"When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer "Present" or "Not guilty.""

This quote by Theodore Roosevelt is a humorous method of highlighting the significance of the Senate's function in the United States government. By comparing the Senators to a jury, Roosevelt is highlighting the importance of their duty to make choices that are in the best interest of the nation. He is also implying that the Senators should take their job seriously and not be swayed by popular opinion or political pressure. The quote likewise works as a suggestion that the Senate is a deliberative body which Senators ought to be thoughtful and considerate when making choices. Eventually, Roosevelt is emphasizing the importance of the Senate's function in the United States federal government and the need for Senators to take their task seriously.