Question

Explain why the Framers of the Constitution wanted the terms of senators to overlap.

a. To ensure that senators would serve shorter terms.
b. To prevent any one state from having too much power at once.
c. To make it easier for senators to be reelected.
d. To allow senators to serve in multiple states simultaneously.

Answer 1

The Framers of the Constitution wanted the terms of senators to overlap to ensure continuity and stability within the Senate, preventing abrupt policy shifts and maintaining institutional knowledge.

Step-by-step explanation:

The framers of the Constitution designed the Senate to be a continuous body, with only one-third of its members facing reelection every two years.

The primary reason for the terms of senators to overlap, as indicated in Section 3 Clause 2, is to ensure continuity and stability within the Senate.

This staggered term system helps maintain institutional knowledge and prevents a complete turnover at any given election, which could lead to abrupt policy shifts and reduced quality of governance.