Job Description of a US Senator
A U.S. senator is an elected member of Congress, which was established by Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. The House of Representatives and the Senate make up Congress. Members of both groups are elected by the people of their home state. Each state elects two individuals to serve in the Senate. The number of people elected to the House depends on the population of the state. A U.S. senator serves a six-year term.
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Legal Requirements
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A U.S. senator must be at least 30 years old, be a U.S. citizen and live in the state in which he is elected.
Tasks
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Senators are assigned to serve on committees, in which they review bills, or proposed laws. There are 20 committees, 68 subcommittees and four joint committees. Each committee focuses on a different topic, including budget, health, education, foreign relations, transportation and homeland security. Once a bill is passed in committee, all senators are responsible for voting on it. The Senate also has the power to impeach the president.
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Work Environment
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U.S. senators work part of the year in Washington, D.C., and part of the year in their home state. When in Washington, they work in one of three buildings: the Russell Senate Office Building, the Dirksen Senate Office Building and the Hart Senate Office Building. They write and vote on laws in the Capitol.
Education
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Although not required for election, U.S. senators usually have advanced degrees in law or political science.
Salary
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In 2009, U.S. senators earned an annual salary of $174,000.
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