Isabella Carter
The United States Congress is divided into two institutions: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This division is stipulated by the US Constitution, which divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The House of Representatives and the Senate share legislative responsibilities, but each house also has distinct constitutional duties and powers. The House of Representatives is comprised of members that are divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population, while the Senate ensures that each state has an equal voice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of branches of the U.S. government | 3 (legislative, executive, and judicial) |
| Branch that Congress is a part of | Legislative |
| Number of institutions that Congress is divided into | 2 (House of Representatives and Senate) |
| Number of members of the House of Representatives | 435 elected members and 6 non-voting members |
| Frequency of House of Representatives elections | Every 2 years |
| Frequency of Senate elections | Every 6 years |
| Power in case of a tie in the Senate | Vice President |
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What You'll Learn
Separation of Powers
The United States Constitution divides the federal government into three coequal branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This model, known as the separation of powers, ensures that no individual or group has too much power.
The legislative branch, also known as Congress, is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The two houses of Congress have equal but unique roles in the federal government. They share legislative responsibilities, but each house also has special constitutional duties and 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 Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and four other U.S. territories. Members of the House are elected every two years and must be at least 25 years old. The Senate, on the other hand, is considered a "continuing body" because two-thirds of its members carry over from one Congress to the next, serving six-year terms. Each state has an equal voice in the Senate, regardless of its population.
The executive branch is headed by the President, who is the head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President has the power to veto legislation created by Congress, but Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses. The Vice President supports the President and becomes the President if the President is unable to serve. The Vice President also serves as the President of the Senate and breaks ties in Senate votes.
The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court, which has the power to overturn unconstitutional laws. The Justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The separation of powers between these three branches provides a system of checks and balances, ensuring that the powers of one branch do not conflict with the powers of another. For example, Congress has the power to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments and can even remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances. Additionally, the legislative, executive, and judicial branches all have a role in the law-making process, with Congress having the sole authority to enact legislation, the President having the power to veto bills, and the Supreme Court having the power to overturn laws that are deemed unconstitutional.
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Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch is one of the three branches of the US government, as outlined by the Constitution. The other two are the Executive and Judicial branches. The Legislative Branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress.
Congress is responsible for enacting legislation and declaring war, and it has the power to confirm or reject Presidential appointments. It is the only branch of government that can make new laws or change existing ones, and it also has the power to override a Presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses. Congress is also responsible for establishing an annual budget for the government.
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 Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. Members of the House are elected every two years and must be at least 25 years old. The presiding officer of the House is the Speaker, who is elected by the Representatives and is third in the line of Presidential succession.
The Senate, on the other hand, is a "continuing body", with only one-third of its members facing election every two years. Senators are elected to a full six-year term. The Senate is presided over by the Vice President, who has no vote unless the Senate is equally divided.
The two houses of Congress have equal but unique roles in the federal government. While they share legislative responsibilities, each house also has special constitutional duties and powers. The division of power between the two houses ensures that the interests of both small and large states are balanced.
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House of Representatives
The House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the House, is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. The House of Representatives has 435 members, with each state represented proportionally according to their total population. The number of representatives from each state is adjusted every ten years based on the latest census data, with each representative limited to representing no more than one for every 30,000 people. As of 2022, 412 representatives were elected through first-past-the-post or plurality voting, 3 through ranked-choice or instant-runoff voting, and 20 through a two-round system.
The Constitution sets out three qualifications for representatives. Firstly, they must be at least 25 years old. Secondly, they must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years. Finally, they must be an inhabitant of the state that they represent. Representatives are elected every two years and there are no term limits.
The House of Representatives has several important leadership positions. The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer elected by the members of the House. They administer the Oath of Office to House members, chair and nominate chairs of committees, and appoint members to various committees and House staff. The majority and minority leaders are also important positions, with the party that holds the most seats electing the majority leader and the other party electing the minority leader.
The House of Representatives has certain powers that are exclusive to it, as outlined in Article I and Article II of the U.S. Constitution. One notable power is the sole power of impeachment. The House also has the power to elect the President of the United States in the case that no candidate receives an absolute majority in the Electoral College. This power has been exercised twice in history, in 1800 and 1824.
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Senate
The United States Congress is divided into two institutions: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This division is outlined in Article I of the US Constitution, which also enumerates the powers of Congress and the specific areas in which it may legislate.
The Senate is often referred to as a "continuing body". This is due to the rotation of senators, with two-thirds of its members carrying over from Congress to Congress. Senators are elected for a full six-year term, unlike members of the House, who face election every two years.
The Senate has 100 members, two from each state, ensuring that each state has an equal voice. The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice President of the United States, who also breaks ties in Senate votes. When the Vice President is absent, the Senate elects a President pro tempore to preside.
The Senate has several important powers. It can confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, including federal judges and Supreme Court Justices. The Senate also has investigative powers and can remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances. Additionally, the Senate can override a Presidential veto with a two-thirds vote.
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Powers of Congress
The United States Congress is divided into two institutions: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This division is stipulated by the US Constitution, which divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The House of Representatives and the Senate share legislative responsibilities, but each house also has distinct constitutional duties and 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 Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. Members of the House are elected every two years and must be at least 25 years old. The Senate, on the other hand, is a "continuing body", with only one-third of its members facing election every two years. Senators serve six-year terms.
As one of the three coequal branches of government, Congress is vested with significant powers by the Constitution. All legislative power is held by Congress, meaning that only Congress can make new laws or change existing ones. While Executive Branch agencies can issue regulations with the force of law, they can only do so under the authority of laws enacted by Congress.
The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war. Congress also has the power to confirm or reject many presidential appointments, including federal judges and Supreme Court justices. Additionally, Congress has the power to remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances.
The degree to which the president has control of Congress determines their political strength. For example, a president with a supportive Congress will more easily be able to pass sponsored legislation, ratify treaties, and have Cabinet members and judges approved.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Congress is divided into two institutions: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Every state has an equal voice in the Senate, while representation in the House of Representatives is based on the size of each state's population. The Senate is considered a "continuing body", with senators serving six-year terms, while the entire membership of the House of Representatives faces election every two years.
Congress is one of the three coequal branches of the US government, alongside the executive and judicial branches. It holds significant powers as outlined in Article I of the Constitution, including the sole authority to enact legislation, declare war, and confirm or reject many presidential appointments.
