THE US Senate is the upper chamber of the Congress and an integral and necessary part of government.
Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, is the Senate Majority Leader, while Mitch McConnell, a Republican, serves as the Senator Minority Leader.
A US senator is elected for a six-year term – but that was not the initial proposal.
In 1787 the framers of the Constitution proposed that the term of a senator should be for seven years.
“To avoid being unduly threatened by public opinion, or overwhelmed by the House’s larger membership, senators would need the protection of longer terms,” the US Senate website explains.
James Madison supported a nine-year term, but others believed that was too long.
A compromise led to the agreement for a six-year term.
Alexander Hamilton protested and believed senators should be given a lifetime term.
New York's Chuck Schumer
There are a total of 50 US senators, two from each state:
With the six-year term, about one-third of senators face re-election challenges every two years.
Chuck Schumer of New York became Senate Majority Leader when the Democrats regained the Senate early in 2021.
Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, had previously served in that role for the Republicans.
The Constitution sets three qualifications for service in the Senate.
A candidate must be at least 30, must have had US citizenship for at least nine years), and must have residency in the state at the time of election.
The qualifications were worked out by the framers during the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Nine new senators entered the mix in the wake of the 2020 election and 2021 run-offs.
They include Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, who won special elections and gave the Senate back to Democrats.
