The Constitution prescribes that the Senate be composed of two Senators from each State (therefore, the Senate currently has 100 Members) and that a Senator must be at least thirty years of age, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and, when elected, be a resident of the State from which he or she is chosen. A Senator's term of office is six years and approximately one-third of the total membership of the Senate is elected every two years.
Contacting Your Senator
Biographies and Congressional Profiles
Look up brief biographies of Senators from 1774 to the present in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. You can find out other facts about Senators past and present and get an overview of the members of Congress using these links.
Biographies of Selected Senators written by the Senate Historical Office
Read the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, 1774-2005 (online version)
Guide to House and Senate Members
Membership of the 115th Congress: A Profile (CRS) (pdf)
Membership of the 114th Congress (CRS) (pdf)
Membership of the 113th Congress (CRS) (pdf)
Internal Organization of the Senate
Constitutional Qualifications for U.S. Senators
Appointments, Elections, and Political Parties
Salary and Benefits
Terms and Salaries, June 26, 1787
Congressional Salaries and Allowances (CRS) (pdf)
Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress (CRS) (pdf)
Bibliography on Books by Sitting Senators
Former Senators
Association of Former Members of Congress Web Page
Living Former Senators, Alphabetically
Living Former Senators, by State
Related Items
Interested in related materials? Take a look at these Virtual Reference Desk subjects and other links for more information.
