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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Senate
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module

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

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