Maine's congressional delegations
Since Maine became a U.S. State in 1820 it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives, beginning with the 17th United States Congress. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years in general elections, with their re-election staggered. Prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were elected by the Maine Legislature. Each state elects varying numbers of members of the House, depending on population, to two-year terms. Maine has sent two members to the House in each congressional delegation since the 1960 United States census.
The current dean, or longest-serving member, of the Maine delegation is Senator Susan Collins, having served in the Senate since 1997.