The powers and role of the Senate in Kenya are as follows: Empowered to represent the interests of the counties and their governments. Participates in law-making by considering, debating and approving bills concerning counties. Determines allocation of national revenue among counties.
What is the main function of the Senate?
The framers of the Constitution created the United States Senate to protect the rights of individual states and safeguard minority opinion in a system of government designed to give greater power to the national government.
What do senators do in the Senate?
Senators: debate and vote on bills (proposed laws); represent the views of people in their state/territory; work on parliamentary committees to examine important issues; attend parliamentary party meetings to decide on party policy; scrutinise—closely examine—the work of the government; and discuss issues of national …
What powers does the Senate have?
The Senate shares full legislative power with the House of Representatives. In addition, the Senate has exclusive authority to approve–or reject–presidential nominations to executive and judicial offices, and to provide–or withhold–its “advice and consent” to treaties negotiated by the executive.
Why is the Senate majority leader so powerful?
The leaders serve as spokespersons for their party’s positions on issues. The majority leader schedules the daily legislative program and fashions the unanimous consent agreements that govern the time for debate.
What is difference between House and Senate?
Senators represent their entire states, but members of the House represent individual districts. The number of districts in each state is determined by a state’s population. … Today, Congress consists of 100 senators (two from each state) and 435 voting members of the House of Representatives.
How are the seats in the Senate distributed?
Each state is equally represented by two senators who serve staggered terms of six years. … From 1789 to 1913, senators were appointed by legislatures of the states they represented. They are now elected by popular vote following the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913.
How much does a senator make a year?
Senate Salaries (1789 to Present)
| Years | Salary |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $174,000 per annum |
| 2017 | $174,000 per annum |
| 2018 | $174,000 per annum |
| 2019 | $174,000 per annum |
Do senators have electorates?
However, twelve senators represent each state and, due to the electoral system, often only a minority of voters elect each senator. … The connection to constituents is more obscure, but senators do have constituencies, they are just not necessarily geographically contained.
What power does the Senate have over the president?
The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President’s appointments that require consent, and to provide advice and consent to ratify treaties. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule: the House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade.
What Nonlegislative powers does the Senate have?
The Senate has the sole power to conduct a trial of those impeached by the House. The Senate must confirm all major appointments made by the President. The Senate must confirm all treaties made by the President. Congress holds the power to investigate matters related to its legislative powers.
Who is the most powerful member of the Senate?
By Senate precedent, the presiding officer gives the Majority Leader priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate. The majority leader serves as the chief representative of their party, and is considered the most powerful member of the Senate.
Who leads Senate if no majority?
The president pro tempore designates other senators to preside in his absence, generally new members of the majority party. The Constitution provides for two officers to preside over the Senate. The vice president of the United States is designated as the president of the Senate.
Who becomes the Senate majority leader?
Currently, the majority leader of the United States Senate is Chuck Schumer, who assumed this position on January 20th, after Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock succeeded David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, respectively.
Why is Speaker of the House so powerful?
The speaker is responsible for ensuring that the House passes legislation supported by the majority party. In pursuing this goal, the speaker may use their power to determine when each bill reaches the floor. They also chair the majority party’s steering committee in the House.