What is important about the Senate(think about the Great Compromise)
the importance of the Senate is that have granted specific powers in the Constitution and in addition to the many powers granted jointly to both houses of congress.
You haven't explained the Great Compromise. Why was it so important? What were the two opposing arguments that the Compromise solved?
http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_greatcompromise.htm
The Senate is an important aspect of the United States government, particularly because of the Great Compromise. To understand why the Senate is significant, let's first explore the background of the Great Compromise.
During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the founding fathers were faced with a challenge: how to allocate representation in the legislative branch. The large states (like Virginia) wanted representation based on population, while the smaller states (like New Jersey) sought equal representation regardless of population size. This led to a deadlock, threatening the creation of a strong central government.
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was proposed by Roger Sherman and eventually resolved the disagreement. It consisted of two major compromises:
1. The House of Representatives: Representation in the lower house would be based on population. Larger states would have more representatives, addressing the concerns of the populous states.
2. The Senate: Each state would have equal representation with two senators, regardless of its size. This satisfied the smaller states' desire for equal representation and helped to prevent the large states from dominating the legislative process entirely.
Now, bringing it back to the original question, the importance of the Senate lies in the Great Compromise. The Senate ensures that smaller states have an equal voice in the legislative process. By granting each state two senators, it provides a balance of power between large and small states, maintaining a sense of fairness and preventing the potential tyranny of the majority.
This arrangement has significant implications for the functioning of the U.S. government. It encourages collaboration, compromise, and consensus-building between states of varying sizes. It also acts as a check on the House of Representatives, providing a different perspective and helping to prevent hasty or uninformed decision-making.
In summary, the Senate's importance, rooted in the Great Compromise, lies in its ability to ensure equal representation for all states, preventing the domination of larger states and promoting a fair and balanced legislative process.