The US Senate is a relatively exclusive and deliberative body, with the sole power to approve peace treaties and presidential appointments, including all federal judges and Supreme Court Justices. The Senate also has the sole power to try any federal officer who is impeached, including the President. Law passed by Congress must be approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
There are 100 Senators, two from each state, elected at large to represent the entire state. Since Senators have such important positions, it’s important that they represent a reasonable cross-section of the population.
The way the election process means the same heavily populated regions have great sway over the election of both senators, leaving less populated and rural areas with less influence over electing Senators for each state.
This can be fixed by a Constitutional amendment that requires one Senator from each state to be elected by residents of the most populous cities. The other Senator is elected by residents of the less populated areas and cities. Both Senators represent the entire state, but they are elected by separate urban and more rural areas. This would tend to make each state more balanced in the representation in the Senate.
Senators serve six-year terms without term limits. By increasing to eight-year terms, the election cycle can be less jarring to the body of the Senate, by putting up only 25% of the senators up for election.
By placing a maximum term limit of 22 years of combined service in House and Senate, the Senators will tend to be more responsive to current circumstances and less responsive to a desire to hold office for a lifetime. A proposed amendment is below.
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment revising the electorate and terms of members of the Senate.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, two-thirds of each House concurring therein,
That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1. The term of office for members of the Senate shall be eight years. No Senator may serve more than two 8-year terms in office, whether said terms are consecutive or non-consecutive. In no event may a Senator serve more than Twenty-Two (22) years combined service as a Representative and Senator.
SECTION 2. This amendment shall have prospective effect with regard to maximum years of service permitted. Any Senator already serving, at the time this Amendment becomes effective, may continue to serve successive terms without limit.
SECTION 3. The election of Senators shall occur on even-numbered years. As much as is reasonably practicable, approximately 25% of the Senate shall be elected in an election year, and only one Senator from a State shall be elected in an election year.
SECTION 4. In each state, one Senator shall be elected by residents of the most populous cities with a combined combination, which does not exceed one-half the population of that state. The other Senator shall be elected by the remaining residents of cities, towns, and unincorporated or rural areas. Both Senators shall represent the entire state.
SECTION 5. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
