Senate Floor

The "floor" is another word for the Senate Chamber. A Senator who has been recognized to speak by the Chair is said to "have the floor."

Senators do not spend their entire days on the floor. Each senator is a member of several committees, which may be holding hearings. Senators also work in their offices in the Senate office buildings, where they meet with constituents, representatives of the executive agencies, their staff, or others concerned about legislative business.

Generally, the only senators on the floor at a given time are those prepared to speak on the issue at hand. Since the proceedings are televised, other senators can follow the debates from their offices, just as the public can watch at home. Senators are quickly notified of the need to return to the floor to cast a vote or for other reasons by a series of bells that ring throughout the Capitol and the Senate office buildings.

Who are all the other people on the Senate floor?