Exploring The House: Powers And The Constitution

The United States House of Representatives is one of two chambers of the United States Congress, and part of the federal government's legislative branch. The House of Representatives has several powers as outlined in the Constitution, including the power to originate revenue bills, the power to elect a President if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, and the sole power to impeach federal officials. The House also has the power to make and pass federal laws, with each state having at least one representative in the House based on its population. The House leadership includes the speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference.

Explore related products

Legislating in the Dark: Information and Power in the House of Representatives (Chicago Studies in American Politics)

$22.99 $32

Kings of the Hill: Power and Personality in the House of Representatives

$17.85

Hearing before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, second session, May 25, 1994. Serial No. 103-129

$12.95

Debates in the House of Representatives of the United States during the First Session of the Fourth Congress, Upon the Constitutional Powers of the House, with Respect to 1796 [Leather Bound]

$28.4

Acreage limitation provisions of reclamation law oversight hearings before the Subcommittee on Water and Power Resources of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs House of Repre [Leather Bound]

$17.99

House Of Representatives Telephone Directory: Summer 2010

$55

The House of Representatives can make and pass federal laws

The House of Representatives is one of two chambers of Congress, the other being the Senate, and is part of the federal government's legislative branch. The Constitution outlines that the House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws.

The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, with each state having at least one representative. 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. Each representative is elected to a two-year term, serving the people of a specific congressional district.

The House of Representatives has the power to initiate tax and revenue-related legislation, introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments, and serve on committees. The Origination Clause in the Constitution states that "All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives." This means that the Senate cannot propose bills imposing taxes. However, the Senate can amend or reject these bills.

Additionally, the House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment and can impeach federal officials for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." The Senate is then responsible for trying such impeachments.

The legislative process in Congress involves several steps, including the introduction of a bill, committee consideration, floor consideration, and, if passed, presentation to the President for approval or veto. A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. It can be introduced by a sitting member of the House of Representatives or proposed during their election campaign. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to it. The bill then moves to the House floor for debate and voting. If the bill passes in the House, it goes to the Senate, where it undergoes a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. If both chambers pass the same version of the bill, they present it to the President. The President can approve the bill and sign it into law or veto it. If vetoed, Congress can vote to override the veto, and the bill becomes a law.

Representatives are chosen every two years by the people of each state

The United States Constitution outlines the design of the legislative branch of the US Government, which includes the election of Senators and Representatives. The legislative powers are vested in a Congress of the United States, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every two years by the people of each state. This is outlined in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, which states that seats in the House are apportioned among the states by population, with each state entitled to at least one representative. 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 House of Representatives has several powers and duties, including the power to make and pass federal laws, introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments, and serve on committees. The House also has the sole power of impeachment and the power to judge elections, including investigating expenditures made to influence nominations. Additionally, the House chooses its Speaker and other officers and plays a role in the approval process for bills to become laws, alongside the Senate.

The House leadership includes the Speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference. The House also forms committees, including the Committee on Ethics, which oversees the rules and statutes governing the conduct of members, and special committees for specific purposes, such as investigations. The Rules Committee, for example, controls which bills go to the House Floor and the terms of debate.

The House has the sole power of impeachment

The United States Constitution grants the House of Representatives the sole power to impeach federal officials. This power is derived from Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 of the Constitution, which outlines the House's authority to initiate impeachment proceedings.

The House has the responsibility to bring impeachment charges against federal officials as part of its oversight and investigatory duties. The 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. A simple majority vote is required for the House to adopt the articles and appoint members to manage the ensuing Senate trial. These managers act as prosecutors and have historically been members of the Judiciary Committee. The House has initiated impeachment proceedings more than 60 times, and approximately one-third of these proceedings have resulted in full impeachments.

The Constitution empowers the House to impeach federal officials for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Impeachment is a process that can lead to the removal of an official from office and, with a vote by Congress, can also result in disqualification from holding future office. However, it is important to note that impeachment does not preclude criminal liability, and individuals may still face legal consequences through the civil courts.

Explore related products

United States House of Representatives Telephone Directory, 2019

$62.87

Proposed Amendments to the Federal Water-Power Act. Hearing Efore the Select Committee on Water Power of the House of Representatives, Sixty-Sixth Congress, Third Session, on 1921 [Leather Bound]

$20.75

State perspectives : questions concerning EPA’s proposed clean power plan

$22.99

House Of Representatives Telephone Directory: 2015

$53

House Of Representatives Telephone Directory: 2016

$52

House Of Representatives Telephone Directory: 2017

$59

The House can determine the rules of its proceedings

The United States Constitution grants the House of Representatives the authority to determine the rules of its proceedings. This power is outlined in Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution, which states that "Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings". This provision empowers the House to establish its own rules and procedures for conducting business, including the rules for introducing and debating bills, amending legislation, and governing the behaviour of its members.

The House's rule-making authority is essential to its function as a legislative body. It allows the House to adapt its procedures to the changing needs and complexities of lawmaking. The House has the discretion to establish procedures that best suit its members and the business at hand, as long as they do not "ignore constitutional restraints or violate fundamental rights". This flexibility enables the House to efficiently consider and pass legislation that reflects the interests and needs of the people it represents.

The House's rule-making power is also balanced by checks and controls. While the House determines its rules, these rules must comply with constitutional limitations and principles. The Supreme Court has affirmed that the House's rule-making authority is "continuous" and "beyond the challenge of any other body or tribunal", but it is not absolute. The Constitution sets certain parameters, such as the requirement for a quorum, and the House's rules must respect these constraints.

The House's rules are established by the Rules Committee, which is traditionally weighted in favour of the majority party. The committee decides which bills go to the House floor and sets the terms of debate. The House's rules are subject to change and amendment as needed, and new rules are adopted at the start of each new Congress. For instance, the Rules of the House of Representatives for the 118th Congress were established on January 9, 2023.

The House's authority to determine its rules is a critical component of its legislative power. It ensures that the House can function effectively and independently while remaining accountable to constitutional principles and the people it represents. This self-governing power is a fundamental aspect of the House's role in the US government.

The House can introduce revenue bills

The United States Constitution grants the House of Representatives the power to introduce revenue bills. This power is known as the Origination Clause, which states that "all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives." The clause is derived from British parliamentary practice, where all money bills must first be introduced in the House of Commons.

The Origination Clause ensures that the power to control government funding rests with the legislative body most responsive to the people. It was also a compromise between large and small states during the formation of the Constitution. The large states were concerned about the disproportionate power of small states in the Senate, so the Origination Clause gave the House of Representatives, which represents states based on population, the sole power to initiate revenue bills.

While the House has the exclusive right to introduce revenue bills, the Senate can amend or reject them. This ability to amend was added later in 1787 to reduce the House's power. The Senate's power to amend is not without limits, however. The Supreme Court has never approved the 'strike-and-replace' procedure, where the Senate takes a House-originated revenue bill and substitutes it with a different bill on a different subject.

The Origination Clause applies specifically to bills that levy taxes in the strict sense of the word. Bills that create revenue incidentally, such as through special assessments or other means, are not subject to the Origination Clause.

The House of Representatives, as part of its broader legislative powers, plays a crucial role in the introduction of revenue bills. This power is a key aspect of the House's ability to represent the interests of the people and balance the power dynamics between large and small states.

Frequently asked questions