Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution grants Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, several powers. The House of Representatives has the power to make and pass federal laws, as well as the sole power to impeach government officials. The Senate, on the other hand, has the sole power to conduct impeachment trials and approve treaties made by the executive branch. Both houses have the power to judge the elections, returns, and qualifications of their members, and they must work together to pass orders, resolutions, or votes.
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What You'll Learn
The House of Representatives can impeach government officials
The United States Constitution grants the House of Representatives the sole power to impeach federal officials. The House has initiated impeachment proceedings more than 60 times, leading to 21 impeachments, including three presidents, one cabinet secretary, and one senator. The House brings articles of impeachment or charges against an official, which are then adopted by a simple majority vote. The official is then impeached and the Senate holds an impeachment trial.
The impeachment process charges and tries an official of the federal government for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." The definition of "high Crimes and Misdemeanors" has long been debated, but it generally refers to misconduct by public officials against the government. The House acts as a prosecutor in impeachment proceedings, presenting evidence and witnesses to the Senate, which acts as a High Court of Impeachment.
The House of Representatives has the power to impeach presidents, and it has done so on three occasions: Andrew Johnson in 1868, William J. Clinton in 1998, and Donald J. Trump in 2019 and 2021. All three presidents were acquitted by the Senate and remained in office. The House has also impeached cabinet secretaries William Belknap and Alejandro N. Mayorkas, as well as Senator William Blount of Tennessee in 1797.
The impeachment power of the House of Representatives is a fundamental component of the system of "checks and balances" in the US government, ensuring that federal officials are held accountable for their actions.
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The House can judge elections and investigate expenditure influence
The United States Constitution grants each house of Congress the power to be the judge of the "elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members" (Article I, Section 5). This means that the House can act as a judicial tribunal when judging elections, with the power to compel the attendance of witnesses. This power is carefully guarded by the Senate, which has developed its own procedures for judging the qualifications of its members and settling contested elections.
The House's standing committees play a crucial role in this process. These committees have legislative jurisdictions, considering bills and issues, and recommending measures for consideration by the House. They also have oversight responsibilities, monitoring agencies, programs, and activities within their purview. In some cases, the House may form a special or select committee for a specific purpose, often an investigation. These committees can investigate expenditures made to influence nominations at a primary election.
The House also has the power to impeach a government official, serving as a prosecutor, while the Senate has the sole power to conduct impeachment trials, acting as a jury and judge. The Senate has tried 20 federal officials, including three presidents, since 1789.
Additionally, Congress has conducted investigations of malfeasance in the executive branch and other areas of American society since 1792. These investigations are crucial for restraining the government and educating the public. The House, through its committees, plays a vital role in overseeing and investigating the executive branch, ensuring that no individual or group wields too much power.
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The House can make and pass federal laws
The United States Congress is the federal government's law-making branch, and it is made up of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation and make laws. The House of Representatives, also referred to as Congressmen or Congresswomen, is made up of 435 elected members, with each representative serving a two-year term for a specific congressional district.
The House's primary role is to introduce and pass bills, which are proposals for new laws or changes to existing ones. These bills can be suggested by sitting members of the House, proposed during their election campaigns, or petitioned by citizen groups. The House has several committees that play a crucial role in the legislative process. These committees consider bills, discuss and make changes, and then recommend measures for consideration by the full House. The number of members on each committee is decided by party leaders, with approximately the same ratio of majority and minority party members as in the full House.
Once a bill is introduced in the House, it is assigned to a relevant committee. The committee members will research, discuss, and potentially amend the bill. After this, the bill is put before the House for a vote. If the bill passes in the House, it then goes through a similar process in the Senate, the other chamber of Congress. If both chambers approve the bill, they must reconcile any differences between their respective versions. This is typically done through a Conference Committee, which produces a final version of the bill.
After both chambers approve the same version of the bill, it is presented to the President for consideration. The President has the option to approve and sign the bill into law or to veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto by voting again in both chambers. If the bill receives a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate, it becomes law despite the President's veto. This process demonstrates the significant role that the House plays in initiating and shaping federal legislation.
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The House has standing committees with legislative jurisdiction
The US House of Representatives, also known as Congress, is one of two chambers that make up the federal government's legislative branch. The House has the power to make and pass federal laws. The House has standing committees with legislative jurisdiction, which means they can consider bills and issues and recommend measures for consideration by the House.
These standing committees are permanent bodies with specific responsibilities and jurisdictions defined in the House's rules. They are essential to the effective operation of the House, as they allow for a more efficient means of considering complex and controversial legislation. The committees gather information, draft and consider legislation, and provide oversight of federal government operations.
Before members are assigned to committees, the size and political composition of each committee must be decided by party leaders. The number of committee slots for each party is roughly proportional to the ratio of majority and minority party members in the full Chamber. Each committee has a chair and a ranking member, with the chair heading the full committee and the ranking member leading the minority members.
Standing committees have oversight responsibilities to monitor agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions. They also recommend authorized levels of funding for government operations and programs. In some cases, their work may overlap with other committees' jurisdictions.
The Rules Committee, for example, controls which bills go to the House Floor and sets the terms of debate. The makeup of this committee typically favours the majority party, with a current configuration of nine majority and four minority members.
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The House can determine the rules of its proceedings
The United States Constitution grants each house of Congress the power to determine the rules of its proceedings. This means that the House of Representatives and the Senate have the authority to establish their own rules and procedures for conducting business. This power is derived from Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution, which states that each house shall be the judge of the "elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members".
The House of Representatives, as one of the two chambers of Congress, plays a crucial role in the legislative process. Representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments, and serve on committees. The House's standing committees have different legislative jurisdictions and consider bills, issues, and recommendations for the House's consideration. The House also has the power to impeach government officials, serving as a prosecutor, while the Senate conducts impeachment trials and acts as a jury and judge.
The Rules Committee within the House plays a significant role in determining the rules of its proceedings. This committee controls which bills are brought to the House Floor and sets the terms of debate. The makeup of the Rules Committee typically favours the majority party, with a current configuration of 9 majority and 4 minority members. The committee's online Parliamentary Bootcamp provides an overview of House Floor procedures, processes, and precedents.
While the House has considerable discretion in setting its rules, there are some limitations. The Constitution prohibits the House from ignoring constitutional restraints or violating fundamental rights. Additionally, there must be a reasonable relation between the method of proceeding and the result sought. If a rule affects private rights, its construction becomes a judicial question. For example, in United States v. Smith, the Court held that the Senate's reconsideration of a presidential nominee was not warranted after confirmation and the administration of the oath of office.
The House also has the power to issue warrants for the arrest of witnesses to procure their testimony, investigate expenditures made to influence nominations, and punish perjury committed during contested elections. These powers allow the House to effectively determine the rules of its proceedings and ensure the smooth conduct of its business.
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