United States Senate,
The higher branch of the
Congress; composed of two Senators from each State, irrespective of the population therein, who are elected by the
State legislatures.
Some of the most important functions of the Senate, as distinct from the
House, are the super vision of the Presidential appointments of the highest grade of public officers, the passing of judgment on all treaties contracted with foreign powers, and the sole power to try all impeachments.
In the latter case impeachment proceedings must originate in the
House, which presents the charges to the Senate, which, in turn, acts as the court.
The
Vice-President of the
United States is president of the Senate, but has no vote therein excepting in the case of a tie, and is really an officer with very limited power.
It is customary, after the
Vice-President has been installed as presiding officer of the Senate, for him to preside over a few sessions of that body and then ask for a leave of absence, when the Senate elects one of its own members as president pro tem., and the member so chosen acts as presiding officer whenever the
Vice-President does not wish to exercise that privilege.
In the Fifty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1901–March 4, 1903) there are ninety
Senators, of whom fifty-three are Republicans, twenty-nine Democrats, four Populists, one Independent Republican, one Silver party, and two Independents.
See
Congress, National, the fifty-seventh Congress. 
