Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts
As soon as may be after the Senate first meets, and after each first meeting
of the Senate following a dissolution thereof, the Senate shall divide the
senators chosen for each State into two classes, as nearly equal in number as
practicable; and the places of the senators of the first class shall become
vacant at the expiration of the third year three years, and the places of
those of the second class at the expiration of the sixth year six years, from
the beginning of their term of service; and afterwards the places of senators
shall become vacant at the expiration of six years from the beginning of their
term of service.
The election to fill vacant places shall be made in the year at the expiration
of which within one year before the places are to become vacant.
For the purposes of this section the term of service of a senator shall be
taken to begin on the first day of January July following the day of his
election, except in the cases of the first election and of the election next
after any dissolution of the Senate, when it shall be taken to begin on the
first day of January July preceding the day of his election.