Definition
A senate is a deliberative council that forms part of a state's governing structure. The name derives from the Latin word for elder, reflecting its origin as an assembly of senior or experienced citizens convened to advise and decide.
In its classical form, the Roman Senate, it began as an advisory body to the kings and became the central institution of the Roman Republic. In modern usage, a senate is usually the upper chamber of a bicameral legislature.
Why it matters
How it works
A senate typically combines deliberation with restraint. By gathering members who serve longer terms or represent broader constituencies, it is designed to weigh long-term interests against immediate popular pressure.
In bicameral systems, a senate shares lawmaking with a more numerous lower house. Bills usually require both chambers' assent, so the senate functions as a revising and checking body. Its powers vary widely — some senates are nearly co-equal, others largely advisory — but the underlying purpose is to introduce a second, more deliberate stage into governance.