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The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch, established by Article I of the Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Congress |
| Composition | Senate and House of Representatives |
| Members | 435 elected members, divided among 50 states in proportion to their total population, and 6 non-voting members |
| Meeting Frequency | At least once a year |
| Meeting Date | First Monday in December, unless a different day is appointed by law |
| Powers | Enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject presidential appointments, investigative powers, raise and support armies, call forth the militia, exercise exclusive legislation over a district not exceeding 10 miles square, veto presidential bills, override presidential vetoes, impeach the president |
| Election Rules | Elections for Senators and Representatives are prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof, but Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators |
| Quorum | Majority of each House |
| Authority | All legislative powers are vested in Congress |
| Leadership | Vice President of the United States is President of the Senate, but has no vote unless there is an equal split; Presiding officer of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House, elected by the Representatives |
| Member Requirements | Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years, and be an inhabitant of the state in which they are chosen; Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for at least 9 years, and be an inhabitant of the state for which they are chosen |
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What You'll Learn
The US legislative branch is bicameral
The US Constitution establishes a bicameral legislative branch, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, together forming the United States Congress. This means that Congress has two houses, with each house having distinct powers and roles. The legislative branch is one of the three coequal branches of the US government, alongside the executive and judicial branches.
The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, with the number of representatives from each state proportional to its population. In addition, there are six non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. The Speaker of the House, elected by the Representatives, is the presiding officer of the chamber. To be eligible to serve as a Representative, an individual must be at least 25 years old, a US citizen for at least seven years, and an inhabitant of the state they represent.
The Senate, on the other hand, provides equal representation to each state, with two Senators from each state. Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been a US citizen for nine years, and be an inhabitant of the state they represent. The Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate but does not have a vote unless there is a tie.
Both the House and the Senate must pass the same bill by majority vote for it to become law and be sent to the President for their signature. The President can veto the bill, but Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses. This system of checks and balances ensures that no single branch of government holds too much power.
The legislative branch has several important powers and responsibilities. It is the only branch of government that can create and change laws. It also has the sole authority to declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and conduct investigations. The legislative process involves the introduction of bills, their review by committees, debate and voting in both houses, and, finally, consideration by the President.
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The House of Representatives
The United States Congress, established by Article I of the Constitution, is made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is one of the two bodies that form the United States Congress and is responsible for creating legislation and declaring war, as well as confirming or rejecting many Presidential appointments.
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The Senate
The United States Congress, established by Article I of the US Constitution, is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Legislative Branch, as it is called, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. 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.
Additionally, the Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate but does not have a vote unless there is an equally divided vote. The Senate also plays a role in the executive branch by confirming or rejecting Cabinet members nominated by the President. This includes the heads of executive departments and other high-ranking government officials.
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The election of Senators and Representatives
The legislative branch of the US government, as outlined in Article I of the Constitution, is the Congress, which consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The election of Senators and Representatives is a key part of the democratic process and is governed by a set of rules and procedures.
The House of Representatives is made up of members chosen every second year by the people of the various states, with each state's electors needing to meet the qualifications required for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and live in the state they represent. The number of representatives a state has depends on its population, and each representative serves a specific congressional district.
The Senate, on the other hand, has historically had stronger norms of conduct for its members. Senators serve six-year terms, and these are staggered so that one-third of the Senate is elected every two years, ensuring a degree of continuity. Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been a US citizen for at least nine years, and live in the state they represent. Each of the 50 states is represented by two senators, resulting in a total of 100 senators.
The times, places, and manner of holding elections for both Senators and Representatives are generally prescribed by each state's legislature. However, Congress has the power to make or alter these regulations if needed, except for the places of choosing Senators. The election process for Senators and Representatives is subject to specific guidelines and can vary depending on the circumstances. For instance, vacancies in the House of Representatives may be filled through special elections called by the state's executive authority.
In summary, the election of Senators and Representatives is a fundamental aspect of the US democratic process, with each state contributing to the composition of the Senate and the House of Representatives through elections held at prescribed intervals.
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Powers of Congress
Article I of the US Constitution outlines the powers of Congress, the legislative branch of the US government. Congress is made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. No person can be a Representative unless they are 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and are an inhabitant of the state they are chosen to represent.
The Senate, on the other hand, has different age and citizenship requirements for its members. Senators must be at least 30 years old and have been a US citizen for nine years. The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate but has no vote unless there is a tie.
Congress has numerous powers, including the power to:
- Lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States.
- Borrow money on the credit of the United States.
- Regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes.
- Establish a uniform rule of naturalization and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States.
- Provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States.
- Promote the progress of science and useful arts by securing for limited times the exclusive rights of authors and inventors to their respective writings and discoveries.
- Define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, as well as offences against the law of nations.
- Declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water.
- Raise and support armies, although no money can be appropriated for this use for longer than two years.
- Provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions.
- Exercise exclusive legislation in all cases over a district not exceeding ten miles square, which may become the seat of the US government.
- Make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers and all other powers vested by the Constitution in the US government or any of its departments or officers.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution created the US Congress, which is the legislative branch of the federal government.
The US Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
To be a Representative, one must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and be an inhabitant of the state in which they are chosen.
