Control Of Us House, Senate Up For Grabs

WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (Bernama-dpa) -- Although all eyes seem to be on the presidential contest, US voters are also electing lawmakers to a new Congress on Tuesday, reported German news agency (dpa).   

The vote will decide all 435 members of the House of Representatives – currently controlled by Republicans – and one-third of the seats in the Senate, where Democrats have the edge.  

Polls have indicated that control of each body could switch to the other party, although this is by no means certain. 

If this does happen, it would mark the first time that both legislative bodies have flipped at the same time – but is unlikely to end the partisan problems plaguing the chambers.

The Senate

The House is currently under Republican control, but just barely, with 220 seats to the Democrats' 212, with three vacancies.

Just as in the presidential race, the House races this year are extremely tight. But recent polls show that the Democrats could retake the chamber. 

The House of Representatives is important internationally because all revenue bills originate in the House. That means if the president wants to send aid to Ukraine or Israel, or enact anything else that costs money, the House must first pass a bill.

Another key power of the House is known as "investigations and oversight". Impeachment proceedings – as launched twice against former president Donald Trump start in the House, but they must be approved by the Senate. 

Senate terms are six years, so every two years, one third of the body is elected.  

The Democrats currently control the Senate with the slimmest possible majority of 51 to 49. Technically, Democrats have only 47 seats but four senators – independents Bernie Sanders, Angus King, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema – are aligned with the Democrats. 

Many expect the Senate to flip from Democratic to Republican control after Tuesday's vote.

When it comes to foreign affairs, the-all powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee is key. 

It is responsible for authorising and overseeing foreign aid programmes, weapons sales abroad, holding confirmation hearings for ambassadors and others, and has a role in the establishment of foreign treaties, by helping to write and approve them – or get them rejected. 

-- BERNAMA-dpa