USCIS 128:32. Who elects U.S. senators?

OpenAI. (2026).   Who elects U.S. senators?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

U.S. senators are elected by the citizens of their state. This means that people who are registered to vote in a state choose their two senators during an election. Every state has two senators, and voters decide who will represent them in the U.S. Senate.

Before 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. However, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution changed this process. Now, citizens vote directly for their senators. This gives the people more power and allows them to choose leaders who represent their interests at the national level.

USCIS 128:31. Who does a U.S. senator represent?

OpenAI. (2026).   Who does a U.S. senator represent?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

A U.S. senator represents the people of their entire state. This means a senator speaks for everyone who lives in that state, not just one city or one area.

Each state has two senators, and they work in Washington, D.C. Senators help write laws, vote on important issues, and represent their state’s interests in the federal government.

Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff represent the state of California in the U.S. Senate.  Find your state's senators at senate.gov.

USCIS 128:30. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

OpenAI. (2026).  What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The Speaker of the House is an important government leader who helps manage the work of the House and leads the majority party.

Because the Speaker can change over time, the correct answer may be different depending on the year. To find the most current answer, you should visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates. This page provides the updated name of the Speaker of the House for the civics test.

As of February 17, 2026, Mike Johnson (R LA-4) is the Speaker of the House.

USCIS 128:29. Name your U.S. representative.

OpenAI. (2026).  Name your U.S. representative.  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

Your U.S. House of Representative is elected to speak for your community and help make federal laws.

The correct answer depends on where you live, so answers will vary. To find your representative, you can visit house.gov and enter your ZIP code. The website will show the name of your current U.S. representative.

USCIS 128: Why does each state have two senators?

OpenAI. (2026).  Why does each state have two senators?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

 Each state has two U.S. senators so that all states have equal representation in the Senate. This means small states and large states have the same number of senators. For example, a small state like Vermont has two senators, and a large state like California also has two senators. This system helps protect the voices of smaller states.

This idea comes from the Great Compromise, also called the Connecticut Compromise, made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The compromise created two parts of Congress: the Senate, where each state has equal representation, and the House of Representatives, where representation is based on population.

US Citizenship Resources for Presidents' Day post 

USCIS 128:27. How many senators does each state have?

OpenAI. (2026).  How many senators does each state have?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

Each state has two U.S. senators. It does not matter if the state is large or small. Every state gets the same number of senators.

This system helps make representation fair in the Senate. Since there are 50 states, there are 100 senators total in the United States Senate.

USCIS 128:26. Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?

OpenAI. (2026).  Why do U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

U.S. representatives serve shorter terms than U.S. senators because they are meant to stay closely connected to the people. A representative serves for two years, so voters can choose new representatives more often if they want change.

U.S. senators serve six-year terms, which are longer. The longer term helps senators focus on long-term national issues. The shorter term in the House makes the House of Representatives more responsive to the public and current events.

USCIS 128:25. How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?

OpenAI. (2026).  How long is a term for a member of the House of Representatives?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

A term for a member of the House of Representatives is two years. This means representatives serve for two years before they must run for re-election.

Because the term is short, members of the House are elected often. This helps the House stay closely connected to the people and allows voters to choose their representatives regularly.