•How have States elected senators in the past and present?
•How and why does a senator’s term differ from a representative’s term?
•What are the qualifications for serving in the Senate?
Size, Election, and Terms
•The Constitution says that the Senate “shall be composed of two Senators from each State.” Today’s Senate consists of 100 Senators.
•Originally, the Constitution provided that senators were chosen by the State legislatures.
•In 1912 the Seventeenth Amendment was passed and called for the popular election of senators.
•Senators serve for six-year terms.
•The Senate is a continuous body, meaning that all of its seats are never up for election at the same time.
Qualifications for Senate
•The requirements for the U.S. Senate are higher than for the House of Representatives.
•The Constitution says that a Senator
(1) must be at least 30 years of age,
(2) must have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and
(3) must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected.
Review Questions:
True or False
The Senate is known as a(n) oversight function, because only a third of its seats are up for election at the same time.
Which statement about the Senate is true?
a. It has two members from each State.
b. Its members are chosen by State legislatures.
c. Each member represents one congressional district.
d. Seats are apportioned among the States according to their populations.
Which fact disqualifies a person from representing Utah in the Senate?
a. The candidate was born in Guatemala.
b. The candidate is 43 years old.
c. The candidate lives in Utah but works in Idaho.
d. The candidate has been a citizen for eight years.
Answers: F / A / D