Senator Brooks

(noun)

Preston Smith Brooks was a Democratic Congressman from South Carolina during the period just prior to the Civil War. He is primarily remembered for severely beating Senator Charles Sumner with a metal-tipped gutta-percha cane on the floor of the United States Senate. Brooks' attack was delivered as revenge (or "punishment", in Brooks' words) in response to a virulent abolitionist speech by Sumner in which he mocked Brooks' relative, South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, and likened Southern slaveholders to pimps.

Related Terms

Examples of Senator Brooks in the following topics:

  • Bleeding Kansas

    • On the afternoon of May 22, 1856, Preston Smith Brooks physically attacked Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts in the Senate chambers , hitting him on the head with his cane.
    • The incident between Sumner and Brooks shocked the nation and further polarized anti- and pro-slavery camps.
    • For Southerners, Brooks was a hero.
    • Preston Brooks attacking Charles Sumner in the U.S.
    • Senate in 1856.

  • The Kansas-Nebraska Act

    • On May 22, 1856, as Senator Charles Sumner (MA) gave a speech on the violent situation in Kansas, likening the proslavery invasion of the territory to the “rape of a virgin,” Senator Preston Smith Brooks (SC) physically attacked Sumner with his cane.

  • Abolitionists and the American Ideal

    • The notorious confrontation between Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina and Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner illustrates the contempt between extremists on both sides.
    • Sumner criticized proslavery legislators, particularly attacking a fellow senator and relative of Preston Brooks.
    • Brooks responded by beating Sumner with a cane, a thrashing that southerners celebrated as a defense of gentlemanly honor and their way of life.

  • Clinton and Domestic Policy

    • Sponsored by Representative Jack Brooks of Texas, the bill was originally written by Senator Joe Biden of Delaware and then was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton.

  • Party Leadership in the Senate

    • The party leadership of the Senate refers to the officials elected by the Senate Democratic Caucus and the Senate Republican Conference.
    • The party leadership of the United States Senate refers to the officials elected by the Senate Democratic Caucus and the Senate Republican Conference to manage the affairs of each party in the Senate.
    • The Senate Majority Leader is Harry Reid (Nevada) and serves as leader of the Senate Democratic Conference and manages the legislative business of the Senate.
    • The Senate Majority Whip is Dick Durbin (Illinois) who manages votes, communicates with individual senators, and ensures passage of bills relevant to the agenda and policy goals of the Senate Democratic Conference.
    • Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) is the Senate Minority Leader and Jon Kyl (Arizona) is the Senate Minority Whip.

  • The Senate

    • The Senate is composed of two senators from each state who are granted exclusive powers to confirm appointments and place holds on laws.
    • Senators serve staggered six-year terms.
    • Senate.
    • The United States has had 50 states since 1959, thus the Senate has had 100 senators since 1959.
    • Summarize the powers accorded the Senate and the qualifications set for Senators

  • The 17th Amendment

    • The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established direct election of United States Senators by popular vote.
    • The malapportioned state legislatures would have given the Republicans control of the Senate in the 1916 Senate elections.
    • With direct election, each vote represented equally, the Democrats retained control of the Senate.
    • The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.
    • State the change in the manner of electing Senators effected by the 17th Amendment

  • Eligibility of Congressmen

    • The Senate is the sole judge of a senator's qualifications.
    • In 1972, Joe Biden was elected to the Senate shortly before his 30th birthday, but he reached his 30th birthday in time for the swearing-in ceremony for incoming senators in January 1973.
    • The age of candidacy to be a Senator is 30.
    • The Senate is the sole judge of a senator's qualifications.
    • In 1972, Joe Biden was elected to the Senate shortly before his 30th birthday, but he reached his 30th birthday in time for the swearing-in ceremony for incoming senators in January 1973.

  • Senate Confirmation

    • Senate confirmation is required for certain presidential appointments stated under the Constitution.
    • These positions are referred to as Presidential Appointment with Senate confirmation (PAS).
    • United States Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
    • Under the Constitution, the Senate have advice and consent on any nominations made by the President to the Supreme Court of the United States.
    • Here, the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings of John Roberts to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 2005.

  • Advice and Consent

    • Advice and consent is a power of the Senate to be consulted on and approve treaties signed by the president.
    • The actual motion adopted by the Senate when exercising the power is "to advise and consent," which shows how initial advice on nominations and treaties is not a formal power exercised by the Senate.
    • For appointments, a majority of senators are needed to pass a motion "to advise and consent", but unless the appointment has the support of three-fifths of senators, a filibuster blocking the passage of the motion is possible.
    • The actual motion adopted by the Senate when exercising the power is "to advise and consent," which shows how initial advice on nominations and treaties is not a formal power exercised by the Senate.
    • For appointments, a majority of senators are needed to pass a motion "to advise and consent," but unless the appointment has the support of three-fifths of senators, a filibuster blocking the passage of the motion is possible.