Critical Analysis

1. According to the data from the graph above, what state’s residents have the least representation per capita in the Senate?

2. Explain why the chart above varies over time and why some of the lines representing states do not go back all the way to the 1790?

3. Article I of the U.S. Constitution describes the composition of the U.S. Senate. Going way, way back in American history, why did we give each state two Senators, anyway?

4. State equality (each state has the same # of senators) leads to personal inequality (some states have more people than others). Explain whether this representational inequality makes America more or less Democratic/equal?

5. If all citizens in the U.S. were truly equal, what would the chart look like and what do you predict this chart will look like in 20 years?

6. The United States is a single country (right?) The 14th Amendment guarantees Americans equal protection under the law. Senate representation gives every state equal protection under the law. Does our Senate representation give every American equal protection under the law? And explain whether you would support a suit claiming that the U.S. Senate is in violation of the 14th Amendment.

7. Wouldn’t it be more fair/equal/democratic to just give every person in America equal representation in the Congress?

8. Imagine that the United States passed an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing the U.S. Senate. What number amendment to the U.S. Constitution would that be?

9. Let’s just say that accidentally the U.S. abolished the Senate. Describe two ways that would impact American politics.

10. If the United States added more states (think, D.C. or Puerto Rico) what would that do to the number of U.S. Senators and what political party would Puerto Ricans and District of Columbians probably support?*

Learning Extension

Here is an amazing proposal to fix the disproportion of the Senate: Give California 12 senators, and Vermont just one. What the what?!?! The proposal may even be constitutional. It’s really pretty elegant and simple. Check it out.

Action Extension

Hold on. This is complicated but interesting. One creative way to ameliorate the senate inequality problem would be to only elect U.S. senators from your state who pledged to only vote the way a majority of the U.S. House members voted on any issue. (They could follow House Members’ advice on treaties, appointments, and other issues that the U.S. House does not vote on.) Contact your U.S. senators and ask them to pledge to follow the will of the majority of the House. Share their response in class or online.

Visual Extension

*As of March 31, 2016, Democrats make up 76 percent of the registered voters in the District of Columbia, while 6 percent are registered with the Republican Party.

*Many polls show that Puerto Ricans living in Central Florida registered as Democrats consider themselves conservatives. That is, they are a “floating vote,” aligning themselves with whomever seems best. This floating vote in 2004 carried George Bush to the presidency; Mel Martinez to the Senate; and Barack Obama to the presidency in 2008 and 2012. In 2016, it stayed at home, not voting for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who lost.