How many members are there in the U.S. Senate?

The U.S. Senate is composed of 100 members, with each of the 50 states represented by two senators. This structure was established to ensure equal representation for each state in the legislative process, regardless of population size. Unlike the House of Representatives, where the number of members is based on the population of each state, the Senate maintains a consistent total of two senators per state. This design reflects the Founding Fathers' intention to balance the influence of populous states with less populous ones, thereby fostering a federal system that honors both state sovereignty and national governance.