| Parliament name |
Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
House of Representatives
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (begins on 20 January of the year after a presidential election year)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, removal if convicted by a two-thirds majority of the Senate on charges of treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanours, death
|
| Appointment |
- the Vice President of the United States of America is ex officio President of the State
- elected by the Electoral College at the same time as the Head of State
|
| Eligibility |
- any citizen of at least 35 years of age, a natural born citizen and 14 years a resident of the United States |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- an absolute majority is required
|
| Procedures / results |
- the election must be formally confirmed by Congress |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierarchy of State
- may act as Head of State in the latter's absence
- has precedence over the Speaker of the House of Representatives
- the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House co-chair joint sittings of both Chambers
- may represent the Senate in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, a pro tempore President elected by the Senate can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance of the President of the Senate: US$ 171,500/yr
- special allowance for staff salaries. etc.: US$ 1,513,000
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments in a few very specific cases |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can only open, adjourn and close sittings on the order of the Senate
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities in specific cases set out in the Standing Orders
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate, based on precedents
|
| Special powers |
- recruits, assigns and promotes only the staff to which he/she is entitled
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- only takes part in voting in case of a tie |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
