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Definition of senate noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    senate

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//ˈsɛnət//
     
    the Senate
     
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  1. 1[singular] one of the two groups of elected politicians who make laws in some countries, for example in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and France. The Senate is smaller than the other group but higher in rank. Many states also have a Senate a member of the Senate a Senate committee Topic CollocationsPoliticspower
    • create/form/be the leader of a political party
    • gain/take/win/lose/regain control of Congress
    • start/spark/lead/be on the brink of a revolution
    • be engaged/locked in an internal power struggle
    • lead/form a rival/breakaway faction
    • seize/take control of power/the government
    • bring down/overthrow/topple the government/president/regime
    • abolish/overthrow/restore the monarchy
    • establish/install a military dictatorship/a stable government
    • be forced/removed/driven from office/power
    • resign/step down as party leader/president/prime minister/governor/a senator
    • enter/retire from/return to political life
    political debate
    • spark/provoke a heated/hot/intense/lively debate
    • engage in/participate in/contribute to (the) political/public debate (on/over something)
    • get involved in/feel excluded from the political process
    • launch/start/lead/spearhead a campaign/movement
    • join/be linked with the peace/anti-war/feminist/civil rights movement
    • criticize/speak out against/challenge/support the government
    • lobby/put pressure on the government (to do something)
    • come under fire/pressure from opposition parties
    policy
    • call for/demand/propose/push for/advocate democratic/political/land reform(s)
    • formulate/implement domestic economic policy
    • change/influence/shape/have an impact on government/economic/public policy
    • be consistent with/be in line with/go against/be opposed to government policy
    • reform/restructure/modernize the tax system
    • privatize/improve/deliver/make cuts in public services
    • invest (heavily) in/spend something on schools/education/public services/(the) infrastructure
    • nationalize the banks/the oil industry
    • promise/propose/deliver/give ($80 billion in/significant/substantial/massive) tax cuts
    • a/the budget is approved/passed by Congress/the House/the Senate
    making laws
    • have a majority in/have seats in Congress/the House/the Senate
    • propose/sponsor a bill/legislation/a resolution/an amendment
    • introduce/bring in/draw up/draft/adopt/pass a bill/a law/a resolution/an amendment/legislation/measures
    • amend/repeal an act/a law/legislation
    • veto/vote against/oppose a bill/legislation/a measure/a proposal/a resolution
    • get/require/be decided by a majority vote
    • ⇨ more collocations at economy, vote
    compare congress, House of Representatives
  2. 2[countable, usually singular, uncountable] the group of people who control some universities the senate of Rutgers University
  3. 3[singular] (in ancient Rome) the most important council of the government; the building where the council met
See senate in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary