Arabin Senate

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Arabin Senate
92nd Arabin Congress
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
FoundedJanuary 10, 1839; 185 years ago (1839-01-10)
New session started
January 5, 2021 (2021-01-05)
Leadership
Robert Stephens (D)
since October 1, 2021
Vice President of the Senate
Poppy Smith (D)
since January 8, 2015
Majority Leader
Mary Nichols (D)
since January 8, 2017
Minority Leader
Lucien Orton (R)
since January 8, 2015
Structure
Seats32
17 (or 16 plus the Vice President for a majority)
19 for a 3/5 majority
21 for a 2/3 majority
92nd Arabin Senate.svg
Political groups
Majority (16)
  •   Democratic

Minority (15)

Vacant (1)

  •   Vacant
Length of term
6 years
Elections
Plurality
Last election
December 5, 2020 (11 seats)
Next election
December 3, 2022 (11 seats + 1 special election[1])
Meeting place
Arabin Capitol Building, District of Arabi

The Arabin Senate is the upper chamber of the Arabin Congress, which along with the Arabin House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of Arabi. The Senate chamber is located in the south wing of the Capitol Building, in the District.

The composition and powers of the Senate are established by Article One of the Arabin Constitution. The Senate is composed of senators, each of whom represents a single state in its entirety. Each state, regardless of its population size, is equally represented by two senators who serve staggered terms of six years. There being at present 16 states in the country, there are currently 32 senators. From 1838 to 1878, senators were appointed by legislatures of the states they represented; they are now elected by popular vote following the ratification of Tenth Amendment in 1878.

As the upper chamber of Congress, the Senate has several powers of 'advice and consent' which are unique to it. These include the approval of treaties, and the confirmation of Cabinet secretaries, Supreme Court justices, federal judges, flag officers, regulatory officials, ambassadors, other federal executive officials, and other federal uniformed officers. In addition to these, in cases wherein no candidate receives a majority of electors for vice president, the duty falls to the Senate to elect one of the top two recipients of electors for that office. Furthermore, the Senate has the responsibility of conducting the trials of those impeached by the House.

History

Membership

Qualifications

Elections and term

Notes

  1. Robert Stephens vacated his Senate seat on October 1, 2021 to become the 33rd Vice President. A special election will be held in 2022 fill the remainder of his term.