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The Senate has exclusive power to confirm U.S. presidential appointments to high offices, and (by two-thirds supermajority to pass main motions) approve or reject treaties, and try cases of impeachment brought by the House. The Senate and the House provide a check and balance on the powers of the executive and judicial branches of government.
Outside the constitutionally mandated roles, the actual appointment of a person to do the job of presiding over the Senate as a body is governed by Rule I of the Standing Rules. The United States Constitution establishes the vice president as president of the Senate, with the authority to cast a tie-breaking vote. Early vice presidents took an ...
The Senate of the 119th Congress is composed in 2025 of 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and 2 independents; both the independents caucus with the Democrats. The leaders are Senators John Thune of South Dakota and Chuck Schumer of New York. [1] The assistant leaders, or whips, are Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming and Dick Durbin of Illinois.
2024 U.S. Senate Election Results: See the map. Who controls the Senate? Democrats currently have majority control of the Senate. Of the 100 seats, 47 are held by Democrats. Republicans have 49 seats.
The constitutionally-defined Senate leadership roles are the Vice President of the United States, who serves as President of the Senate, and the President pro tempore, traditionally the most senior member of the majority, who theoretically presides in the absence of the Vice President. [2]
In the Senate, most power rests with the majority leader and other individual senators, but as the chamber's presiding officer, the president pro tempore is authorized to perform certain duties in the absence of the vice president, including ruling on points of order. [6]
This time around, Trump wants the Senate to give up that gatekeeping role and allow him to make "recess appointments," even though his Republicans will control the chamber next year with at least ...
It's a role that's led to current Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's self-proclaimed nickname. When it comes to D.C. politics, the most powerful figure arguably is not the president -- it's ...