What is the Senate?Many Russian citizens, accustomed to the domestic system of government, it is sometimes very difficult to understand the intricacies of the bizarre foreign power devices.So, one of the most interesting structures in this respect is the US Senate.The fact that US states have a very peculiar system of government, which was formed as a result of at least a unique historical path.
What is the Senate: the basics
Like many modern countries, the United States has the separation of powers in the judicial, executive and legislative.The function performed by the last two bodies at once, but rather, the two chambers of Congress, state of the country.The Lower House is the so-called House of Representatives.It is elected for two years and consists of members elected from each state in proportion to its population.The total number of members of the lower house - 435. The upper chamber is the Senate of the United States.It consists of one hundred deputies elected in twos from each state, regardless of the size and density of the population of the latter.The term of office of the Senate between elections - six years.
What Senate history
This government agency is actually the same age as most of the American state.The idea of such a parliament was announced by the Continental Congress of the United States, which made the first sketches of a future independent state.Subsequent differences with the British metropolis and the war for independence finally confirmed the sovereignty of local authorities over the young democracy.The first meeting took place in 1789 (it is symbolic that it happened in the year of the French Revolution, to overthrow the reactionary monarchy in the Old World).This congress took place in the same Philadelphia, but already in 1800 the building of the Senate moved to Washington.In the world-famous Capitol, he is to this day.
What is the Senate: powers
While the House of Representatives is in the full sense of the legislature makes an federal laws for the entire country, the functions of the upper chamber today are mainly control and staff appointments in the power structure.So, in her hands are the destinies of members of the Cabinet.The Senate is considering the president put forward candidates for top government posts, establish or dissolve the commission on internal or external affairs, approves or rejects international treaties, conducting the procedure of impeachment.It is important to recall that in the US, each state has its own extensive powers, including their own bodies responsible for local law - Legislative Assembly.Interestingly, due to historical peculiarities of the name of the local assemblies in each state can be yours.In Massachusetts, it is the General Council, in Oregon - the Legislative Assembly, and in Nebraska and do a bicameral parliament.
