Isabella Carter
The House of Representatives, established in 1789 by the US Constitution, is 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. Seats in the House are allocated based on state population, with each state guaranteed at least one representative. The House has several crucial responsibilities, including legislation, creating and passing bills, and playing a vital role in the system of checks and balances. It also has exclusive powers, such as initiating impeachment proceedings and originating revenue bills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Representatives | Not more than one for every 30,000 people, with each state having at least one representative. |
| Eligibility | A minimum age of 25 years, US citizenship for at least seven years, and residency of the state from which the member is elected. |
| Term | Two years. |
| Powers | Initiating revenue bills, impeachment proceedings, and the election of the President if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes. |
| Leadership | Speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference. |
| Committees | All representatives serve on the Committee of the Whole House, which meets in the House Chamber to consider measures from the Union calendar. |
| Gerrymandering | Federal courts have allowed state legislatures to engage in gerrymandering, but the Supreme Court has held that gerrymandered districts can be struck down based on the Equal Protection Clause. |
| Salary | $174,000 per year, with leadership positions commanding higher salaries (up to $223,500 for the Speaker of the House). |
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What You'll Learn
Representative requirements
The House of Representatives was established in 1789 by the United States Constitution. The Constitution sets out three requirements for representatives:
- Each representative must be at least 25 years old.
- They must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years.
- They must be an inhabitant of the state they represent at the time of the election.
It is not a requirement that members live in the districts they represent, but they traditionally do. These requirements are the maximum that can be imposed on a candidate, and Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution does not permit any additional qualifications to be established.
The House of Representatives is intended to represent the popular will, with members directly elected by the people. Each state is guaranteed at least one representative, with the allocation of seats based on state population. This proportional representation system was designed to create a government that reflected the will of the people. The House closely mirrors the nation's demographic distribution, making it a key element of American representative democracy.
Representatives are elected every two years, serving two-year terms. They receive an annual salary of $174,000, with leadership positions commanding higher salaries.
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House leadership
A party caucus or conference is the name given to a meeting of all party members in the House. During these meetings, party members discuss matters of concern. The majority and minority party members meet in separate caucuses to select their leader. The House will sometimes form a special or select committee for a short period and a specific purpose, often an investigation. Each committee has a chair and a ranking member. Before members are assigned to committees, each committee's size and the proportion of Republicans to Democrats must be decided by the party leaders.
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Committee system
The committee system is an essential part of the House of Representatives' operations. The United States Constitution does not mention or provide for committees in Congress, but the House of Representatives has utilized them since the very first Congress.
The House's committees consider bills and issues and oversee agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions. They play a crucial role in gathering information, conducting investigations, and holding hearings to make informed decisions. Through these processes, committees can evaluate and provide oversight for federal government operations, including agencies and programs.
The committee system has evolved over time. Initially, the House relied on temporary select committees, but as the need for committee action grew, permanent standing committees were established. The House created several standing committees between 1789 and 1815 and added more in 1816 to better manage government expenditures and oversee the executive branch. Standing committees have specific responsibilities and jurisdictions defined by the House's rules, and their names and jurisdictions can be updated to address evolving issues.
Committees also establish subcommittees, which are subpanels that allow members to focus on specific elements of the policy area. Subcommittees can hold hearings and mark up legislation prior to full committee consideration, with the extent of their formal role varying by chamber and committee tradition.
The first formal committee action on a bill or issue is often a hearing, where committee members and the public can hear about the strengths and weaknesses of a proposal from various parties. Invited witnesses provide oral and written feedback, and committee members ask questions to gather more information. Committees then consider and may recommend legislation to the full House, with only a small percentage of bills considered reaching the House floor.
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House representation
The House of Representatives, established in 1789 by the US Constitution, is one of the two houses of the bicameral US Congress. The House was designed to represent the popular will, with its members directly elected by the people. Each state is guaranteed at least one member, and the allocation of seats is based on state population as determined by the decennial Census. This proportional representation system was a crucial innovation during the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787, creating a government that reflected the will of the people.
The Constitution sets out three qualifications for representatives: they must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and be an inhabitant of the state they represent. Members are elected every two years and serve two-year terms. They receive an annual salary of $174,000, which has remained unchanged since 2009. Leadership positions, such as the Speaker of the House, command higher salaries.
The House has exclusive powers, including the right to initiate impeachment proceedings and to originate revenue bills. It plays a crucial role in the federal budget process and the system of checks and balances. The House leadership includes the Speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference. The House also has a committee system, with members serving on various committees.
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House powers
The House of Representatives, established in 1789 by the US Constitution, is the lower house of the bicameral US Congress. The House was designed to be the legislative body closest to the American people, reflecting their immediate concerns and desires. 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, with a maximum of one representative for every 30,000 citizens. The allocation of seats is based on the population within the states, as determined by the decennial census, and membership is reapportioned every 10 years following the census.
The House holds several crucial powers and responsibilities within the US government. Its primary function is to legislate, working in tandem with the Senate to create and pass bills. The House has the exclusive power to initiate revenue bills, significantly influencing fiscal policy. The House also plays a vital role in the system of checks and balances, with the authority to initiate impeachment proceedings of federal officials, including the president.
The House is led by the speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference. The speaker acts as the leader of the House and combines several institutional and administrative roles. Majority and minority leaders represent their respective parties on the House floor. Whips assist leadership in managing their party's legislative program on the House floor.
The House also has the power to elect the president if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes. Additionally, the House forms committees, which are groups of members divided by specialisation, that play an important role in the control exercised by Congress over governmental agencies. Cabinet officers and other officials are frequently summoned before the committees to explain policy.
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Frequently asked questions
The House of Representatives was established by the US Constitution in 1789 and has several crucial roles, including the power to initiate impeachment proceedings, to originate revenue bills, and to elect a President if no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes.
The House of Representatives is based on proportional representation, with each state having at least one representative based on its population. The allocation of seats is based on the population within the states, as determined by the decennial Census, and membership is reapportioned every 10 years.
To be a member of the House of Representatives, a person must be at least 25 years old, a citizen of the United States for seven years or more, and a resident of the state that they represent.
