U.S. Senate and Election United

U.S. Senate and election

United States Senate and the election process

The government of the United States consists of three branches. The executive branch headed by the president, the judiciary, and the legislative branch. This essay is concerned with the legislative branch of the government. Consideration will be given to the qualifications required by an individual if they are to offer themselves for election to that branch of government. Additionally, there will also be a brief overview of the electoral process. The legislative branch of the federal government is critical for the formation of laws, which when enacted affect daily the lives of citizens.

The legislature of the United States is described as a bicameral legislature because it is comprised of two divisions, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The senate is called the upper house and the House of Representatives the lower house. Every state in the country is permitted two senators; consequently, there are 100 senators in the Senate. A senator is elected for a term of six years. The qualifications for a citizen to become a senator are expressed in the constitution, Article 1, Section 3. To be considered for the United States Senate an individual should be thirty years or older. They must be a citizen for at least nine years and they must live in the state they wish to represent. These qualifications do not impose any restrictions based on gender, ethnicity, or social position.

The lower house consists of 435 members. Every ten years the 435 members are divided proportionately between the fifty states. Every state receives representatives based on their population. A state with a small population is guaranteed of at least one Representative so no state will ever be without representation. The qualifications for members of the House of Representatives are expressed in Article 1 Section 2 of the constitution. The individual must be twenty-five years or older. They should be a citizen of the United States for at least seven years and they must live in the state they wish to represent. The similarities between these qualifications and those of the Senate are evident and in both instances, there is no reference of gender, ethnicity, or social position as a qualification. The term of a member of the House of Representatives is two years.

To become a member of either the House of Representatives or the Senate requires that the aspiring individual win an election to that position. Initially, the state legislatures appointed the Senators from each state. This practice was discontinued by the 17th Amendment to the constitution. The second of November is a critical date for the House and Senate; at that time, the people choose who will represent them by direct vote. In every general election cycle, one third of the Senate is up for reelection along with the entire House of Representatives. While the Senate will always contain previous members, it is theoretically possible to replace all the members of the House of Representatives during the election.