Membership of the Senate
by: Allyson McCullough
Qualification~
-At least 30 years old
-citizen of U.S. for 9 years before election
-Legal residents of the state the represent
SALARY & BENEFITS
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Salary~ Senate and house set their own salary $174,000 a year
TWENTY SEVENTH AMENDMENT- prohibits a sitting congress from giving itself a pay raise
Benefits include: stationery, postage for official buisness(called a Franking privilege), a medical clinic, and a gymnasium. Large allowances to pay for their office staff and assistants, trips home, telephones, etc. Pension 50,000.
PRIVILEGES~
*Free from arrest "in all cases except treason, felony, and the breach of peace"
*Cannot be sued for anything they say on the House or Senate floor
*The senate and the house both may judge members' qualifications and decide whether to seat them. Each house may refuse to seat an elected member by majority vote.