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Chapter 1: Problem 56

. How many seats in the U.S. Senate are up for election every two years? A. one-fifth B. one-third C. one-half D. every seat

Short Answer

Expert verified
B. one-third

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Senate Election Cycle

The U.S. Senate consists of 100 senators, each serving a term of six years. Elections for the Senate are held in such a way that approximately one-third of the seats are up for election every two years.
02

Break Down the Terms

Since senators serve for six-year terms, the Senate is divided into three classes. Every two years, one class (representing approximately one-third of the Senate) is up for re-election.
03

Apply the Information

Given that the Senate is divided into three classes and each class includes roughly one-third of the 100 seats, we can determine that the number of seats up for election every two years is indeed one-third.
04

Choose the Correct Answer

Based on the analysis, the correct answer is B. one-third.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Senate election cycle
The U.S. Senate election cycle is structured to ensure a continuity of experienced lawmakers. In this cycle, elections are held every two years. But not all 100 seats are contested in these elections. Instead, the elections are staggered, meaning only a portion of the seats are up for grabs each time. This process helps to maintain stability in the Senate. New senators can learn from those who have already been serving, ensuring smooth transitions and continuity in legislative processes.
senators' terms
Senators in the U.S. serve terms of six years. This is considerably longer than the two-year terms of House Representatives. The lengthy term is designed to provide senators with a greater degree of independence from immediate political pressures. Over a six-year period, a senator has more time to develop expertise on complex legislative issues, build coalitions, and better represent their constituents’ long-term interests. It also allows them to engage in detailed oversight and analysis of government operations without the constant interruption of campaigning.
Senate classes
To ensure that only a portion of the Senate is up for election every two years, the Senate is divided into three groups or classes. Each class represents approximately one-third of the entire Senate. When the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the Senate was divided into these three classes. The idea was that by staggering the elections, the Senate would always have a number of seasoned members. Here's a simple example to visualize this: If you think of the Senate as having 100 seats divided into 3 classes, each class would ideally contain about 33-34 seats. A different class stands for reelection every six years, in rotation.
election frequency
Elections for the U.S. Senate occur every two years. Even though these elections are frequent, it doesn't mean that all seats are contested each time. Given the divided class system, only one-third of senators face re-election during any election period. This frequency of elections allows for a balance between continuity and change. Citizens have regular opportunities to elect new senators or re-elect incumbents, ensuring the Senate remains responsive to public opinion without undergoing complete overhauls.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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