State Senator facts for kids
A state senator is a person who helps make laws for a U.S. state. They are part of the state's legislature, which is like a mini-Congress for the state. Most U.S. states have two parts to their legislature: an upper house called the Senate and a lower house. State senators work in the Senate.
In Nebraska, the state legislature is a bit different. It has only one house, which is called the State Legislature. Members of this one house are also called state senators.
What Does a State Senator Do?
State senators represent the people living in their area, called a "district." Their main job is to create, discuss, and vote on new laws for their state. These laws can be about many things, like schools, roads, healthcare, or taxes.
- They listen to the concerns of people in their district.
- They propose new ideas for laws.
- They vote on laws that other senators or representatives suggest.
- They help decide how the state's money is spent.
How Many State Senators Are There?
Usually, there are fewer state senators than there are members in a state's lower house. For example, a state might have 50 senators but 100 members in its lower house.
In the past, senators often represented different areas, not necessarily based on how many people lived there. This was a way to balance power with the lower house, where the number of representatives was based on population.
How Are Senators Chosen?
For a long time, some states didn't base the number of senators on how many people lived in each area. But in 1963, the Supreme Court of the United States made an important decision. They ruled that all state legislatures, including both houses, must give seats based on the population of the state. This means that each senator now represents roughly the same number of people, making sure everyone has a fair say in their government.
