Senator

In New Maine, a senator is a person who has been elected to represent their respective District in the New Maine Senate. Each of the sixteen districts elect three senators every four years, beginning with the first senatorial elections in 1976. Elections for senators are always held on January 30 of that year, coinciding with the beginning of the Senate's session on February 10.

Qualifications

 * Must be at least 21 years old.
 * Must be a citizen of New Maine.
 * Must have lived in their respective district for at least 6 years.

Elections
After the Senate was established in December 1975, the 1976 Senatorial elections were held on January 30, 1976. At the time, there was only fourteen districts of New Maine.

Senators serve four year terms, so Senatorial elections are held every four years, in between Presidential and Prefectorial elections.

Senatorial elections are always held on January 30 on an election year. On which, the top fifteen candidates in the district and put on the ballot. Like other New Maine elections, instant run-off voting is used. Voters rank the fifteen candidates from their most preferred to least preferred.

The ranked numbers are added, and only the candidates with the three lowest sums are elected to the Senate for their district. The 1st Place candidate (who had the lowest sum) receives the First Position, the most prestigious of the three senators. They are followed by Second Position (second lowest sum) and Third Position (third lowest sum). All three senators are up from re-election after the four year term is over. There is no term limit for senators.

Duties
Once the senatorial session begins on February 10 of the election year, the first day of the Senate is devoted to the swearing-in of all the newly elected senators. The session ends on December 20.

First Position
First Position Senators have a ceremoniously important role, in which they speak for the other two senators of their district in the Senate. Other than being seen as the leader of their district in the Senate, First Position Senators have no greater influence that the other two senators.

Second Position
Second Position Senators are seen as the First Position's right-hand, and hold less prestige in the Senate.

Third Position
Third Position Senators are seen as the most junior and inexperienced members of Senate, and are used to execute most of the dullest work in the Senate, such as paperwork.