How many U.S. senators are there?

The United States Senate consists of 100 members, with each of the 50 states represented by two senators. This structure is established by the U.S. Constitution, specifically in Article I, which delineates the composition of Congress. The principle behind having two senators per state is to ensure equal representation for every state, regardless of its population size. This contrasts with the House of Representatives, where representation is based on population, leading to a varying number of representatives from each state.

Understanding this framework is crucial for grasping how the legislative branch functions and the balance between state sovereignty and population representation in the federal system.