Senator vs. Congressman — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 22, 2023

A Senator is a member of the U.S. Senate, while a Congressman can refer to a member of either the U.S. House of Representatives or the Senate collectively.

Difference Between Senator and Congressman

Table of Contents

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Key Differences

In the United States, the term Senator specifically denotes an individual serving in the Senate, one of two chambers of Congress. The Senate consists of 100 members, two from each state, regardless of the state's population. On the other hand, a Congressman can refer to any member of Congress, whether they belong to the Senate or the House of Representatives.

Sep 22, 2023

While every state has an equal number of Senators (two), the number of Representatives, commonly referred to by some as Congressmen or Congresswomen, varies based on the state's population. Therefore, larger states have more Representatives compared to smaller ones.

Sep 22, 2023

A Senator serves a six-year term, with about one-third of the Senate being up for re-election every two years. In contrast, a Congressman from the House of Representatives, often just referred to as a Representative, serves a two-year term, and all are up for re-election at the same time.

Sep 22, 2023

It's noteworthy to mention that while the term Congressman can technically refer to both Senators and Representatives, it is commonly used to describe members of the House. When specificity is needed, the terms Senator and Representative are employed.

Sep 22, 2023

Comparison Chart

Chamber

Serves in the Senate.

Can serve in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.

Sep 22, 2023

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Number per state

Fixed at two per state.

Varies based on state's population (House of Representatives).

Sep 22, 2023

Term duration

Six-year term.

Two-year term (House of Representatives).

Sep 22, 2023

Re-election cycle

One-third up for re-election every two years.

Entire House up for re-election every two years.

Sep 22, 2023

Common usage

Specifically for members of the Senate.

Generally refers to members of the House, but can mean both.

Sep 22, 2023

Compare with Definitions

Senator

One of the two representatives from a U.S. state in the federal legislature's upper chamber.

The Senator voiced concerns about the budget proposal.

Sep 22, 2023

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Congressman

An individual participating in shaping federal laws and regulations.

The Congressman emphasized infrastructure investment.

Sep 22, 2023

Senator

A member of the U.S. Senate.

The Senator from New York proposed a new bill.

Sep 22, 2023

Congressman

An elected representative in the federal legislative body of the U.S.

The Congressman voted in favor of the education reform bill.

Sep 22, 2023

Senator

A representative serving in the Senate for a term of six years.

The Senator is in his second term.

Sep 22, 2023

Congressman

Can refer to members of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives collectively.

The Congressman from California is a key player in negotiations.

Sep 22, 2023

Senator

An individual elected to represent a state in the Senate.

The Senator met with her constituents during recess.

Sep 22, 2023

Congressman

A member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Congressman held a town hall in his district.

Sep 22, 2023

Senator

A member of a senate.

Aug 30, 2021

Congressman

A man who is a member of the US Congress, especially of the House of Representatives.

Aug 30, 2021

Senator

A member, normally elected, in the house or chamber of a legislature called a senate, as, for instance, the legislatures of the United States and Canada.

Aug 30, 2021

Congressman

A male member of congress.

Aug 30, 2021

Senator

(dated) A member of any legislative body or parliament, particularly the British Parliament.

Aug 30, 2021

Congressman

(US) A male member of the House of Representatives.

Aug 30, 2021

Senator

(historical) A member of the ancient Roman Senate.

Aug 30, 2021

Congressman

A member of the Congress of the United States, esp. of the House of Representatives.

Aug 30, 2021

Senator

(historical) A member of a governing council in other states in the ancient world.

Aug 30, 2021

Congressman

A member of the United States House of Representatives

Aug 30, 2021

Senator

A member of the ruler’s council or governing council in general, a leading statesman.

Aug 30, 2021

Congressman

A term often used interchangeably with Representative.

The Congressman has been serving for three terms.

Sep 22, 2023

Senator

(obsolete) An important church official.

Aug 30, 2021

Senator

A member of a senate.

The duke and senators of Venice greet you.

Aug 30, 2021

Senator

A member of the king's council; a king's councilor.

Aug 30, 2021

Senator

A member of a senate

Aug 30, 2021

Senator

An official participating in the legislative process at the federal level.

The Senator was part of a bipartisan committee.

Sep 22, 2023

Common Curiosities

How many Senators does each state have?

Every state has two Senators, regardless of its population.

Sep 22, 2023

Who has a longer term, a Senator or a Congressman from the House?

A Senator has a longer term, serving six years, compared to a House Congressman's two years.

Sep 22, 2023

How long is the term for a Congressman in the House?

A Congressman in the House of Representatives serves a two-year term.

Sep 22, 2023

Is every Senator also a Congressman?

Technically, yes. A Senator is a type of Congressman, but not all Congressmen are Senators.

Sep 22, 2023

Can the term Congressman refer to both genders?

Yes, Congressman can refer to any gender, but some prefer the gender-neutral "Congressperson" or the specific "Congresswoman" for females.

Sep 22, 2023

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Written by

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.