What five states had the largest representation in the first congress? What five have now? Which two have fewer members now than in the first congress? Which three have just the same number?
Name the present officers of the House of Representatives. Are any of them from this state?
How does our House of Representatives compare with the British House of Commons in the number of members? In the length of their terms? In the age required for eligibility? What famous speech have you read in reply to one in which a certain member of the House of Commons had been alluded to contemptuously as "a young man?"
Could one who is not a voter be elected to the house? Is a woman eligible? Could the state impose other qualifications than those mentioned in the constitution?
SECTION III.—THE SENATE.[1]
Clause 1.—Composition.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state,[2] chosen by the legislature thereof,[3] for six years;[4] and each senator shall have one vote.[5]
[1] Latin senatus, from senex, an old man. This dignified term seems a favorite, being used in many countries to designate the upper house. In other countries a term is used having the same signification.
[2] This arrangement will be remembered as the concession made by the large states to the small ones.
Had the number of senators been fixed at one from each state, equality of power among the states would still have been secured; but sickness or accident might then leave a state unrepresented. By having two, this difficulty is obviated. The two can consult about the needs of their state; and the Senate is large enough to "confer power and encourage firmness." Three from each state would bring no advantages which are not now secured, while the Senate would be unnecessarily large and expensive.