A senate party majority: where the real power lies

By Megan Suchet, Staff Writer

Millions tuned in to watch as the presidential election results poured in starting Nov. 3, but many were indifferent to the most important race, in their own state, occurring at the exact same time: the race for senate. Republicans brush back challengers in hopes of winning the Senate majority, creating a firewall against a potential Biden administration. Democrats are currently trying to pick up the two remaining seats, evenly dividing the chamber, with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris able to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of left wing policies. The Senate defines the presidency and as such, is so much more vital to a party than the presidency. 

The Senate is the senior body in the United States Congress, the junior one being the House of Representatives. Though both are meant to be the voices of the states, representation is vastly different. While House representatives per state are population based, the Senate is composed of exactly 100 senators, two from each state. The Vice President is the head of the Senate, though they only cast a vote in the case of a tie to remove partiality or threats of favoritism should the head of the Senate be voted in by the Senate itself. 

The Senate has exceptionally high authority, at times higher than the House or even the president. Not only are senators in office longer than the president, serving a six year term rather than four, but members of the Senate check the president in various ways. For one, any treaties the president makes with other countries must be passed by the Senate. The Senate also approves appointments the president makes to the Cabinet, ambassadors, federal judges and Supreme Court justices. Furthermore, they approve the board members and chair of the Federal Reserve and the nation’s central bank, giving them influence on monetary policy and interest rates in the country. 

The Senate can also call any federal official who commits a crime against the country to trial, including the president. In cases of the president, the House initiates the impeachment but the Senate actually tries the case to dismiss a president for misconduct. There have been three presidents, President Andrew Johnson, President Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump, who, though impeached by the House, were deemed innocent of charges by the Senate and thus remained president.

For 20 years, the parties of the Senate majority and president have aligned, paving the way for much change to take place, good or bad. With the inauguration of Trump in 2016, the Republican Party controlled the Senate, House, and presidency for the first time since 2007. On Feb. 5, 2020, after a nearly three week impeachment trial by the Senate, Trump was acquitted on both impeachment articles as neither obtained a two-thirds majority vote. 52 Republican senators voted against the charges of abuse of power and all 53 voted against the charge of obstruction of justice of Congress, despite the mountain of incriminating evidence. Without a Republican majority in the Senate, Trump would not have gone on to serve through the end of his term. 

The Senate also played a hand in the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett as the new Supreme Court Justice after former justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away in Sept. of this year. Ginsburg was a leading voice in gender equality, women’s interests and civil rights and liberties. Her replacement, which should have been decided by the next president as it happened so close to the end of Trump’s term, will work to undue the progress made thus far in women’s rights by, for example, seeking to once again illegalize abortions.

Now, Democrats are rightfully concerned that with a conservative Senate majority, not much will get done under Biden. In 2014-2016, former President Barack Obama’s administration struggled to pass legislation with a Republican Senate in the 114th Congress where Democrats held 44 seats against Republicans’ 54, a repetition of which is an increasingly likely possibility as Senate results become finalized.  

In 2000, the election produced a Senate with 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats for the first time. Should we see a recurrence of this set up in 2020, it is likely that many of Biden’s bills and propositions on the more progressive side, such as rejoining the Paris Accord, will be followed through with, as in the event of a tie, Harris would make the final decision. The race for Senate continues today, with Georgia’s two seats left undecided until the runoff election on Jan. 5, 2021, for neither candidate received over 50 percent of the votes. As of now, Republicans are leading with a 50-48 lead.

Legislation does not become law without the Senate. It can without the president. Although an ideal corresponding Senate and president party has proven to be the most effective governing administration, ultimately the Senate is the one to watch. Biden’s coming to power is a great achievement for the Democratic party, there is no denying it. However, a Democratic Senate with another term under a Trump administration would achieve more than the alternative.