About the US Senate
The U.S. Senate is the upper legislative chamber in the federal government. It's also the more powerful body, with just 100 members. Each state is granted two senators who represent the entire state; senators serve six-year terms and are popularly elected by their constituents.
Current Political Makeup:
57 Democrats - 40 Republicans - 2 Independent - 1 Vacancy
(Vice President votes to break ties)
Senate Agenda - December 24, 2009: The Senate, in a straight party-line 60-39 vote, passed its version of a health care reform bill -- the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The bill must still be reconciled with the health care reform bill passed by the House - the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) died of cancer at age 77 on August 25.
- On August 6, The Senate confirmed the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor as the 111th Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by a vote of 168-31.
