"I submitted my letter of appointment to Secretary of the Senate and have been advised that the document was not in order," he told the press outside the building. "I will not be accepted, I can not enter or sit in plenary," he added, while ensuring not seek "confrontation".

According to a poll conducted Monday night by Gallup, 51% of Americans believe that the Senate needs to stop Mr. Burris. 52% of respondents prefer an election to resolve the issue.

The 100 U.S. senators are elected by thirds every six years. But in case of vacancy of a seat, the governor of the State to appoint a new senator.

However, Governor Blagojevich was briefly arrested in early December by the FBI, who accused, wiretaps in support of trying to monetize the former headquarters of Mr. Obama.

Despite the scandal and calls for the resignation, the governor appointed last week, Mr. Burris, former Minister of Justice of the State, a Black 71 years at the headquarters of Mr. Obama, who was himself Black single serving in the Senate.

The Senate Democrats had sent a letter to the governor asking him to resign and name a person at the headquarters of Mr. Obama.

Mr. Obama himself voted against the appointment of his successor Mr. Blagojevich while adding that Roland Burris is a good and a servant of the competent state. "

Speaking to the press, Mr. Burris said he would consult his lawyers to determine the result of his approach.

One of them, Tim Wright, said that the rejection of his client by the Senate was "illegal" and that he planned to complain to justice while trying to persuade the Senate to review their decision.

"Any allegations against me should not be passed against him," said Tuesday in a statement Rod Blagojevich who introduced Mr. Burris as a man "good and proper."

In fact, no text appears to obstruct the appointment of Mr. Burris.

Another contested nomination, that of Caroline Kennedy, daughter of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, who sought the seat of Hillary Clinton in New York. But Ms. Kennedy, who has little political experience, does not convince the media sphere and the New Yorkers who question his qualifications.

It should be appointed by the state governor David Paterson.

Finally, the Senate has yet to host the winner of the recount of votes in Minnesota. The victory of Democrat and former actor Al Franken, with a handful of votes in advance, Monday was declared by the electoral commission but the loser Republican Norm Coleman, outgoing senator, said he was ready to challenge the counting of results.

If the election of Mr. Franken is validated and the dispute over the seat of Illinois settled, the Democratic majority in the Senate has 59 seats out of 100 in the 111th Congress.