e of Representatives does not, such as approving treaties between the United States and other countries. The Senate has 100 members, two from each state. The founding fathers of the United States designed the Senate to be more stable and insulated from popular sentiment than the House of Representatives. Only one-third of the Senate runs for office in each election, giving it more continuity than the House, where the entire membership is elected every two years. Members of the House have always been popularly elected, but senators were appointed by state legislatures until 1913. Keeping the selection of Senate members out of voters' hands, the framers reasoned, would help the Senate focus on the country's broad interests and keep it from becoming mired in short-term political shifts. The 17th Amendment to the Constitution gave voters the power to select the Senate through direct elections. The Constitution requires a senator to be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a resident of the state from which he or she is elected. It is more difficult to win election to the Senate than to the House of Representatives, because unlike members of the House, who are elected in districts of about half a million people, Senators campaign for election across their whole state. Members of the Senate tend to come from relatively wealthy backgrounds, and many senators are millionaires. The unusual wealth of senators stems partly from the fact that about three-fourths of senators work in banking, business, or law before winning election to the chamber. Few working-class people—those who work for others and earn an hourly wage—come even close to winning a Senate seat. The scarcity of working-class senators is caused by many factors, including the high cost of campaigns and the need for connections to the political and social elite to mount an effective campaign.The Senate membership also fails to reflect the count...
