Eleanor Finch
The House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the lower house, is one of the two houses of the bicameral United States Congress, established in 1789 by the Constitution of the United States. The House was conceived to represent the popular will, with its members directly elected by the people. The Constitution outlines the rules and eligibility requirements for the House, including the minimum age of 25 years, U.S. citizenship for at least seven years, and residency in the state represented. The House's powers include initiating impeachment proceedings and originating revenue bills, and its structure and character have evolved under the influence of political parties. The Constitution also provides for the minimum and maximum sizes of the House, with each state guaranteed at least one representative based on population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Established by | Article One of the United States Constitution |
| Composition | 435 voting representatives since 1913 |
| Elections | Biennial |
| Term | 2 years |
| Eligibility | Minimum age of 25 years, US citizenship for at least 7 years, residency of the state represented |
| Powers | Initiating impeachment proceedings, originating revenue bills |
| Leadership | Speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, party caucus or conference |
| Committees | 20 standing committees, select and special committees |
| Rules | Address a two-party system, with a majority and minority party |
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What You'll Learn
- The House of Representatives was established by the US Constitution in 1789
- The House represents citizens based on district populations
- The House has exclusive powers, including initiating impeachment proceedings
- The House's structure was a contentious issue among the founders during the convention
- The House leadership includes the speaker, majority and minority leaders, whips, and a party caucus
The House of Representatives was established by the US Constitution in 1789
The House of Representatives, one of the two houses of the bicameral United States Congress, was established in 1789 by the US Constitution. The Constitution was ratified in 1788 and implemented on March 4, 1789. Less than a month later, on April 1, 1789, the US House convened for the first time in New York City, the nation's capital at the time.
The House of Representatives originally comprised 59 members. The number rose following the ratification of the Constitution by North Carolina and Rhode Island in 1790; the first Congress (1789–91) adjourned with 65 representatives. The Constitution vests certain exclusive powers in the House of Representatives, including the right to initiate impeachment proceedings and originate revenue bills.
The framers of the Constitution agreed to create the House with representation based on population, and the Senate with equal representation for each state. This agreement was part of what is referred to as The Great Compromise. The House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis. Each state is guaranteed at least one member of the House of Representatives, and the allocation of seats is based on the population within the states.
The House of Representatives shares equal responsibility for lawmaking with the US Senate. Almost all bills are first referred to a committee, and the full House cannot act on a bill until the committee has reported it for floor action. There are approximately 20 standing (permanent) committees, organized mainly around major policy areas, each with its own staff, budget, and subcommittees.
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The House represents citizens based on district populations
The House of Representatives, one of the two houses of the bicameral United States Congress, was established in 1789 by the Constitution of the United States. The House represents citizens based on district populations, with each state having at least one representative. The number of representatives per state is determined by the population within the state, as ascertained by the census conducted once a decade.
The Constitution provides for both the minimum and maximum sizes for the House of Representatives. Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution states: "The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative." The allocation of seats is based on the population within the states, and membership is reapportioned every 10 years following the decennial census.
The House was designed to represent the popular will, with its members directly elected by the people. The rules of the House address a two-party system, with a majority party in government and a minority party in opposition. The House leadership includes the speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference.
The creation of the House with representation based on population was a contentious issue during the Constitutional Convention. The Virginia Plan, supported by large states, called for bicameral legislation with proportional representation in the House, while smaller states favoured the New Jersey Plan, which proposed a unicameral Congress with equal representation for each state. The framers of the Constitution ultimately agreed to a compromise, with the House representing citizens based on population and the Senate providing equal representation for each state.
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The House has exclusive powers, including initiating impeachment proceedings
The United States Constitution, which was ratified in 1788 and implemented in 1789, established the House of Representatives, one of the two houses of the bicameral United States Congress. The House was conceived to represent the popular will, with its members directly elected by the people. The Constitution provides for both the minimum and maximum sizes for the House of Representatives, with each state guaranteed at least one representative.
The impeachment process typically begins when a lawmaker introduces an impeachment resolution or when the House passes a resolution authorizing an inquiry. The Committee on the Judiciary usually has jurisdiction over impeachments, but special committees have also been formed to investigate charges. If the committee chooses to pursue articles of impeachment, they are reported to the full House, and a simple majority vote is required for approval.
Once the articles of impeachment are approved by the House, they are sent to the Senate, which acts as a High Court of Impeachment. The Senate considers the evidence, hears witnesses, and votes to acquit or convict the impeached official. A two-thirds majority is required for conviction.
The House's power to initiate impeachment proceedings is a crucial aspect of its oversight and investigatory responsibilities, ensuring accountability for federal officials and preserving the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of the US government.
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The House's structure was a contentious issue among the founders during the convention
The structure of Congress was a highly contentious issue among the Founding Fathers during the Constitutional Convention. The convention was convened in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, to "amend the Articles of Confederation". The Articles of Confederation had established a unicameral body with equal representation for each state, allowing any state to veto most actions. However, the Founding Fathers sought to create a new system of representation.
Edmund Randolph's Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal state representation in the Senate. This plan was supported by delegates from large states, such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as it favoured states with larger populations. On the other hand, smaller states favoured the New Jersey Plan, which proposed a unicameral Congress with equal representation for all states.
After extensive debate, the framers of the Constitution agreed to a compromise known as the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise. This compromise established the House of Representatives, with representation based on state population, and the Senate, with equal representation for each state. The House was established as the lower house, while the Senate was the upper house, and both houses' approval was necessary for passing legislation.
The Constitution, ratified in 1788 and implemented on March 4, 1789, outlined the structure and rules of the House of Representatives. The House was designed to represent the popular will, with members directly elected by the people. Each state was guaranteed at least one representative, and the allocation of seats was based on population, with reapportionment occurring every 10 years following a census. The minimum age to be elected to the House was set at 25 years, and members had to be U.S. citizens for at least seven years and residents of the state they represented.
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The House leadership includes the speaker, majority and minority leaders, whips, and a party caucus
The House of Representatives, one of the two houses of the bicameral United States Congress, was established in 1789 by the US Constitution. The House leadership includes the speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference.
The speaker of the House is elected by the members thereof and acts as the leader of the House. The speaker combines several institutional and administrative roles, including the role of leader of the majority party in the House and the representative role of an elected member of the House. The speaker is second in line to succeed the President, after the Vice President. The majority leader is the second-highest-ranking member of their party's House caucus, behind the speaker of the House. They are responsible for setting the annual legislative agenda, scheduling legislation, and coordinating committee activities. The majority whip is an elected member of the majority party who assists the speaker of the House and the majority leader in coordinating ideas and garnering support for proposed legislation. They are considered the third-ranking member of their party.
The minority leader serves as the floor leader of the opposition party and is the counterpart to the speaker. They also speak for the minority party in the House and work to protect its rights. The minority whip is a member of the minority party who assists the minority leader in managing the party's legislative program on the House floor. They are considered the second-ranking member of their party's leadership.
A party caucus or conference is the name given to a meeting of all party members in the House, during which they discuss matters of concern. The majority and minority party members meet in separate caucuses to select their leaders.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the House of Representatives is mentioned in Article 1, Section 2 of the US Constitution.
The Constitution states that the House of Representatives represents citizens based on district populations, with each state having at least one representative. The Constitution also sets out the minimum requirements for representatives, who must be at least 25 years old, US citizens for at least seven years, and inhabitants of the state they represent.
The House of Representatives shares equal responsibility for lawmaking with the US Senate. The House also has certain exclusive powers, such as the right to initiate impeachment proceedings and to originate revenue bills.
The number of members in the House of Representatives is based on the population of each state and is reapportioned every 10 years following the decennial census. The House originally had 59 members, but this number has increased over time. As of 1912, there were 435 members.
Members of the House of Representatives are elected for two-year terms, with elections typically held every two years.
