Font Size:     

This article aims to compare analytically the functioning of the senate in USA and Pakistan, through a case study approach. Both the Senates, with some variations, perform the functions of making laws, raising and spending money, representing the federating units, overseeing the administration and providing advice and consent. These are five major functions but their preeminent role is concerned with legislation. They perform all these functions through their well-developed procedures and the rules of business. Most of the legislative work in both the Senates is done through committees which are known as ‘little legislatures’. Although, the US constitution does not provide for the creation of the committee system, the committees have become an integral part of the legislative process of the US Senate. This article argues that the US senate is a very powerful upper chamber. Although it has equal constitutional powers with the first chamber it takes precedent over the House of Representatives in certain matters. Moreover, its committees are powerful, their decisions are almost binding on the government and they can thoroughly influence the legislative, investigative and administrative oversight function of the senate. In case of Pakistan the senate committee system is catching momentum but their decisions and suggestions are merely recommendatory in nature. Neither rules nor the precedents are supreme in governing the conduct of business of the Pakistani Senate: it is the executive, which is supreme, and can mould and shape the behaviour of the Senate.