Senate Makes Moves to Seat Burris

Dick Durbin is the senior senator from Illinois and the Senate Majority Whip, while Reid is the Senate majority leader.

However, before Roland Burris can be seated, the senators stated two things must be accomplished.

First, Burris needs the signature of Illinois' Secretary of State on his certificate of appointment, a matter being considered by Illinois' Supreme Court.

Second, it has to be clear that his appointment was not part of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged efforts to sell the Senate seat.

If Burris is sworn in, he would increase Democrats' majority in the Senate to 58, their biggest since 1981. More good news for Burris: on Wednesday the 41-member Congressional Black Caucus voted in favor of Burris being sworn in, unanimously.

Burris would be the only black member of the 100-member chamber.