Omar Bennett
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, established by Article I of the Constitution. The Constitution grants Congress 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 is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population, with a minimum of one representative per state. The Constitution outlines the minimum and maximum sizes for the House of Representatives, the qualifications of its members, and the rules and powers of the House.
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What You'll Learn
- The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every two years by the people of the states
- The Senate is composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature for six years
- Representatives must be 25 years old, a US citizen for seven years, and an inhabitant of the state they represent
- Senators and Representatives are compensated for their services and are privileged from arrest
- Each House determines the rules of its proceedings and may expel members
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every two years by the people of the states
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every two years by the people of the states. This is outlined in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, which also provides for both the minimum and maximum sizes for the House of Representatives. The number of Representatives should not exceed one for every thirty thousand, and each state should have at least one Representative. Currently, there are 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. In addition, there are six non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other US territories.
The members of the House of Representatives are chosen by the people of the states, with each state's electors having the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. To be elected as a representative, a person must be at least 25 years old, a US citizen for at least seven years, and an inhabitant of the state they represent. The House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment and is responsible for initiating all bills for raising revenue. It also elects its Speaker and other officers.
The House of Representatives represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis. The Senate is composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the state legislature for six-year terms. The House of Representatives and the Senate each have specific roles and powers within the legislative process, with the Senate able to propose amendments to bills initiated in the House, and both houses needing to pass a bill before it goes to the President for consideration.
The times, places, and manner of holding elections for Representatives are prescribed in each state by the legislature, but Congress may at any time make or alter such regulations. Each House is the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members, and a majority constitutes a quorum to do business. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and expel a member with the concurrence of two-thirds.
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The Senate is composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature for six years
The United States Congress is made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. 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 six non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. The Senate, on the other hand, is composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the state legislature to serve six-year terms. Each senator has one vote.
The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation and declare war, as well as the right to confirm or reject presidential appointments. Congress also has investigative powers and is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing ones.
The House of Representatives and the Senate each have distinct rules and procedures. For example, the House has a structured debate process, while the Senate allows for unlimited debate. Senators may speak to issues other than the bill under consideration, and any amendment can be introduced. This can lead to the filibuster, where a senator delays a vote on a bill by refusing to yield the floor. A supermajority of 60 senators can, however, break a filibuster and force a vote.
The times, places, and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives are prescribed in each state by the legislature, but Congress can make or alter these regulations, except for the places of choosing senators.
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Representatives must be 25 years old, a US citizen for seven years, and an inhabitant of the state they represent
The US Constitution sets out the requirements for representation in Congress in Article I. This article establishes the legislative branch of the US government, which consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives is made up of members chosen every second year by the people of the states. The number of representatives in the House is proportional to each state's population, with each state having at least one representative. The Constitution outlines specific requirements that must be met for an individual to be eligible to serve as a representative. One of these requirements is that representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and be an inhabitant of the state they represent. This is stated in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, which sets the qualifications for representatives.
The role of representatives is to carry out the will of their constituents and participate in the legislative process. They are responsible for introducing and voting on bills, as well as serving on committees and holding hearings. Representatives also have the power to impeach officials, and each state's representatives choose their Speaker.
The Constitution grants Congress, which includes both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the authority to enact legislation and declare war. Congress also has the power to confirm or reject presidential appointments and possesses investigative powers. The legislative process involves both the House and the Senate, with bills requiring passage by both chambers before going to the President for consideration.
The specific requirements for representatives, including age, citizenship, and residency, ensure that those representing the people in Congress have a vested interest in their state and the nation as a whole. These qualifications have been in place since the creation of the Constitution and continue to shape the makeup of the House of Representatives today.
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Senators and Representatives are compensated for their services and are privileged from arrest
The Constitution sets up representation in Congress through the establishment of a Senate and a House of Representatives, with each state having two senators and a minimum of one representative. The number of representatives for each state is determined by the state's population, with a maximum of one representative for every thirty thousand people. Members of the House of Representatives are chosen every second year by the people of their respective states, while senators are chosen by the state legislature for six-year terms.
Now, focusing on the topic of compensation and privileges for Senators and Representatives:
Senators and Representatives are compensated for their services, with their salaries being determined and paid out by the United States Treasury. This compensation is set by law and ensures that members of Congress are remunerated for their work.
In addition to compensation, Senators and Representatives also enjoy certain privileges, including immunity from arrest in most cases. Specifically, they are privileged from arrest during their attendance at the sessions of their respective houses and when travelling to and from those sessions. This privilege, however, does not apply in cases of treason, felony, or breach of the peace. The rationale behind this immunity is to ensure that members of legislative bodies can focus on their "'superior duties'" to the legislative process and their constituents without fear of arbitrary arrest.
The interpretation of "treason, felony, and breach of the peace" has been broadened by the Supreme Court to encompass all criminal offenses, thus limiting the scope of immunity for Senators and Representatives. Furthermore, it is important to note that this privilege from arrest applies only to arrests in civil suits, which were more common when the Constitution was adopted.
The privileges and immunities afforded to Senators and Representatives are designed to strike a balance between their legislative duties and ensuring accountability under the law. While they are compensated for their services, they are also held to high standards of conduct and can be expelled from Congress for disorderly behaviour or other violations.
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Each House determines the rules of its proceedings and may expel members
The United States Constitution sets up representation in Congress by establishing a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states, with each state having at least one representative. The number of representatives is based on the state's population, with a maximum of one representative for every thirty thousand people.
Now, focusing on the topic you provided:
Article I, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution grants each House of Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives—the authority to determine the rules of its proceedings. This provision allows each House to establish its own procedures and guidelines for conducting legislative business. It empowers them to create rules that shape the legislative process, such as determining which amendments can be offered to bills. This rule-making power significantly influences the legislative process and outcomes.
Additionally, each House has the authority to maintain order and discipline among its members. They can punish members for disorderly behaviour and, with a two-thirds majority, expel a member. This power to expel members ensures that Houses can hold their representatives accountable and maintain the integrity of the legislative body.
The Supreme Court has upheld the right of each House to expel members, as seen in the case of Powell v. McCormack (1969), where the House expelled Adam Clayton Powell for misconduct. Another example is the expulsion of James Traficant from the House in 2002 following his conviction for bribery.
Furthermore, each House is required to keep a Journal of its proceedings, promoting transparency and accountability. This Journal is to be published, ensuring that the public and constituents can access information about the legislative process. However, certain parts may be withheld if deemed necessary to maintain secrecy for sensitive matters.
In summary, the authority granted to each House of Congress to determine its rules of proceedings and expel members empowers them to conduct their business efficiently, maintain order, and hold their members accountable. This constitutional provision ensures that each House can establish procedures, enforce discipline, and uphold the integrity of the legislative process.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, and be an inhabitant of the state they are chosen to represent.
Senators are chosen by the legislature of each state and serve for six-year terms. Every two years, 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election. Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and be a resident of the state they represent.
The Constitution states that Congress shall assemble at least once a year, with meetings taking place on the first Monday in December unless a different day is appointed by law.
