Why is only one-third of the senators up for reelection every two years?
Geography · High School · Wed Jan 13 2021
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Answered on
- The reason only one-third of U.S. Senators are up for re-election every two years is due to the structure of the Senate as designed by the Constitution of the United States. The founders intended to create a body within Congress that would be more stable and insulated from immediate political pressures than the House of Representatives, which is why Senators have six-year terms as opposed to the two-year terms of House members.
- The Senate is comprised of 100 senators, with each state represented by two senators regardless of its population size. To ensure that the Senate has continuity and experience, the terms are staggered.
- This staggering is achieved by dividing the Senate into three approximately equal groups, often referred to as "classes." Every two years, one of these classes is up for re-election. That way, only about one-third of the Senate is beholden to the electoral process at any one time, while the remaining two-thirds continue to serve their terms. This method also guarantees that the Senate can't be completely changed in a single election, providing a measure of stability and long-term policy consideration within the legislative process.