SENATE.  In the University of Cambridge, England, the legislative body of the University.  It is divided into two houses, called REGENT and NON-REGENT.  The former consists of the vice-chancellor, proctors, taxors, moderators, and esquire-beadles, all masters of arts of less than five years’ standing, and all doctors of divinity, civil law, and physic, of less than two, and is called the UPPER HOUSE, or WHITE-HOOD HOUSE, from its members wearing hoods lined with white silk.  The latter is composed of masters of arts of five years’ standing, bachelors of divinity, and doctors in the three faculties of two years’ standing, and is known as the LOWER HOUSE, or BLACK-HOOD HOUSE, its members wearing black silk hoods.  To have a vote in the Senate, the graduate must keep his name on the books of some college (which involves a small annual payment), or in the list of the commorantes in villa.—­Webster.  Cam.  Cal.  Lit.  World, Vol.  XII. p. 283.

2.  At Union College, the members of the Senior Class form what is called the Senate, a body organized after the manner of the Senate of the United States, for the purpose of becoming acquainted with the forms and practice of legislation.  The members of the Junior Class compose the House of Representatives.  The following account, showing in what manner the Senate is conducted, has been furnished by a member of Union College.

“On the last Friday of the third term, the House of Representatives meet in their hall, and await their initiation to the Upper House.  There soon appears a committee of three, who inform them by their chairman of the readiness of the Senate to receive them, and perhaps enlarge upon the importance of the coming trust, and the ability of the House to fill it.

“When this has been done, the House, headed by the committee, proceed to the Senate Chamber (Senior Chapel), and are arranged by the committee around the President, the Senators (Seniors) meanwhile having taken the second floor.  The President of the Senate then rises and delivers an appropriate address, informing them of their new dignities and the grave responsibilities of their station.  At the conclusion of this they take their seats, and proceed to the election of officers, viz. a President, a Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  The President must be a member of the Faculty, and is chosen for a term; the other officers are selected from the House, and continue in office but half a term.  The first Vice-Presidency of the Senate is considered one of the highest honors conferred by the class, and great is the strife to obtain it.