WASHINGTON, Dec 14: The sudden hospitalisation of a senator has triggered a major constitutional debate in the United States as it can enable the ruling Republicans to regain the Senate.

Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota, a Democrat, was hospitalised on Wednesday with stroke-like symptoms. The possibility that he might not return to the Senate sent officials in South Dakota scrambling to determine how he would be replaced.

The state’s Legislative Research Council, after a hasty research, reported that in South Dakota the governor enjoyed wide latitude in appointing somebody to fill a vacancy in the Senate.

This power had been granted to him by the US Constitution and South Dakota state law, the council said. A temporarily-appointed person would serve until the next general election in 2008.

Governor Mike Rounds is a Republican, so he is likely to pick a Republican.

This would have major repercussions for national politics. Last month, Democrats clawed their way to a one-vote majority in the Senate, with 51 out of 100 senators caucusing with them.

Should Senator Johnson quit early, Governor Rounds can return the control of the entire Senate to the Republicans by a single appointment.

If a Republican replaced any Democrat in the Senate, a 50-50 tie would be broken by Vice-President Dick Cheney, giving Republicans the slimmest of majorities.