The Roman `council of elders'. Originally
consisting of the heads of patrician
families, it was recruited from
ex-magistrates and persons who had rendered
notable public service, but was periodically
purged by the censors. Although nominally
advisory, it controlled finance and foreign
policy. The US Senate consists of 100
members, two from each state, elected for a
six-year term. The term also refers to the
upper house of the Canadian parliament and to
the upper chambers of Italy and France. It is
also given to the governing bodies in some
universities.