What does a US senator do, and why is voting in this race important?

Senators are paid $174,000 per year to represent residents of their state at the national level. 

This fall, Arizona will elect a US senator to replace Democrat-turned-Independent Kyrsten Sinema. 

Sinema chose not to run again, so the race will come down to two newcomers: Democratic US Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona or Republican Kari Lake.

So as you’re making your decision of who to vote for, you may be asking yourself: What does a senator actually do? Here’s what to know:

What is the Senate? The US Senate, along with the House of Representatives, makes up the US Congress. Each state is represented by two senators. The terms are staggered so a state’s seats aren’t ever up for election at the same time. 

Congress is the country’s legislative body, which means members have the power to make federal laws that affect all of the states. They are also the only branch of government to have the power to declare war. 

Congress’ powers include drafting, amending, and voting on legislation and overseeing the federal budget.

The Senate alone has the power to approve treaties with other countries, approve federal judges, approve a president’s appointees to head agencies, and convict impeached officials with a two-thirds vote. 

What do senators do? While members of the House of Representatives are elected to represent certain districts in their state, senators have more responsibility—they are tasked with representing their entire state. 

Their day-to-day tasks include meeting with constituents and interest groups, making public appearances, and discussing, drafting, and voting on bills when the Senate is in session. Senators’ offices—which are staffed by around 40 people—are set up to help constituents navigate federal agencies—for example, someone needing help getting their passport on time, or someone having issues with immigration paperwork. 

The Senate has 20 permanent committees organized by topic where senators work on bills before they come to the Senate floor for a full vote. An average of 3,000 bills and resolutions come to committees each two-year session of Congress, but only a fraction are acted on. The Senate committees hold more than 2,000 public hearings and meetings each session to gather information about bills and make changes. 

And, if a senator plans to run again, they will spend time raising money and campaigning ahead of their next election. 

For many senators, all of these tasks add up to a 60 to 70-hour work week. 

Who qualifies to be a senator? Senators must be at least 30 years old and a US citizen for at least nine years. By the time of the election, they must be a resident in the state they are running in. 

How long do senators serve? Senators serve terms of six years. There is no limit on how many terms they can serve. 

How much do senators get paid? $174,000 per year. This has been the standard salary for senators since 2009.  

Why is voting in this race important? As we’ve laid out above, senators have many responsibilities when it comes to representing their state’s residents—both those who voted for them, and those who did not vote for them. 

The candidates running for Arizona’s open seat this fall—Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake—vastly differ on many important issues, including immigration, climate change, reproductive rights, gun safety, access to healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, education, and more. 

It’s important to vote for the candidate who most aligns with your views, as they will be influencing national legislation on topics like those that can affect the lives of many Americans—including you and your loved ones.  

Are you ready to vote? Make sure to check your voter registration status, see who’s on your ballot, and make a voting plan here.