No person shall be a senator, who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years,[1] and been nine years a citizen of the United States,[2] and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state from which he shall be chosen.[3]
[1] This was also the age for eligibility to the Roman Senate. It is five years more than the requirement for membership in the House.
[2] Two years of citizenship more than required of a representative. As the Senate acts with the president in making treaties, this requirement seems none too great.
[3] The propriety of this is self-evident. (I. 2: 2.)
Clause 4.—Presiding Officer.
The vice-president of the United States shall be president of the Senate,[1] but shall have no vote,[2] unless they be equally divided.[3]
[1] This arrangement was made for three reasons:
First. It would give the vice-president something to do.
Second. Partaking in the executive business of the Senate would give the vice-president excellent training for the duties of the presidency, in case he should be called thereto.
Third. The equality of power among the states would remain undisturbed. Had it been arranged that the Senate should choose its own presiding officer from among its members, one state might thereby gain (or lose) power in the Senate.