Resident of State

The principle for discussion on this Constitution Monday is found in Article I.3.3, "A Senator must be an inhabitant of the state which he is appointed to represent." This provision ensured that the people would be represented by two Senators from their own state and not people who were strangers to their circumstances.

Thirty Years Old

The principle for this Constitution Monday comes from Article I.3.3, "In order to qualify as a Senator, a person must have reached the age of 30 years by the time that person is sworn into office." With this provision, the Founders gave to the people the right to be represented in the Senate by a person at least 30 years old. The Founders felt that Senators should be more mature than Representatives because they had additional responsibilities and power of office. In requiring more maturity, the Founders followed counsel given in Deuteronomy 1:13, which tells the people to elect "wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you."

Three Classes

On this Constitution Monday, the discussion topic comes from Article I.3.2, "When the first Senate convenes, it shall be divided into three classes. The first class shall be terminated at the expiration of two years, the second class shall be terminated at the expiration of four years, and the third class shall be terminated at the expiration of six years. This means that once this order has been established, each Senator will serve for six years, but one-third of the Senate will come up for election every two years." This provision made the Senators more accountable to the states as well as giving the nation better protection and continuity in leadership.

Appointed by States

The topic for this Constitution Monday comes from Article I.3.1, "Senators shall be appointed by their respective state legislatures to protect the rights of the states as sovereign entities." In other words, the Constitution gave the Right to choose special representation directly to the state. Because the House of Representatives was to represent the people and the Senate was to represent the state, the people were represented both as individuals and as groups of individuals. This arrangement was made to provide a balance of power, but the Seventeenth Amendment destroyed the original intent of the Founders.

Two Senators

On this Constitution Monday, the topic moves to the Senate. Article I.3.1 of the Constitution states, "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state." This provision insures that each state is equally represented. This provision was part of the "great compromise" about representation made at the Constitutional Convention. Having the Senate made up of elected individuals was a completely American idea because most upper chambers in other nations are comprised of lifetime appointments, which sometimes included hereditary offices.