Simone Lawson
Congress is the legislative branch of the United States government, consisting of two institutions: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each state elects representatives and senators to Congress, with every state having an equal voice in the Senate, and representation in the House based on population size. The two houses have distinct structures, roles, and responsibilities, but they collaborate to pass legislation, with each house also holding unique constitutional powers and duties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of members | 435 for the House of Representatives and 100 for the Senate |
| Age requirements for candidates | 25 years or older for the House of Representatives and 30 years or older for the Senate |
| Citizenship requirements for candidates | Citizen of the United States for seven years or more for the House of Representatives and nine years or more for the Senate |
| Term length | Two-year terms for the House of Representatives and six-year terms for the Senate, with 1/3 of the Senate up for re-election every two years |
| Number of representatives per state | Based on population for the House of Representatives, with a minimum of one representative per state; each state has two senators |
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What You'll Learn
The House of Representatives
The process of creating, debating, and voting on bills in the House is a key function of the legislative process. No bill can become a law without passing both houses of Congress, highlighting the crucial role played by the House of Representatives in shaping the country's legislation.
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The Senate
To be eligible to run for the Senate, an individual must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for nine years or more, and a resident of the state that they aim to represent. The Senate shares legislative responsibilities with the House of Representatives, but it also has distinct constitutional duties and powers. Each state has equal representation in the Senate, regardless of its population size.
The structure and procedures of the Senate are designed to foster thoughtful deliberation and encourage consensus-building. The Senate has established rules and traditions that promote civility and allow for thorough debate on legislative matters. This includes the use of committees, which play a vital role in the Senate's legislative process. Committees provide an opportunity for in-depth examination of specific issues, enabling senators to develop expertise and make informed decisions.
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Legislative process
The United States Congress is made up of two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both chambers are equal partners in the legislative process, and legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both.
The legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Some important bills are introduced at the request of the President, such as the annual federal budget. After being introduced, a bill is referred to the appropriate committee for review. There are 17 Senate committees, with 70 subcommittees, and 23 House committees, with 104 subcommittees. The committees are not set in stone, but they change in number and form with each new Congress as required for the efficient consideration of legislation. Each committee oversees a specific policy area, and the subcommittees take on more specialized policy areas. All committees are chaired by a member of the majority party, and committee members and staff focus much of their time on drafting and considering legislative proposals.
Once a bill has been introduced and referred to the appropriate committee, it undergoes review and can undergo drastic changes. The committees are panels of members from both parties that typically take the lead in developing and assessing legislation. Members typically serve on a small number of committees, often for many years, allowing them to become highly knowledgeable in certain policy areas. The report of a committee on a measure must include oversight findings and recommendations, a statement required by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, a cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, and a statement of general performance goals and objectives.
The Congressional Research Service, part of the Library of Congress, provides detailed, up-to-date, and non-partisan research for senators, representatives, and their staff to help them carry out their official duties. It provides ideas for legislation, helps members analyze a bill, facilitates public hearings, makes reports, and consults on matters such as parliamentary procedure. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is a federal agency that provides economic data to Congress and helps with the budgeting process.
Once a bill has been reviewed and analyzed by the appropriate committee, it is then voted on by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. If a bill passes both houses, it is then sent to the President for signature. The President has the power to veto legislation, which can affect the content of bills passed by Congress. If the President takes no action within 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill becomes law. If Congress adjourns before 10 days are up and the President takes no action, the bill dies and Congress may not vote to override, which is known as a "pocket veto." Congress may override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
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Elections
The two parts of the US Congress are the Senate and the House of Representatives. Elections are a key part of the functioning of Congress, determining who represents each state in the federal government and which political party will hold a majority in each chamber for the next two years.
Congressional elections take place every two years, with the next midterm elections occurring in November 2026. These midterm elections are held halfway through a president's four-year term and are often viewed as a referendum on the president's performance. Elections can significantly shift the balance of power between the parties in Congress, affecting the ability to pass legislation.
The Senate consists of 100 seats, with two senators from each state serving six-year terms. Elections are staggered, with approximately one-third of the seats up for election every two years. Senators must be at least 30 years old, US citizens for at least nine years, and residents of the state they represent.
The number of representatives in the House varies by state, depending on the state's population. Each representative serves a specific congressional district and holds a two-year term. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, US citizens for at least seven years, and live in the state they represent. All 435 House seats are up for election every two years, coinciding with either presidential or midterm elections.
Candidates for Congress typically receive nominations from the two major US political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. Multi-stage primary elections are usually held to determine the candidate for each party, and the dates and rules for these primaries vary by state. Campaigning and fundraising are pivotal parts of congressional elections, with candidates needing to raise substantial amounts of money through donations, often from Political Action Committees (PACs), Super PACs, and individual contributors.
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Congressional duties
Congress is divided into two institutions: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both houses of Congress have equal but distinct roles in the federal government. While they share legislative responsibilities, they also have distinct constitutional duties and powers.
The House of Representatives is responsible for creating, debating, and voting on bills to make laws for the United States. Each state's representation in the House is based on its population.
On the other hand, the Senate provides equal representation for all states, with each state represented by two senators, resulting in a total of 100 senators. Senators are elected for six-year terms, with one-third of the Senate facing re-election every two years.
Despite the lack of a formal set of expectations, the duties of a Member of Congress are understood to include representation, constituent service and communication, and electoral activities. Members of Congress may also be involved in fundraising, planning, and campaigning for elections. They have the freedom to define their own priorities and approaches to their jobs, which may shift in response to changes in tenure, committee assignments, and policy focus, among other factors.
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Frequently asked questions
The two parts of Congress are the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives includes 435 members. Each state is represented based on its population and has at least one representative.
To be elected into the Senate, a person must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for nine years or more, and a resident of the state that they will represent. Senators are elected for six-year terms, and every two years, 1/3rd of the Senate is up for re-election.
