Why did the Framers of Constitution establish a bicameral Congress?

Answer 1

The decision to create a bicameral (two house) Congress was a compromise between the large states and the small states.

Under the old Articles of Confederation, each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of its population.

In 1787, a Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, for the purpose of considering revisions to the Articles of Confederation. One of the major topics of discussion was the way that the states would be represented in Congress. The larger states favored a system where each state would have voting power in accordance with its population. The smaller states favored the status quo, where each state had one vote, regardless of its population.

At first, it was impossible to break the impasse, and it looked like the Constitutional Convention would end in failure over this issue.

Finally, the "Great Compromise," as it is known, was proposed. Under the terms of the Great Compromise, Congress would consist of two Houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In the House of Representative, the states would be represented on the basis of population. Each representative serves a two-year term.

In the Senate, each State would have two Senators, regardless of its population. Each Senator serves a six-year term. The terms are staggered, so that 1/3 of the Senators are elected every two years, which prevents a complete turnover of membership in the Senate from occurring.

Both Houses of Congress would have to agree in order to pass legislation, thus balancing the interests of the small states and the large states.

This system is still in effect today.

Originally, however, the State Legislature in each state elected the Senators for that state. In 1913, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution was adopted, and Senators are now elected by the people in each state.

Answer 2

It was a compromise because the larger states wanted representation based on population size and the smaller states wanted an equal number of representations. Rather then having the whole Constitution convention collapsing they decided to compromise by having two house one based on size and the other with equal representation.

Answer 3

Bicameral means "two houses". They established it so they could check up on each other, this would eventually lead to the system of checks and balances incorporated in our government today.

Answer 4

States have different populations. New Youk and California have huge populations and Wyoming and Utah have smaller ones.

The senate represents each state equally based on statehood (2 senators per state) and the house represents each district based on population. district exists in two states so you end up having some states with more districts and thus more representatives in the house..

The idea is that between the two you won't have Utah with a vote impact higher than California because its counteracted in the senate and you won't have a vote impact higher in California than Utah because its counteracted by the house.

Low population = high impact in the senate
High population = high impact in the house

... when comparing one state to another.

Good thinking in my opinion - another way the constitution creates checks and balances.

Answer 5

James Madison suggested the bicarmeral Congress (lower house is elected by the people and the upper house elected by the lower). I think his concern was to maximize the power of the peoples vote. Most likely afraid of the government abusing power....

Answer 6

I recall the main reason was to solve the debate about how many representatives each state should have. Smaller states wanted each state to have the same number of reps, while larger states wanted the number of reps to be based on that states population. They compromised by dividing the powers of Congress between the House of Representatives (reps based on population) and the Senate (all states have same number of reps).

Answer 7

Because both states and people want representation. States have equal say in the Senate, while the representatives according to People's population have a strong say in House.

Answer 8

Probable envisioned an upper and lower house like they were used to in England. Figured out it would not work, so instituted it as a form a checks and balances. Still doesn't work too well does it. I believe it is redundant, but, I really doubt any of them would support an amendment to change it.

Answer 9

One of the basic problems was having states that were not similar in size (population) thereby making either apportionment of power solely on population or statehood "unfair". Using both methods is thought to be fairer.

Answer 10

One to represent the people. The other to represent the States. The Seventeenth Amendment screwed that up.