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The United States Constitution established a federal legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and conduct investigations. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every two years by the people of the states, with each state's electors having the qualifications required for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. Senators, on the other hand, are chosen by their state legislatures and serve six-year terms. The Constitution outlines the rules and procedures for the functioning of Congress, including the election process, quorum requirements, and the powers of each house.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition | The legislature consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. |
| Election of Members | The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are also 6 non-voting members representing the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years and must be at least 25 years old. Senators are chosen by the Legislature of each state for six-year terms, with one-third of Senate seats up for election every two years. To become a Senator, one must be at least 30 years old. |
| Powers | The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and conduct investigations. Each House can determine its rules of proceeding, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and expel a member with a two-thirds concurrence. The Senate also has the power to choose its officers and elect a president pro tempore to preside in the absence of the Vice President, who is also the President of the Senate. |
| Impeachment | Based on the British Parliament and state legislatures, the Constitution's impeachment provision gives Senators the responsibility for trying impeached officials, including the President of the United States. |
| Meetings | Congress must assemble at least once a year, with the default meeting date being the first Monday in December unless changed by law. |
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The Legislative Branch
The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers. The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are also 6 non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. Members of the House are elected every two years and must be at least 25 years old. The presiding officer of the chamber is the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the Representatives and is third in the line of succession to the Presidency.
The Senate, on the other hand, is composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the state legislature, and serving six-year terms. Senators must be at least 30 years old and have been citizens of the United States for at least nine years. The Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate but has no vote unless there is a tie.
The legislative process in Congress involves committees and subcommittees that oversee specific policy areas. Bills are first considered in subcommittees, where they may be accepted, amended, or rejected. If a bill is moved forward, it goes through the same process in the full committee. During this stage, hearings are held, and experts, advocates, and opponents are invited to provide testimony. Once a bill passes this stage, it goes to the Senate and the House of Representatives for a vote. A bill must pass both houses before going to the President for consideration.
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The House of Representatives
The United States Congress, established by Article I of the Constitution, is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is commonly referred to as the lower house, while the Senate is referred to as the upper house. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. To be eligible to be a representative, a person must be at least 25 years old, a US citizen for at least seven years, and an inhabitant of the state they represent. The number of representatives from each state is determined by the state's total population.
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The Senate
The United States Congress, established by Article I of the Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Senate, first convened in 1789, was formed on the example of the ancient Roman Senate, with the name derived from the Latin 'senatus', meaning council of elders.
Debate in the Senate is usually unlimited, and senators may speak to issues other than the bill under consideration. Senators can use this to filibuster bills, delaying a vote by refusing to stand down. A supermajority of 60 senators can, however, break a filibuster and force a vote.
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Elections
The United States Constitution establishes a bicameral legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, together forming the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and conduct investigations.
The Constitution outlines specific requirements and procedures for elections, which are held every two years for members of the House of Representatives. Each state's legislature determines the election dates, locations, and methods, although Congress can alter these regulations if needed. The minimum age for Representatives is 25 years, and they must have been US citizens for at least seven years and be inhabitants of the state they represent.
Senators, on the other hand, are elected for six-year terms, with one-third of the Senate up for reelection every two years. Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been US citizens for nine years, and be inhabitants of the state they represent.
The Constitution also addresses the issue of vacancies that may arise during the recess of a state legislature. In such cases, temporary appointments can be made by the state's executive until the legislature reconvenes and fills the vacancy through a formal election.
The Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate and can cast a vote in the case of a tie. Additionally, each house has the authority to judge the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members, as well as to determine its rules of procedure and enforce discipline among its members.
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Impeachment
The US Constitution established a bicameral legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and conduct investigations.
The second constitutionally required step is a trial in the United States Senate, which is the sole court for impeachment trials. The Senate can vote by a two-thirds majority to convict and remove an official. The Senate can also bar an individual from holding future federal office with a simple majority vote.
At the federal level, impeachment typically involves three steps: an impeachment inquiry, impeachment by the House, and trial by the Senate. The process is descended from a similar practice in Britain, which evolved as a way for Parliament to hold the king's ministers accountable for their actions. During the drafting of the Constitution, Framers debated the process of impeachment, including the venue, grounds for impeachment, and likelihood of conviction.
The scope of "high crimes and misdemeanors", which constitutes grounds for impeachment, has been fleshed out over time through the practice of impeachment. Examples of punishable offences include treason and bribery.
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Frequently asked questions
The Legislative Branch, established by Article I of the US Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress.
The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation and declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers. Congress is also responsible for holding elections for Senators and Representatives, and each House is responsible for judging the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members.
The House of Representatives is made up of elected members chosen every two years by the people of the states. The number of members from each state is proportional to the state's total population. The Senate is composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the Legislature for six-year terms, with one-third of Senators being chosen every two years.
