Senate
A deliberative assembly, often the upper house of a bicameral legislature.
A senate is a deliberative assembly, typically the upper chamber in a bicameral legislature. The term originates from the ancient Roman Senate, or *Senatus*, which itself comes from *senex*, Latin for "elder" or "old man." This reflected the idea that the body was composed of older, supposedly wiser and more experienced members of the ruling class. However, the Roman Senate was not a direct forerunner of modern parliamentary systems, as it was not a legislative body in a legal sense.
Many countries have an assembly called a senate, whose members—known as senators—may be elected, appointed, inherit the position, or gain membership through other means. Modern senates often serve as a chamber of "sober second thought," reviewing legislation passed by a lower house (whose members are usually elected). Most senates have asymmetrical duties and powers compared to the lower house, such as filling important political positions or passing special laws. Conversely, many senates have limited ability to alter or block bills, and efforts to stall or veto legislation can often be overridden by the lower house or another branch of government.
The word *senator* was adopted into English directly from Latin, with the same spelling. Its meaning stems from an ancient form of social organization where advisory or decision-making power was reserved for the eldest men. For this reason, "senate" is also correctly used for any powerful authority composed of a community's eldest members, such as a faculty senate in higher education. The original Roman Senate lasted until at least CE 603, with revival attempts in medieval Rome. In the Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Senate continued until the Fourth Crusade (circa 1202–1204). The female form *senatrix* also existed.
In modern democratic states with bicameral parliamentary systems, a senate is often distinguished from the lower house by electoral rules. These may include a minimum age for voters and candidates, one house using proportional representation and the other majoritarian or plurality voting, or an electoral college. Typically, the senate is the smaller upper house. In some federal states, senates exist at the subnational level. In the United States, most states and territories have senates, except Nebraska, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (whose unicameral legislatures call their members "senators") and the District
- origin
- Ancient Rome
- etymology
- Latin senātus, from senex ('elder man')
- first established
- Roman Senate (lasted until at least CE 603)
- typical role
- Upper house of a bicameral legislature, providing 'sober second thought'
- membership methods
- Elected, appointed, inherited, or other methods
- notable modern examples
- United States Senate, Canadian Senate, Senate of the Philippines
Lore & Background
The modern word senate is derived from the Latin word senātus (senate), which comes from senex, 'elder man'. A member or legislator of a senate is called senator. The Latin word senator was adopted into English with no change in spelling. Its meaning is derived from a very ancient form of social organization, in which advisory or decision-making powers are reserved for the eldest men. For the same reason, the word senate is correctly used when referring to any powerful authority characteristically composed by the eldest members of a community, as a deliberative body of a faculty in an institution of higher learning is often called a senate. This form of adaptation was used to show the power of those in body and for the decision-making process to be thorough, which could take a long period of time. The original senate was the Roman Senate, which lasted until at least CE 603, although various efforts to revive it were made in Medieval Rome. In the Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Senate continued until the Fourth Crusade, circa 1202–1204. The female form senatrix also existed.
Reader's Guide
Modern democratic states with bicameral parliamentary systems are sometimes equipped with a senate, often distinguished from an ordinary parallel lower house by electoral rules. This may include minimum age required for voters and candidates, one house employing a proportional voting system and the other being elected on a majoritarian or plurality basis, and an electoral basis or collegium. Typically, the senate is referred to as the upper house and has a smaller membership than the lower house. In some federal states senates also exist at the subnational level. In the United States, most states and territories have senates, with the exception of Nebraska, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (whose legislatures are unicameral bodies called the 'Legislature' but whose members refer to themselves as 'senators') and the District of Columbia (whose unicameral legislature is called the Council). There is also the US Senate at the federal level. Similarly in Argentina, in addition to the Senate at federal level, eight of the country's provinces have bicameral legislatures with a Senate. In Australia and Canada, only the upper house of the federal parliament is known as the Senate. Senate membership can be determined either through elections or appointments. For example, elections are held every three years for half the membership of the Senate of the Philippines, the term of a senator being six years. In contrast, members of the Canadian Senate are appointed by the Governor General upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Canada, holding the office until they resign, are removed, or retire at the mandatory age of 75.
Did You Know?
- The Roman Senate was not a de jure legislative body.
- The female form of senator is senatrix.
- In Germany, the last senate of a state parliament, the Bavarian Senate, was abolished in 2000.
- In Scotland, judges of the High Court of Justiciary are called Senators of the College of Justice.
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