Dr Abdul El-Sayed has made history as the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate. Elected from the state of Michigan, he has drawn interest in his work, powers and pay before he takes office: what duties he will carry out as a member of the US Senate, how large a role he will have in national policymaking and how much he will earn a year in the post.
What does a senator earn?
Under US law, a rank-and-file senator earns $174,000 a year. At the current exchange rate that is about Tk 2.17 crore, or about Tk 18 lakh a month. The figure in Bangladeshi currency will rise or fall as the taka’s exchange rate against the dollar changes.
What are a senator’s duties and powers?
The Senate is one of the two chambers of Congress, the US national legislature, and is known as the upper house. Each of the country’s 50 states sends two members, for a total of 100.
As a senator, El-Sayed’s work will not be limited to debating and voting on proposed legislation. He will also have a role in the national budget, major government appointments, foreign policy and holding the president to account.
Laws and budgets: El-Sayed will be able to debate major bills, propose amendments and vote on final passage. His vote could matter on legislation on healthcare, drug prices, social security and other public welfare areas. Ordinary legislation needs the support of a majority in the Senate; usually the votes of at least 51 of the 100 members are enough to pass a bill.
Confirming appointments: The US president nominates candidates for many senior government and judicial posts. Appointments to key posts such as cabinet members, ambassadors and Supreme Court justices need Senate approval. El-Sayed will take part in vetting and confirming nominees for about 1,300 such posts.
Treaties and war policy: The Senate also plays a major role in approving international treaties between the United States and other countries. Approving a treaty needs the support of two-thirds of the Senate, or at least 67 votes. Senators also oversee foreign aid, military spending and policy on war.
Impeachment trials: When the House of Representatives impeaches the president or a senior federal official, the trial is held in the Senate, which then sits as a court. El-Sayed will be able to vote on the verdict.
New, but his vote counts the same
In the Senate, seniority decides various privileges and priority for committee leadership. On votes on legislation and other major matters, however, every senator has equal power. The vote of newly elected El-Sayed carries exactly the same weight as that of a senator who has served for many years.
His single vote could therefore matter in the contest for a Senate majority or on a key bill. When the margin between the two parties is narrow, his position could influence major national policy decisions.
Source: Amar Desh
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report