Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, together forming the United States Congress. Article I of the Constitution outlines the structure and powers of Congress, including the procedures for passing a bill and the limits on the powers of Congress and the states. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and conduct investigations. It also establishes the separation of powers among the three branches of the federal government. The House of Representatives is responsible for making and passing federal laws, with representatives introducing bills, offering amendments, and serving on committees. The Senate, on the other hand, has the sole power to confirm Presidential appointments and ratify treaties, with some exceptions. The characteristics of the Senate, such as representation, the number of senators per state, and term lengths, were the subject of fierce debate during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Amendments to the Constitution, such as the Seventeenth Amendment, have also altered the electoral process for senators.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of senators per state | 2 |
| Term length | 2 years |
| Basis of representation | The House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis. |
| Qualifications for office | The Senate tries impeachment cases for federal officials referred to it by the House. |
| Powers | The Senate has the sole power to confirm the President's appointments and ratify treaties. |
| Compensation | Senators shall receive compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law and paid out of the US Treasury. |
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What You'll Learn
The House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws
The United States Congress, established by Article I of the Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Constitution grants Congress the power to enact federal legislation, declare war, confirm or reject presidential appointments, and exercise investigative powers.
The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. Additionally, there are six non-voting members representing the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. The House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate provides equal representation for each state.
The House of Representatives plays a crucial role in the legislative process. Any member of the House can propose a bill, which is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee that researches, discusses, and amends it. The House has several committees, each with specific responsibilities and composed of members from both political parties. After the committee stage, the bill is presented to the entire House for debate and voting.
For a bill to become a law, it must pass both the House and the Senate. If the bill passes the House, it moves to the Senate, where it undergoes a similar process of committee review, debate, and voting. If both chambers approve the bill, they work together to reconcile any differences between their respective versions. Finally, the bill is presented to the President for consideration. The President can approve the bill and sign it into law or veto it. However, Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.
The House of Representatives also has specific legislative powers. For example, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation. Additionally, the House must approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaties involving foreign trade.
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The Senate confirms the President's appointments
The United States Congress, established by Article I of the US Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to confirm or reject many presidential appointments. The Senate has the sole power to confirm the President's appointments requiring consent and to ratify treaties. The House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty involving foreign trade.
The legislative branch, which includes the House of Representatives and the Senate, has the power to enact legislation and declare war. The legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. For a bill to pass, it must be approved by both the House and the Senate by a majority vote. Once passed, the bill is sent to the President for consideration. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress may override the veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
The Senate's role in confirming presidential appointments is essential to the functioning of the US government. The Senate confirms appointments to various positions, including Cabinet secretaries, chief financial officers, general counsels, ambassadors, and military officers. The Senate also confirms promotions for commissioned military officers. In addition to confirming appointments, the Senate has the power to try impeachment cases for federal officials referred to it by the House.
The Senate's confirmation process ensures that the President's appointees are suitable for their respective roles. The Senate conducts thorough reviews of the nominees' qualifications, backgrounds, and potential conflicts of interest. The process involves hearings, investigations, and debates, allowing the Senate to gather information and make informed decisions. The confirmation process can vary in length, depending on the complexity of the appointment and the level of scrutiny required.
The specific procedures and requirements for Senate confirmation of presidential appointments are outlined in various laws and regulations. The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011, for example, addressed the confirmation process for certain positions. Additionally, the Political Appointee Tracker, launched in 2016, provides comprehensive data and analysis of the political appointments process, offering transparency and insight into the nomination and confirmation status of critical roles in the federal government.
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The House represents citizens based on district populations
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Established by Article I of the US Constitution, the Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.
The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are also 6 non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and four other territories of the United States. Each state is entitled to at least one representative in the House of Representatives, and the number of representatives in each state is proportional to its population. The number of citizens per congressional district has risen from an average of 33,000 in 1790 to over 700,000 as of 2018. This has resulted in a high population-to-representative ratio, which is the highest among industrialized democracies and in US history.
The House of Representatives is designed to represent the citizens of the United States based on district populations. The number of representatives in the House is determined by the population of each state, with each state guaranteed at least one representative. The size of the House, currently capped at 435 members, has remained unchanged since the early 20th century, while the country's population has continued to grow, leading to an increasing representation ratio.
The House of Representatives is subject to reapportionment, which is required by the US Constitution. Reapportionment involves adjusting the number of representatives in the House based on population changes to ensure that districts are fairly represented. However, there have been instances where Congress has failed to reapportion the House membership, such as in 1921, which may have been politically motivated.
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The Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The US Constitution establishes rules for both the House and the Senate, including outlining the structure and powers of Congress.
The US Constitution ensures that all states are represented equally in the Senate, regardless of their population, wealth, power, or size. Each state elects two senators, and each senator has one vote. This is known as equal representation or equal suffrage.
The idea of equal representation in the Senate was proposed at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The "Great Compromise" or the "Connecticut Compromise" resolved the controversial issue of congressional representation by establishing equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives. This compromise was reached after delegates from smaller states objected to the idea of proportional representation in both houses, which would give larger states more power.
The characteristics of the Senate, including the basis of representation, were the product of fierce debate and compromise. The Senate's role in the federal government is anchored in the nation's founding document, the US Constitution, which establishes it as a continuing body with longer term lengths than the House of Representatives.
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The Senate is a continuing body
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Legislative Branch, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, forms the United States Congress. The Legislative Branch is established by Article I of the Constitution.
The Senate is considered a "continuing body" or a "continuous body" because of the staggered election system. This means that senators serve for six-year terms, and elections are held every two years, but only one-third of the Senate seats are contested in any given election. This ensures that at least two-thirds of the Senate remains intact after each election cycle, providing consistency and stability within the legislative branch. This system also ensures continuity and stability, allowing experienced senators to provide institutional knowledge and expertise.
The characteristics of the Senate, such as the basis of representation, the number of senators per state, the qualifications for office, the terms of service, and the powers that the body exercises, were the product of fierce debate and compromise. The idea of the Senate as a continuing body was also influenced by the practices of state governments at the time. While the majority of states set one-year terms for both houses of their legislatures, five state constitutions established longer terms for upper house members.
The Senate's role as a continuing body is also reflected in its unique executive functions within the legislative body, such as confirming nominations and approving treaties. The Senate has retained all the powers originally assigned to it by the Constitution. This includes the sole power to confirm the President's appointments and ratify treaties, with some exceptions. The Senate also tries impeachment cases for federal officials referred to it by the House.
The Senate's continuing nature contributes to its sense of permanence and stability, distinguishing it from the House of Representatives, where all members face election every two years, and rules are re-adopted at the beginning of each Congress.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Congress is one of the three coequal branches of government and is ascribed significant powers by the Constitution. All legislative power in the government is vested in Congress, meaning that it is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing laws. Congress also has the power to enact legislation and declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and exercise investigative powers.
The House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws and represents citizens based on district populations. The Senate, on the other hand, has the sole power to confirm Presidential appointments and ratify treaties, though there are exceptions. Senators are elected to longer terms and the Senate does not adopt a new set of rules at the start of each Congress.
