Jonah Patel
The representation in the Senate under the US Constitution has been a subject of debate and compromise, with delegates from smaller states advocating for equal representation and those from larger states arguing for proportional representation based on population. This stalemate, which threatened to unravel the proceedings, was resolved through the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise, resulting in a bicameral legislature. The compromise entailed a two-house structure, with the House of Representatives determined by state population and the Senate providing each state with two seats, regardless of population. This ensured equal representation for all states in the Senate, while the House reflected the principle of proportional representation. The Senate's role as a check on the House also guaranteed that legislation required the approval of both national and federal majorities, safeguarding against an improper consolidation of the states into one simple republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of senators per state | Two |
| Basis of representation | Equal representation for each state regardless of population, wealth, power, or size |
| Voting | Each senator has one vote |
| Election | Chosen by the Legislature of each state |
| Term | Six years |
| Qualifications | Citizen for nine years, inhabitant of the state |
| Age | 25 years |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Compromise
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia established equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives. This plan for congressional representation was unique and became known as the Great Compromise.
The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison and introduced by Edmund Randolph, proposed a bicameral national legislature, consisting of two houses, in which the "rights of suffrage" in both houses would be proportional to the size of the state. Delegates from smaller states objected to this idea, arguing that each state should have an equal voice in the central government. Delegates from larger states countered that their greater contribution to the nation's financial and defensive resources merited a greater say.
To resolve these differences, a "Grand Committee" was formed, consisting of one delegate from each state. The committee's report, submitted on July 5, 1787, became the basis for the Great Compromise. It recommended that each state have an equal vote in the upper house (the Senate) and proportional representation in the lower house (the House of Representatives), with one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants, including three-fifths of the state's enslaved population.
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Bicameral legislature
Bicameralism refers to a system of government in which the legislature is divided into two houses or chambers. The United States Constitution establishes a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Founding Fathers of the United States favoured a bicameral legislature as they believed it would provide a system of checks and balances. James Madison, for example, argued that a bicameral legislature would create two "different bodies of men who might watch and check each other". Benjamin Rush also noted that the Senate, as the upper house, should be wealthier and wiser, acting as a stabilising force against the "fickleness and passion" of the popular branch.
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, resolved the issue of representation in the bicameral legislature. The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison, proposed a bicameral legislature with representation in both houses proportional to the size of the state. However, delegates from smaller states objected, arguing for equal representation as each state had an equal voice under the Articles of Confederation. The Great Compromise combined these two plans, creating a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.
Each state, regardless of size, has two senators, who are elected by popular vote for six-year terms. The House of Representatives, on the other hand, has members apportioned based on the state's population, with each state receiving proportional representation. This ensures that the interests of both larger and smaller states are represented in the legislature.
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Proportional representation
The United States Constitution guarantees proportional representation in the House of Representatives, with seats apportioned based on state population according to the constitutionally mandated Census. On the other hand, the Senate provides for equal representation, with each state receiving two seats regardless of population.
The concept of proportional representation in the Senate was hotly debated during the drafting of the Constitution. Delegates from smaller states objected to the idea, arguing that it would put their liberties in danger. They wanted each state to have an equal vote in the Senate, as they had under the Articles of Confederation. On the other hand, delegates from larger states argued that their greater financial and defensive contributions to the nation entitled them to a greater say in the central government.
The "Great Compromise" or the "Connecticut Compromise" was a solution to this disagreement. It proposed a bicameral legislature, with a House based on proportional representation and a Senate with equal representation for each state. This compromise ensured that both large and small states had a say in the government and that no state's sovereignty was diminished.
The Seventeenth Amendment, incorporated into the Constitution, provides for equal representation in the Senate, with each state having two senators, regardless of population, wealth, power, or size. This amendment ensures that all states are treated equally in the Senate.
The debate over proportional representation in the Senate reflected the tension between the interests of large and small states during the drafting of the Constitution. The "Great Compromise" was a creative solution that balanced the power between the states and laid the foundation for the federal nature of the US government.
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Equal state representation
The representation of states in the Senate has been a contentious issue since the drafting of the US Constitution. Delegates from smaller states insisted on preserving the equal vote they had enjoyed under the Articles of Confederation, with New Jersey's William Paterson stating, "A confederacy supposes sovereignty in the members composing it, and sovereignty supposes equality." On the other hand, delegates from larger states argued that their greater contribution to the nation's resources entitled them to a greater say in the central government.
This disagreement between big and small states nearly ended hopes of creating a national government. Pennsylvania Delegate Benjamin Franklin summed up the issue: "If a proportional representation takes place, the small States contend that their liberties will be in danger. If an equality of votes is to be put in its place, the large States say their money will be in danger."
A compromise was eventually reached, known as the "Great Compromise" or the "Connecticut Compromise." This plan for congressional representation resolved the most controversial aspect of the drafting of the Constitution. It proposed a bicameral national legislature, consisting of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House would have membership based on a proportional population formula, while the Senate would provide each state with equal representation, regardless of its population, wealth, power, or size.
The Seventeenth Amendment, incorporated into the Constitution, states that "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State... and each Senator shall have one vote." This ensures that all states are treated equally in the Senate. The Framers also saw the division of power between the House and Senate as a way to check abuses of power and prevent the consolidation of the states into one simple republic.
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Qualifications of senators
The representation in the Senate, as decided by the US Constitution, is based on equal state representation, with each state being represented by two senators, each with a single vote. This was decided by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention on July 16. This was called the "Great Compromise" or the "Connecticut Compromise", a unique plan for congressional representation that resolved the most controversial aspect of the drafting of the Constitution.
The Constitution also lays down certain qualifications for senators. These include:
- Age: Senators must have attained the age of thirty years.
- Citizenship: Senators must have been citizens of the United States for at least nine years.
- Residency: Senators must be residents of the state they represent at the time of their election. The length of residency varies across states, with senators from New Hampshire needing to be residents for at least seven years prior to the election, while senators from other states may fulfil a five-, three-, or one-year requirement.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution ensures that all states are equally represented in the Senate, regardless of their population, wealth, power, or size. Each state has two senators, and each senator has one vote.
The representation in the Senate is based on the idea of preserving the sovereignty of individual states. This means that each state has an equal voice in the Senate, regardless of its size or population.
Most delegates agreed that the Senate should be smaller than the House of Representatives. However, there was a debate over the ideal size. Some argued for one senator per state, while others proposed three. Ultimately, a compromise was reached, and it was decided that each state would have two senators.
The "Great Compromise" or the "Connecticut Compromise" was a plan for congressional representation that resolved a key controversy in drafting the Constitution. It proposed a bicameral legislature with two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate would provide equal representation for each state, while the House would have membership based on a proportional population formula.
Delegates from smaller states insisted on preserving the equal vote they had under the Articles of Confederation. They argued that sovereignty requires equality among the states. Connecticut's Roger Sherman stated that "everything depended on this" and that the smaller states would not agree to the plan without equal suffrage in the Senate.
