What do you mean by senatorial courtesy?
What do you mean by senatorial courtesy?
Senatorial courtesy is a long-standing unwritten, unofficial, and nonbinding political custom (or constitutional convention) in the United States describing the tendency of U.S. senators to support a Senate colleague when opposing the appointment to federal office of a nominee from that Senator’s state.
What is Senate in simple terms?
In a modern democracy, a senate is a group of people who are part of a legislature. A legislature passes or changes laws for their country, state, or other area. Members of a senate are called senators. Some legislatures are bicameral, meaning they have two groups of people (working in separate places) called houses.
What are two things that only the Senate can do?
The Senate shares full legislative power with the House of Representatives. In addition, the Senate has exclusive authority to approve–or reject–presidential nominations to executive and judicial offices, and to provide–or withhold–its “advice and consent” to treaties negotiated by the executive.
What is the meaning of Senate President?
President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the speaker in some other assemblies.
What are the two houses of Congress called?
Established by Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress.
Why do we only have 435 seats in the House?
Because the House wanted a manageable number of members, Congress twice set the size of the House at 435 voting members. The first law to do so was passed on August 8, 1911. Finally, in 1929 the Permanent Apportionment Act became law. It permanently set the maximum number of representatives at 435.
How are seats in Congress determined?
The Constitution provides for proportional representation in the U.S. House of Representatives and the seats in the House are apportioned based on state population according to the constitutionally mandated Census.
How are Senate seats determined?
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
Why is the term for the House of Representatives 2 years?
they would acquire the habits of the place which might differ from those of their Constituents.” One and three-year terms of service were initially proposed at the Convention. The Convention settled on two-year terms for Members of the House as a true compromise between the one- and three-year factions.
How often is Congress elected?
Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are considered for reelection every even year. Senators however, serve six-year terms and elections to the Senate are staggered over even years so that only about 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection during any election.
How electoral votes are calculated?
Electoral votes are allocated among the States based on the Census. Every State is allocated a number of votes equal to the number of senators and representatives in its U.S. Congressional delegation—two votes for its senators in the U.S. Senate plus a number of votes equal to the number of its Congressional districts.
What are some of the benefits received by members of Congress?
Here are some benefits congressmen and senators receive besides their annual salary:
- Annual allowances.
- Healthcare.
- Pension.
- Family death gratuity.
- Free parking.
How much does a US congressman earn?
Salaries of members of the United States Congress
| Position | Salary |
|---|---|
| Senators and House Representatives | $174,000 |
| Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico | $174,000 |
| President pro tempore of the Senate | $193,400 |
| Majority leader and minority leader of the Senate | $193,400 |
How many staffers does a senator have?
The size of individual members’ personal staffs were still relatively small, with the average senator having six staffers and representatives limited to having five staffers.
Do congressional interns get paid?
The Committee on House Administration approved new regulations governing paid interns in the House. The Committee has adopted the following changes, effective immediately: Each office has a Program allowance of $25,000 per calendar year. Program funds may be used to pay interns who work in district offices.
Who is the youngest person elected to the House of Representatives?
Youngest person ever to be elected to the House: Representative William Charles Cole Claiborne of Tennessee, elected to the 5th Congress (1797–1799) at the age of 22.