Malcolm Rivera
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the legislative branch of the federal government. Congress is one of three coequal branches of government, alongside the executive and judicial branches, and is granted significant powers by the Constitution. These include the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers. The House of Representatives and the Senate each have their own rules and traditions, and are kept organized by their respective officers, such as the Speaker of the House, and committee chairs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of voting representatives | Fixed by law at no more than 435 |
| Term of Congress | Two years |
| Powers | Make laws, confirm or reject presidential appointments, investigative powers, declare war, raise taxes, impeach officials, override presidential vetoes, establish an annual budget |
| Leadership | Elected by two-party conferences in each chamber; the House Democratic Conference and the House Republican Conference |
| Committee meetings | Representatives vote on bills, speak with constituents and other groups, review constituent mail, press clips and various reports |
| Caucus meetings | Majority and minority party members meet separately to select their leaders |
Explore related products
$29 $54.99
What You'll Learn
The House of Representatives and the Senate
The United States Congress is made up of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each chamber has its own unique organizational structure and rules, which are maintained by constitutional and party officers. In the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House is the most powerful official and is typically a member of the majority party. The Speaker is responsible for controlling the flow of legislation, appointing members to committees, and acting as the chief representative of the House. The Speaker is also second in line to succeed the President, after the Vice President. Assisting the Speaker are the majority and minority leaders, who are elected by their respective party caucuses. These leaders manage and organize their party's agenda and strategy in the House, and they play a key role in negotiating and shaping legislation. Each party also has a whip, who is in charge of ensuring party discipline and predicting the outcome of votes.
The House also has a number of constitutional officers, including the Clerk, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Chaplain. The Clerk of the House is responsible for maintaining official records, overseeing elections, and advising the Speaker and other members on procedural matters. The Sergeant-at-Arms is in charge of maintaining order and security in the House chamber and its surrounding areas. The Chaplain opens each session of Congress with a prayer and provides spiritual guidance to members of Congress. Additionally, each political party in the House has a committee that handles organizational and strategic matters, known as the House Committee on Rules for the majority party and the House Committee on Policy for the minority party.
In the Senate, the organizational structure is similar but has some key differences. The Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate and is responsible for presiding over debates and casting tie-breaking votes. However, day-to-day operations are managed by the President pro tempore, who is typically the most senior member of the majority party. Similar to the House, the Senate also has majority and minority leaders and whips, who play similar roles in shaping their party's agenda and strategy.
The Senate also has its own set of constitutional officers, including the Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Chaplain. The Secretary of the Senate is responsible for maintaining records and overseeing the legislative process, similar to the Clerk in the House. The Sergeant-at-Arms maintains order and security in the Senate chamber and surrounding areas. Additionally, each state has two senators, which allows for a more deliberate and consensus-building approach to lawmaking, and senators serve longer terms than representatives, which can lead to a greater focus on long-term policy goals. Overall, the organizational structure of the House of Representatives and the Senate, facilitated by constitutional and party officers, ensures that Congress functions efficiently and effectively, allowing for the representation of the people and the states in the lawmaking process.
Germany's Constitution During World War II
You may want to see also
The Rules Committee
- Open rule: Allows any member to offer any amendment in compliance with house rules under the five-minute rule.
- Modified open rule: Similar to an open rule, but may require amendments to be preprinted in the congressional record and may impose a total time limit for the consideration of all amendments or for debate on each amendment.
- Structured rule: Members submit amendments to the Rules Committee, and the committee selects which amendments may be considered on the floor.
Founding Fathers' Intentions: Constitution's Interpretive Nature
You may want to see also
Party caucuses
A caucus is a group or meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement. The term was first used in the United States, where it refers to a meeting of members of a political party to nominate candidates, plan policy, etc. The term has spread to other countries, including Commonwealth nations like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, where it generally refers to a regular meeting of all Members of Parliament (MPs) who belong to a parliamentary party.
In the US context, a party caucus can be powerful, as it can elect or dismiss the party's parliamentary leader. The caucus system gives members of the upper house a say in the election of the party leader, who may become head of government. The caucus also determines some matters of policy, parliamentary tactics, and disciplinary measures against disobedient MPs. In some parties, the caucus also has the power to elect MPs to the Cabinet when the party is in government.
In the US Congress, caucuses meet regularly in closed sessions for both the House of Representatives and the Senate to set legislative agendas, select committee members and chairs, and hold elections to choose various floor leaders. They also oversee the four Hill committees, which are political party committees that work to elect members of their own party to Congress. Ideological congressional caucuses can represent a political party within a political party. In the US's two-party-dominant political system, these caucuses help congregate and advance the ideals of a more focused ideology within the two major political parties. Some caucuses are organized political factions with a common ideological orientation. Most ideological caucuses are confined to the House of Representatives.
Examples of caucuses include the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which represents members who are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders but are open to other members as well; the Congressional Black Caucus, a group of African-American members of Congress; the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, whose members voice and advance issues affecting Hispanics in the United States; the LGBT Equality Caucus, which admits any member who is willing to advance LGBTQ rights; the Congressional Bike Caucus, which works to promote cycling; and the Senate Taiwan Caucus, which promotes strong relationships with Taiwan.
Benjamin Rush's Medical Freedom Vision for the Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Impeachment
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is responsible for making and passing federal laws. It is one of Congress's two chambers and is part of the federal government's legislative branch. The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach federal officials.
The impeachment process is typically a three-step procedure. The first phase is an impeachment inquiry, which is not a required stage. The two stages constitutionally required for removal are impeachment by the House of Representatives and trial by the United States Senate. The House investigates through an impeachment inquiry and must pass, by a simple majority of those present and voting, articles of impeachment, which constitute the formal allegation(s). Upon passage, the defendant has been "impeached".
The Senate then tries the accused. In the case of the impeachment of a president, the chief justice of the United States presides over the proceedings. The Senate sits as a High Court of Impeachment to consider evidence, hear witnesses, and vote to acquit or convict the impeached official. A two-thirds majority is required to convict, and the penalty for an impeached official upon conviction is removal from office. The Senate can also vote with a simple majority to bar an individual from holding federal office in the future.
Since 1789, about half of Senate impeachment trials have resulted in conviction and removal from office. Fifteen federal judges have been convicted and removed from office by the Senate. Three presidents, two cabinet secretaries, and a US senator have also been impeached.
The Supremacy Clause: Understanding the US Constitution's Power Dynamic
You may want to see also
The Speaker of the House
While every Speaker of the House has been a sitting House member, Article I, Section II, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly state House membership as a requirement. The Speaker represents their district and retains the right to vote. The Speaker is chosen by a roll call vote, and each party caucus or conference selects a candidate for the speakership from among its senior leaders prior to the roll call. To be elected, a candidate must receive a majority of votes from the members present and voting. If no candidate wins a majority, the roll call is repeated until a speaker is elected.
Enumerated and Implied Powers: Commerce Regulation Explained
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The House of Representatives is one of Congress's two chambers, the other being the Senate, and part of the federal government's legislative branch. The House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws. The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.
The Senate is the other chamber of Congress, and it works with the House of Representatives to make up the United States Congress. The Senate ratifies treaties and approves presidential appointments, while the House initiates revenue-raising bills. The Senate also votes on the conviction and removal of office for impeachment cases.
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer, the administrative head of the House, the partisan leader of the majority party in the House, and an elected representative of a single congressional district. The Speaker of the House is third in line to the Presidency.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an investigative organization that audits and generates reports on every aspect of the government. The GAO ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and efficiently.
