Article I · Section 3 of 10
The Senate
Article I: Congress
The one-line version
How the Senate works: two senators per state, six-year terms, and impeachment trials.
Section 3 in plain English
Each state has two senators. Each senator serves six years and has one vote.
Note: The original text said state legislatures chose senators. The Seventeenth Amendment (1913) changed this so voters elect senators directly.
Senators are split into three groups. That way, about one-third of the Senate is up for election every two years.
To serve in the Senate, a person must be at least 30 years old. They must have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years. They must live in the state they represent when elected.
The Vice President leads the Senate but votes only to break a tie.
The Senate chooses its other officers. This includes a President pro tempore, who leads when the Vice President is absent.
Only the Senate can hold an impeachment trial. Senators must take an oath for the trial. When the President is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides.
Two-thirds of the senators present must vote to convict. The only penalties are removal from office and a ban on holding federal office again. The person can still face a regular criminal trial.
Original text, 1788
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.