Why Does Rhode Island Have Two Senators? (And Only One Representative)

The question contains a common confusion. Every U.S. state has two Senators—this is mandated by Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution (not the 17th Amendment, which provided for direct election of Senators).

Rhode Island, like all states, has two Senators. However, because it is the smallest state by population, it has only one Representative in the House. House seats are apportioned by population (reapportioned every 10 years via the Census), with each state guaranteed at least one.

So: 2 Senators (equal representation), 1 Representative (population-based).