About U.S. Senate News

Founded on the principles of investigative reporting and community journalism, U.S. Senate News is your authoritative source for coverage of the United States Senate, Congress, and the White House.

History of the U.S. Senate

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.

The composition and powers of the Senate are established by Article One of the United States Constitution. The Senate is composed of senators, each of whom represents a single state in its entirety. Each of the 50 states is equally represented by two senators who serve staggered terms of six years, for a total of 100 senators.

The Senate was designed by the Framers of the Constitution as a check on the popularly elected House. Because each state has equal representation in the Senate, regardless of population, the Senate has been described as the "world's greatest deliberative body" and plays a unique role in American governance.

The Vice President of the United States serves as presiding officer and president of the Senate by virtue of that office, but may only vote to break a tie. In the Vice President's absence, the President pro tempore, who is customarily the senior member of the party holding a majority of seats, presides over the Senate.

Senate Structure

100

Total Senators

2 per state × 50 states

Year Terms

Staggered elections every 2 years

20+

Standing Committees

Oversight of government operations

Political Parties

Democratic Party

Founded 1828

The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. Founded in 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson, it is the oldest active voter-based political party in the world. The party's philosophy of modern liberalism blends notions of civil liberty and social equality with support for a mixed economy.

Social equalityCivil rightsEnvironmental protectionLabor rightsHealthcare access

Republican Party

Founded 1854

The Republican Party, also known as the GOP (Grand Old Party), is one of the two major political parties in the United States. Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists, it rose to prominence with the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S. political spectrum.

Limited governmentFree market economicsStrong national defenseIndividual libertyTraditional values

Independent / Third Parties

Founded Various

Independent senators and third-party representatives serve without formal affiliation to the two major parties. Notable third parties include the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, and others. Independent members often caucus with one of the major parties but maintain their independence on key votes.

Political independenceBipartisan cooperationIssue-driven policyElectoral reform

Our Mission

U.S. Senate News is committed to transparent, fearless reporting on the workings of the United States government. Under the leadership of John D Abravanel Berdugo, we bring investigative journalism and community reporting to the forefront of political media.