5 ms·
> With an exception of the US Senate, which is a nod to the nominal sovereignty of US states, american representatives at all levels represent people, not terri
by LeifCarrotson 8y ago
> With an exception of the US Senate, which is a nod to the nominal sovereignty of US states, american representatives at all levels represent people, not territory.
The Senate could be seen as a nod to geographic minorities, allowing the few people in, say, Wyoming to have an equal footing with more populous states like New York. Most states have a Senate, it's not just a national thing - unless you think the state Senate is a nod to nominal sovereignty of the counties?
- eropple 8y agoMost state senates, as far as I am aware--and while I used to do work in this space I am no expert--are elected by roughly equivalently-populated districts. They're an "upper house" that might be elected on a longer cycle but they're still fairly similar in partitioning (just usually fewer of its members). Which is fine to me, tbh. Land doesn't need to vote.
- Spooky23 8y agoThere is certainly a valid view to see it as a way to represent those interests. To my knowledge, counties and cities are almost always political subdivisions of the State, so that "nod" to geography isn't justified by that nominal sovereignty. Usually a state senate is an upper house that has a smaller number of members, and usually has unique "advise and consent" powers over judicial and executive appointments.