Why does the senate have elections every six years, not four?

Question

As I understand it, one-third of the Senate is elected every two years, and senators serve for six years each, while the entire house of representatives is elected every four years. Why the difference?

Answer 1

Senators serve for terms of six years each; the terms are staggered so that approximately one-third of the Senate seats are up for election every two years. The staggering of the terms is arranged such that both seats from a given state are never contested in the same general election. Senate elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, Election Day, and coincide with elections for the House of Representatives. Each senator is elected by his or her state as a whole. The Senate is regarded as a more deliberative body than the House of Representatives; the Senate is smaller and its members serve longer terms, allowing for a more collegial and less partisan atmosphere that is somewhat more insulated from public opinion than the House.

Answer 2

adding to gregs fine answer.
it is needed to have a very stable element of seasoned politicos to balance the more democratic rabble of the masses who come and go in the house. this prevents our democracy from becoming a madhouse of wavering and changing opinions and theories and actions. Direct democracy is too volitile to be stable. Stability is the prime directive of all governments to continue to exist. Change must be slow and well considered. Each branch of government is planned to have a certain power and contribution but also to check and balance the other branchs so not too much power resides in too few individuals.
The experience we had with a Monarchy proved to us that too few in charge can easily result in unfair treatment of the people.
Thus our government has been carefully crafted to be inefficient and cumbersome to retard its deliterious effects upon the governed.
A single dictator with absolule power is the most efficient form of government but has the most potential for abuse.
We knew we had to have SOME kind of central government for national defense and roads and money etc, but did not want to surrender too much of our own personal liberty to anyone or group that could legally abuse us with impunity.
So we dreamed up the presnt form of USA government and since its inception, greedy interests hungry for power have sought to defeat its purpose and protections and have nearly suceeded recently. "the price of liberty is eternal vigilence" was an expression intended to apply to within the government, not only to threat from without.
USA is too strong to conquer directly by force from without so its greatest enemies have learned to try to take over from within.
The bi-cameral congress and executive branchs limited by the supreme court is devised as a system that has built in defenses to usurpation.
If a party or person could gradually get control of all four branchs he could become emperor of America
First you have to get elected president and stay in power long enough to get both branches of congress to be subservient to your will. Demand and reward loyalty. Than all you need do is stack the supreme court with your co-conspirators and get laws passed to take over one step at a time and the court will not stop you. Then change the constitution one step at a time to take away freedoms, on any pretext, but national security works best, and you soon have absolute power over the greatest nation in the world and can really get fat. Then you can use it to slowly take over the other countries of the world. Eventually you can be emperor of the whole world. just like a big game of RISK.
It may take a generation or two to set it in motion and of course you will need a lot of money to start with. You need to pass laws to protect rich so they will support your government and your plans for power. The poor must be kept in the dark as they may revolt if they get wise. try to divide and conquer. pit them against each other on emotional issues while you weave your web until ti is too late for them to stop you.

That is why it is wise to suspect and watch the wealthy most. Never let them form a group that is too powerful. They may have to form corporations to pool capital or be billionaires to pull off such a feat. So watch out for big corporations and billionaires. They are the only ones capable of ever doing it . Follow the money.
Our founding fathers were pretty smart to see this, not because they are geniuses, but because they all studied history.
Heed their warnings. respect their system. vote for a president who is dedicated to preserving our constitution and who studied history. (and passed the course)
Vote for congress that is like you so they can represent you best. Insist on fair and impartial judges with no preset agendas.or special loyalties to any side or issue. ones who love the rule of law and respect the constitution. its up to you. do not let anyone else do your thinking for you.