Which is 'the most important' in the US - the Senate or the House?

Whilst the US Constitution makes no reference to which is more important than the other, the Senate can be seen as more important for a number of reasons. Senators are elected every six years, as opposed to the House being elected every two. As such, Senators have more time to focus on issues of national and international importance, and need not be as responsive to constituent’s views. They tend to be generalists, and often sit on three or more standing committees. This is compared to a Representative, who tend to be more election-focused. They therefore focus on issues which affect those in their district, and are very quick to respond. Representatives are specialists, and will only sit on one or two standing committees which concern them and their district. Additionally, Representatives often aspire to enter the Senate, where as movement in the other direction is almost unheard of. The 114th Congress was made up of 53 ex-Representatives, more than any Congress since at least 1899. Figures include Marco Rubio and Bernie Sanders. As such, this shows greater prestige in the sense that for a Representative, becoming a Senator is a natural progression – they are moving ‘up the hierarchy’. Also, the Senate is perceived as more collegiate and consensual, due to it’s small size of 100. There is no direct equivalent of the Speaker in the Senate, and is less committee and rules based. The principle of unlimited debate and the power of the filibuster shows Senators appear more respected by the Constitution. However, there are arguments that the House of Representatives is more important. The House must give its consent to every bill, and no bill can become law without this. This makes legislation an equal power of both houses. This is especially true of financial bills, which have to start in the House. The Speaker is also next in line for the Presidency, after the Vice President, which suggests that those in the House hold greater importance than those in the Senate as they each have the chance of becoming Speaker, and therefore perhaps President. Additionally, two year terms can show importance. They deal with issues that have a greater impact on local people. They are closer to those who vote for them, and will therefore be the first point of call for anyone seeking a legislators support, as Senators are seen as being too generalist and therefore out of touch. Finally, the House is the one which chooses to bring about an impeachment trial (even though the Senate is the one which tries it). Additionally, if there is no decision in the Electoral College, it is the House who decide the next President, showing their influence over the Senate. In conclusion, whist neither chamber is more important de jure, the Senate appears to be de facto, more important. If a Washington politician desires to move on to ‘higher places’, then the Senate will provide a better springboard. Senators were intended, by the Founding Fathers, to be older, more experienced and not directly elected by the people, showing that they were to be a check on the younger, less experienced House. The very notion of ‘Senator’ suggests to many that they are of greater importance than a ‘Representative’.