Elections & terms
Senate classes
The Senate's three staggered cohorts. One class (about a third of seats) is up every two years, so the Senate never turns over all at once.
In full
Article I divides senators into three classes with staggered six-year terms, a deliberate design so the chamber changes gradually. Class 1 faced voters in 2024, Class 2 does in 2026, Class 3 in 2028. A state's two senators are always in different classes, which is why both seats are rarely on the same ballot.
Also written as: class 1, class 2, class 3
Where to go next
Keep going
Browse every term in the glossary, or see the vocabulary in motion in the How government works walkthroughs.
A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.