And now, another Fact of Congress The Senate is one of the two bodies that make up what we call Congress. The framers of our Constitution created the Senate to make sure that our government didn't rush into any bad legislation or laws in a misguided moment. Think of the Senate as the wise old owl who patiently sits up in the tree looking down on all possible options before acting. There are 100 Senators, two from each state and they serve terms of 6 years. The Senate has a unique role. It is the Congressional body that must approve treaties with other countries and also must approve or reject important presidential nominees, such as new Supreme Court Justices. Of course, the Senate also works in cooperation with the House of Representatives to pass the laws of the land. And that's another Fact of Congress < Back to List |