), category (2), outline (2), separation (2), human (2), mass (2), environmental (2), energy (2), african (2), crime (2), capital (2), punishment (2), prices (2), finance (2), birth (2), standard (2), living (2), inequality (2), household (2), homeownership (2), homelessness (2), educational (2), attainment (2), affluence (2), religion (2), ideologies (2), names (2), literature (2), holidays (2), education (2), economic (2), wall (2), street (2), position (2), technology (2), agriculture (2), red (2), backsliding (2), meeting (2), divisions (2), manager (2), mayor (2), counties (2), reservation (2), federally (2), tribal (2), governments (2), uniform (2), constitutions (2), legislators (2), commissioner (2), comptroller (2), guard (2), space (2), uniformed (2), federalism (2), accountability (2), agency (2), community (2), departments (2), missouri (2), colorado (2), eastern (2), mid (2), gulf (2), regions (2), nevada (2), mountains (2), extreme (2), places (2), territory (2), military (2), cold (2), 1954 (2), 1896 (2), 1812 (2), independence (2), colonies (2), colonial (2), event (2), 1849 (2), lists (2), 1961 (2), wisconsin (2), utah (2), oregon (2), jersey (2), nebraska (2), minnesota (2), michigan (2), maryland (2), kansas (2), iowa (2), delaware (2), arizona (2), barrasso (2), thune (2), scott (2), gillibrand (2), smith (2), mcconnell (2), durbin (2), sullivan (2), vance (2), webster (2), course (2), doors (2), door (2), surrender (2), reading (2), apotheosis (2), freedom (2), prayer (2), complex (2), record (2), jefferson (2), thomas (2), copyright (2), reports (2), board (2), operations (2), doorkeeper (2), administrative (2), curator (2), counsel (2), revision (2), affairs (2), ethics (2), assessment (2), cap (2), gao (2), politico (2), 1819 (2), subcommittees (2), select (2), petition (2), chairman (2), riddick (2), morning (2), slip (2), specific (2), item (2), saxbe (2), spending (2), proper (2), 1950 (2), 1900 (2), equality (2), asian (2), groups (2), apportionment (2), districts (2), group (2), switched (2), lost (2), dean (2), resigned (2), domain (2), schedules (2), 1774 (2), audio (2), created (2), printing (2), online (2), mark (2), bob (2), iii (2), addresses (2), various (2), operation (2), histories (2), julian (2), struggle (2), consequences (2), houghton (2), mifflin (2), books (2), democrat (2), joe (2), passage (2), sharpe (2), 1841 (2), lyndon (2), transformation (2), 1952 (2), mcfarland (2), ernest (2), museum (2), frances (2), unequal (2), joseph (2), 1997 (2), 1990 (2), exclusive (2), practices (2), major (2), 1965 (2), 1969 (2), 1981 (2), 1985 (2), michael (2), grant (2), results (2), around (2), majorities (2), cain (2), 107 (2), akhil (2), random (2), connelly (2), publishers (2), origins (2), convention (2), crown (2), 593 (2), 44307 (2), point (2), millhiser (2), ian (2), vox (2), here (2), lazare (2), economist (2), advantages (2), explained (2), favored (2), just (2), rusch (2), chapter (2), countermajoritarianism (2), reforms (2), bypassed (2), 188 (2), examples (2), dictionary (2), things (2), closely (2), amer (2), mildred (2), yea (2), nay (2), defend (2), www (2), restore (2), speaks (2), finished (2), gold (2), packer (2), arcane (2), glossary (2), honorable (2), cnn (2), anchorage (2), keep (2), deleo (2), plan (2), electronic (2), found (2), thereof (2), fill (2), win (2), ranked (2), archives (2), 17th (2), fourteenth (2), 1818 (2), andrew (2), 1868 (2), npr (2), sole (2), complete (2), cornell (2), 108 (2), laurence (2), tribe (2), com (2), 114 (2), llc (2), happened (2), common (2), raising (2), broad (2), appropriations (2), distinguished (2), invention (2), s2cid (2), 1952075 (2), 2307 (2), norms (2), becomes (2), white (2), supremacy (2), events (2), hand (2), controlled (2), 796343 (2), said (2), bernie (2), confused (2), round (2), nonpartisan (2), blanket (2), decision (2), canton (2), accorded (2), delegation (2), ten (2), claim (2), proof (2), 1920s (2), 1974 (2), scientist (2), changing (2), writes (2), wide (2), today (2), beneficial (2), peculiar (2), defense (2), involves (2), otherwise (2), able (2), supplies (2), potential (2), out (2), arguments (2), 21st (2), remaining (2), contrast (2), trend (2), deviate (2), disparity (2), need (2), argue (2), disproportionate (2), benefit (2), amounts (2), populations (2), features (2), located (2), physical (2), much (2), manage (2), role (2), likely (2), 1970s (2), variety (2), priority (2), nature (2), transcript (2), sent (2), remain (2), indefinitely (2), secrecy (2), occasion (2), turned (2), private (2), seconded (2), agreement (2), occurs (2), beforehand (2), means (2), concealed (2), respond (2), remains (2), discretion (2), determines (2), tied (2), fails (2), debated (2), threshold (2), exercised (2), ways (2), talking (2), delivered (2), spoke (2), starting (2), intended (2), increased (2), recent (2), necessarily (2), immediately (2), limited (2), ability (2), scheduling (2), began (2), calhoun (2), days (2), bank (2), tactic (2), includes (2), provisions (2), almost (2), clay (2), adjournment (2), coincide (2), imposing (2), statute (2), governing (2), addressed (2), forms (2), internal (2), thus (2), temporarily (2), delay (2), negotiate (2), ended (2), simply (2), objects (2), depends (2), objections (2), dais (2), clerks (2), maintains (2), assistant (2), responsible (2), front (2), custom (2), preside (2), case (2), presided (2), occasions (2), swearing (2), officio (2), schedule (2), back (2), arranged (2), affiliation (2), treason (2), 1862 (2), faced (2), face (2), disciplinary (2), above (2), titles (2), longer (2), having (2), contribute (2), pension (2), average (2), retired (2), prior (2), ___ (2), enemies (2), domestic (2), affirmation (2), yet (2), seated (2), originally (2), changed (2), contested (2), filled (2), achieved (2), admission (2), permitted (2), again (2), numbered (2), taken (2), enacted (2), approved (2), thirty (2), gubernatorial (2), serving (2), balance (2), varies (2), vary (2), soon (2), possible (2), later (2), 30th (2), birthday (2), repeated (2), seven (2), trust (2), extent (2), none (2), part (2), twelfth (2), convicted (2), conviction (2), empowers (2), bribery (2), impeachments (2), authorizing (2), circumvent (2), vacant (2), reject (2), furthermore (2), outright (2), ambassadors (2), version (2), expenditure (2), initiate (2), originate (2), derived (2), electors (2), type (2), appearance (2), upload (2), source (2), read (2), edit (2), norsk (2), bahasa (2), log (2), donate (2), menu (2), mobile, cookie, statement, developers, contacts, disclaimers, available, apply, site, agree, registered, trademark, profit, organization, inc, creative, attribution, sharealike, license, edited, utc, hidden, haudio, microformats, accuracy, citations, containing, language, infobox, background, color, mdy, written, extended, protected, gadget, wikiminiatlas, webarchive, template, incorporating, establishments, https, index, php, title, united_states_senate, oldid, 1360823396, lux, snac, idref, trove, musicbrainz, artists, cinii, academics, israel, latvia, norway, bnf, fast, gnd, viaf, isni, databases, country, abolished, multicameralism, tricameralism, unicameralism, weimar, venezuela, turkey, sweden, soviet, senegal, russian, rhodesia, prussia, peru, ottoman, nicaragua, zealand, mauritania, malta, maldives, libya, irish, iran, hungary, greece, german, fiji, denmark, czechoslovakia, cuba, costa, rica, china, ceylon, burma, burkina, faso, raj, guiana, defunct, somaliland, isle, bermuda, dependent, zimbabwe, yemen, uzbekistan, uruguay, tunisia, trinidad, tobago, togo, thailand, tajikistan, spain, slovenia, saint, lucia, rwanda, romania, philippines, paraguay, palau, oman, netherlands, namibia, myanmar, morocco, madagascar, liberia, lesotho, kenya, kazakhstan, jamaica, ivory, italy, haiti, grenada, gabon, eswatini, equatorial, czech, colombia, chile, chad, cameroon, cambodia, burundi, bolivia, bhutan, belize, belarus, barbados, bahrain, bahamas, antigua, barbuda, algeria, somalia, russia, pakistan, nigeria, malaysia, india, canada, bosnia, herzegovina, belgium, xenophobia, church, opioid, epidemic, terrorism, illegal, immigration, smoking, hunger, shootings, gun, climate, racism, islamophobia, intersex, antisemitism, affirmative, discrimination, incarceration, expectancy, reproductive, medical, deserts, obesity, physician, shortage, food, disability, prescription, drug, costs, rationing, immigrant, hospice, prenatal, abortion, healthcare, aging, dream, visual, art, video, games, theater, sports, sexuality, philosophy, uncle, sam, liberty, mount, rushmore, symbols, anthem, music, radio, newspapers, journalism, libraries, asl, indigenous, housing, folklore, fashion, family, literacy, working, eviction, demographics, dance, cuisine, cinema, architecture, americana, culture, trucking, industry, rail, driving, aviation, transport, unemployment, taxation, welfare, programs, silicon, valley, debt, labor, unions, financial, reserve, greenhouse, gas, emissions, exports, currency, trade, tourism, mining, manufacturing, companies, banking, sector, economy, scandals, nationalism, exceptionalism, anti, americanism, imperial, corruption, town, township, charter, coterminous, municipality, consolidated, cities, sheriff, equivalents, local, hawaiian, home, land, recognition, sovereignty, comparison, statutory, codes, utilities, auditor, treasurer, lieutenant, noaa, air, navy, marine, army, armed, forces, preemption, regulations, liberties, tribunals, appeals, associate, inspectors, tsa, marshals, ice, fbi, dea, diplomatic, cbp, atf, reconnaissance, director, heritage, sites, water, sanitation, yukon, rio, grande, rivers, western, southwestern, southeastern, northwestern, northeastern, england, midwestern, plains, parks, park, sierra, rocky, appalachian, ranges, peaks, earthquakes, populated, outlying, insular, zones, reservations, enclaves, contiguous, geography, technological, industrial, postal, inventions, environment, discoveries, demographic, covid, pandemic, recession, terror, attacks, feminist, vietnam, korean, assassination, attack, pearl, harbor, depression, roaring, twenties, imperialism, spanish, progressive, gilded, genocide, wars, reconstruction, mexican, evolution, drafting, frontier, perpetual, paris, revolution, halifax, resolves, founding, fathers, association, thirteen, stamp, 1776, past, virgin, guam, tennessee, pennsylvania, ohio, hampshire, indiana, illinois, idaho, florida, alabama, lummis, baldwin, capito, cantwell, murray, kaine, warner, welch, curtis, cruz, cornyn, hagerty, blackburn, rounds, graham, whitehouse, mccormick, fetterman, merkley, wyden, armstrong, lankford, husted, moreno, cramer, hoeven, budd, tillis, luján, heinrich, kim, hassan, shaheen, rosen, cortez, masto, ricketts, fischer, sheehy, daines, schmitt, hawley, hyde, wicker, klobuchar, slotkin, peters, markey, warren, alsobrooks, van, hollen, collins, cassidy, paul, marshall, moran, ernst, banks, young, duckworth, risch, crapo, hirono, schatz, warnock, ossoff, moody, blunt, rochester, coons, murphy, blumenthal, hickenlooper, bennet, schiff, padilla, cotton, boozman, gallego, kelly, murkowski, britt, tuberville, cornerstone, laying, subway, residence, plant, recording, studio, fitness, facility, botanic, garden, facilities, rayburn, neill, longworth, ford, cannon, lottery, clouds, bust, collection, westward, way, princeton, columbus, lord, cornwallis, burgoyne, emancipation, proclamation, lincoln, progress, civilization, pediment, scene, signing, painting, visitor
Text of the page (random words):
chairs and some other officials are generally from the majority party they have counterparts for instance the ranking members of committees in the minority party independents and members of third parties so long as they do not caucus support either of the larger parties are not considered in determining which is the majority party seating a typical senate desk on the floor of the united states senate one hundred desks are arranged in the chamber in a semicircular pattern and are divided by a wide central aisle the democratic party traditionally sits to the presiding officer s right and the republican party traditionally sits to the presiding officer s left regardless of which party has a majority of seats 67 each senator chooses a desk based on seniority within the party by custom the leader of each party sits in the front row along the center aisle forty eight of the desks date back to 1819 when the senate chamber was reconstructed after the original contents were destroyed in the 1812 burning of washington further desks of similar design were added as new states entered the union 68 it is a tradition that each senator who uses a desk inscribes their name on the inside of the desk s drawer with a pen 69 officers the senate side of the united states capitol in washington d c except for the president of the senate who is the vice president the senate elects its own officers 2 who maintain order and decorum manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the senate and interpret the senate s rules practices and precedents many non member officers are also hired to run various day to day functions of the senate presiding officer main article presiding officer of the united states senate under the constitution the vice president serves as president of the senate they may vote in the senate ex officio for they are not an elected member of the senate in the case of a tie but are not required to 70 for much of the nation s history the task of presiding over senate sessions was one of the vice president s principal duties the other being to receive from the states the tally of electoral ballots cast for president and vice president and to open the certificates in the presence of the senate and house of representatives so that the total votes could be counted since the 1950s vice presidents have presided over few senate debates instead they have usually presided only on ceremonial occasions such as swearing in new senators joint sessions or at times to announce the result of significant legislation or nomination or when a tie vote on an important issue is anticipated citation needed the constitution authorizes the senate to elect a president pro tempore latin for president for a time who presides over the chamber in the vice president s absence and is by custom the senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service 71 like the vice president the president pro tempore does not normally preside over the senate but typically delegates the responsibility of presiding to a majority party senator who presides over the senate usually in blocks of one hour on a rotating basis frequently freshmen senators newly elected members are asked to preside so that they may become accustomed to the rules and procedures of the body it is said that in practice they are usually mere mouthpieces for the senate s parliamentarian who whispers what they should do 72 the presiding officer sits in a chair in the front of the senate chamber the powers of the presiding officer of the senate are far less extensive than those of the speaker of the house the presiding officer calls on senators to speak by the rules of the senate the first senator who rises is recognized ruling on points of order objections by senators that a rule has been breached subject to appeal to the whole chamber and announcing the results of votes citation needed party leaders main article party leaders of the united states senate each party elects senate party leaders floor leaders act as the party chief spokesmen the senate majority leader is responsible for controlling the agenda of the chamber by scheduling debates and votes each party elects an assistant leader whip who works to ensure that his party s senators vote as the party leadership desires citation needed non member officers in addition to the vice president the senate has several officers who are not members the senate s chief administrative officer is the secretary of the senate who maintains public records disburses salaries monitors the acquisition of stationery and supplies and oversees clerks the assistant secretary of the senate aids the secretary s work another official is the sergeant at arms who as the senate s chief law enforcement officer maintains order and security on the senate premises the capitol police handle routine police work with the sergeant at arms primarily responsible for general oversight other employees include the chaplain who is elected by the senate and pages who are appointed citation needed procedure daily sessions the senate uses standing rules for operation like the house of representatives the senate meets in the united states capitol in washington d c at one end of the chamber of the senate is a dais from which the presiding officer presides the lower tier of the dais is used by clerks and other officials sessions of the senate are opened with a special prayer or invocation and typically convene on weekdays sessions of the senate are generally open to the public and are broadcast live on television usually by c span 2 citation needed senate procedure depends on the rules and a variety of customs and traditions the senate commonly waives some of its stricter rules by unanimous consent unanimous consent agreements are typically negotiated beforehand by party leaders a senator may block such an agreement but in practice objections are rare the presiding officer enforces the rules of the senate and may warn members who deviate from them the presiding officer sometimes uses the gavel of the senate to maintain order citation needed a hold is placed when the leader s office is notified that a senator intends to object to a request for unanimous consent from the senate to consider or pass a measure a hold may be placed for any reason and can be lifted by the senator who placed it at any time a senator may place a hold simply to review a bill to negotiate changes to the bill or to kill the bill a bill can be held for as long as the senator who objects to the bill wishes to block its consideration citation needed holds can be overcome but require time consuming procedures such as filing cloture holds are considered private communications between a senator and the leader and are sometimes referred to as secret holds a senator may disclose the placement of a hold citation needed the constitution provides that a majority of the senate constitutes a quorum to do business under the rules and customs of the senate a quorum is always assumed as present unless a quorum call explicitly demonstrates otherwise a senator may request a quorum call by suggesting the absence of a quorum a clerk then calls the roll and notes which members are present in practice senators rarely request quorum calls to establish the quorum as present instead quorum calls are generally used to temporarily delay proceedings usually such delays are used while waiting for a senator to reach the floor to speak or to give leaders time to negotiate once the need for a delay has ended a senator may request unanimous consent to rescind the quorum call citation needed journalist george packer has argued that the senate s arcane rules have rendered it obsolete and ineffective 73 debate debate like most other matters governing the internal functioning of the senate is governed by internal rules adopted by the senate during a debate senators may only speak if called upon by the presiding officer but the presiding officer is required to recognize the first senator who rises to speak thus the presiding officer has little control over the course of the debate customarily the majority leader and minority leader are accorded priority during debates even if another senator rises first 74 all speeches must be addressed to the presiding officer who is addressed as mr president or madam president and not to another member other members must be referred to in the third person in most cases senators do not refer to each other by name but by state or position using forms such as the senior senator from virginia the gentleman from california or my distinguished friend the chairman of the judiciary committee senators address the senate standing next to their desks 75 apart from rules governing civility there are few restrictions on the content of speeches there is no requirement that speeches pertain to the matter before the senate citation needed the rules of the senate provide that no senator may make more than two speeches on a motion or bill on the same legislative day a legislative day begins when the senate convenes and ends with adjournment hence it does not necessarily coincide with the calendar day the length of these speeches is not limited by the rules in most cases senators may speak for as long as they please often the senate adopts unanimous consent agreements imposing time limits in other cases for example for the budget process limits are imposed by statute however the right to unlimited debate is generally preserved citation needed within the united states the senate is sometimes referred to as world s greatest deliberative body 76 77 78 filibuster and cloture main articles filibuster in the united states senate and reconciliation united states congress see also clay pigeon floor procedure there have only been three filibuster proof majorities since 1975 when cloture was reduced to 60 votes 79 the filibuster is a tactic used to defeat bills and motions by prolonging debate indefinitely a filibuster may entail long speeches dilatory motions and an extensive series of proposed amendments the senate may end a filibuster by invoking cloture in most cases cloture requires the support of three fifths of the senate if the matter before the senate involves changing the rules of the body this includes amending provisions regarding the filibuster a two thirds majority is required in practice the threat of filibuster is more important than its use almost any motion that does not have the support of three fifths of the senate effectively fails this means that 41 senators can make a filibuster happen citation needed the history of filibusters began in 1805 when aaron burr suggested getting rid of procedural tools that were not in use one of which was the motion to call the previous question following this in 1841 senator john calhoun rallied a number of southern senators to take the floor one after another for days in opposition of the national bank the national bank bill did pass but calhoun and other southern senators continued using this tactic 80 page needed filibuster efforts continued until 1917 when in response to a filibuster during world war i president woodrow wilson demanded there be an ability to force a senate vote from this comes senate rule xxiii which provides the procedure of cloture in the 1970s the vote requirement for cloture was lowered and a new process of scheduling senate business was instituted in turn ending the talking filibuster 81 page needed historically cloture has rarely been invoked because bipartisan support is usually necessary to obtain the required supermajority so a bill that already has bipartisan support is rarely subject to threats of filibuster however motions for cloture have increased significantly in recent vague years if the senate invokes cloture the debate does not necessarily end immediately instead it is limited to up to 30 additional hours unless increased by another three fifths vote citation needed the longest filibuster speech in the senate s history was delivered by strom thurmond d sc who spoke for over 24 hours in an unsuccessful attempt to block the passage of the civil rights act of 1957 the longest individual speech though not technically a filibuster as there was no bill being blocked in the senate s history was delivered by cory booker d nj in 2025 senator booker spoke for 25 hours and five minutes starting at 7 pm on the night of march 31 and ending april 1 senator booker s speech was intended to address actions of the trump administration 82 under certain circumstances the congressional budget act of 1974 provides for a process called reconciliation by which congress can pass bills related to the budget without those bills being subject to a filibuster this is accomplished by limiting all senate floor debate to 20 hours 83 the senate filibuster is frequently debated as the constitution specifies a simple majority threshold to pass legislation and some critics feel the de facto three fifths threshold for general legislation prevents beneficial laws from passing steven wirls argues that the filibuster elevated in importance in 1917 was prominently and persistently wielded in defense of white supremacy 10 dubious discuss the nuclear option was exercised by both major parties in the 2010s to weaken the filibuster for confirmations there is a desire within congress to adjust the filibuster to lessen the amount of filibusters ways to reform the filibuster mainly include restoring a talking filibuster or adjusting the numbers of votes needed in varying ways 84 supporters generally consider the filibuster to be an important protection for the minority views and a check against the unfettered single party rule when the same party holds the presidency and a majority in both the house and senate 85 86 voting when the debate concludes the motion in question is put to a vote the senate often votes by voice vote the presiding officer puts the question and members respond either yea aye in favor of the motion or nay against the motion the presiding officer then announces the result of the voice vote a senator may challenge the presiding officer s assessment and request a recorded vote the request may be granted only if it is seconded by one fifth of the senators present in practice however senators second requests for recorded votes as a matter of courtesy 87 when a recorded vote is held the clerk calls the roll of the senate in alphabetical order senators respond when their name is called senators who were not in the chamber when their name was called may still cast a vote so long as the voting remains open the vote is closed at the discretion of the presiding officer but must remain open for a minimum of 15 minutes a majority of those voting determines whether the motion carries 87 if the vote is tied the vice president if present is entitled to cast a tie breaking vote if the vice president is not present the motion fails 88 filibustered bills require a th...
|
