Lapland Senate

Lapland Senate

The Lapland Senate is the upper chamber of the Lapland Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the Republic of Lapland.

The composition and powers of the Senate are established by Article One of the Lapland Constitution. The Senate is composed of senators, each of whom represents a single state in its entirety. However, the Constitution allows exceptions to be made when there are vacancies within the Senate. Each state is equally represented by two senators who serve staggered terms of one to two months. There are currently 11 senators representing 1 state. The Vice President of the Republic of Lapland serves as presiding officer and President of the Senate by virtue of that office, and has a vote only if the senators are equally divided. In the vice president's absence, the President pro tempore, who is traditionally the senior member of the party holding a majority of seats, presides over the Senate.