Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, which was ratified in 1788 and implemented in 1789, outlines the design of the legislative branch of the US government, including the House of Representatives. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution provides for both the minimum and maximum sizes for the House of Representatives, with representation based on population. The House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis. The House is commonly referred to as the lower house, while the Senate is referred to as the upper house.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Article of the Constitution | Article I |
| Section of the Constitution | Section 2 |
| House composition | Members chosen every second year by the people of the several states |
| House representation | Based on population |
| Minimum age for a Representative | 25 years |
| Citizenship requirement for a Representative | 7 years |
| Residency requirement for a Representative | Must be an inhabitant of the state they represent |
| House authority | Sole authority to impeach federal officials and elect a president in the case of indecisive Electoral College results |
| House size | Minimum of one Representative per state, maximum of one for every 30,000 people |
| House leadership | Includes the speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference |
| Powers | Legislative powers, including the power to make laws |
| Compensation | Senators and Representatives are compensated for their services, paid out of the Treasury of the United States |
| Arrest protection | Privilege from arrest during attendance at their respective House sessions and in transit to and from the sessions |
| Vacancies | When vacancies occur, the executive authority of the state issues writs of election to fill them |
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What You'll Learn
Article I, Section 2 outlines the House's composition
Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution outlines the House of Representatives' composition, powers, and election rules.
The House of Representatives, as outlined in Article I, Section 2, is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the various states. Each state's congressional seats are apportioned based on population, with the requirement that each representative represents substantially equal populations. The electors in each state must meet the qualifications required for electors of the most populous branch of the state legislature. This provision ensures that individuals qualified to vote in elections for the largest chamber of their state's legislature can vote in House of Representatives elections.
Article I, Section 2 originally included the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for population count and taxation purposes. This rule was superseded by Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, which established that representation in the House of Representatives would be based solely on the population of free persons.
The minimum age to be a representative is 25 years old, and one must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years and be an inhabitant of the state they represent.
The House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment and the authority to choose its Speaker and other officers. They also have the power to determine the rules of their proceedings, punish members for disorderly behaviour, and expel a member with a two-thirds concurrence.
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The House's representation is based on population
The United States Constitution, which was ratified in 1788 and implemented in 1789, outlines the design of the legislative branch of the US government, including the election of Senators and Representatives, the process of lawmaking, and the powers of Congress.
Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution provides for both the minimum and maximum sizes for the House of Representatives. The House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis. This agreement was part of what is referred to as The Great Compromise, which resolved the contentious issue of Congress's structure.
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states, with each state having at least one representative. The number of representatives is determined by the population of each state, as ascertained by the census conducted every ten years. The constitutional requirement that representatives must stand for election every two years has defined the House as an institution that is responsive to the will of the people.
The House is currently made up of 435 Representatives, plus non-voting delegates from the District of Columbia and the US territories. The House possesses the sole authority to impeach federal officials and, in the case of indecisive Electoral College results, to elect a president.
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The House has the sole power of impeachment
The House of Representatives is outlined in Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution, which also states that the House "shall have the sole Power of Impeachment". The Senate, on the other hand, is the sole court for impeachment trials, as per Article I, Section 3.
The House has initiated impeachment proceedings more than 60 times, with roughly a third of these proceedings leading to full impeachments. The process usually begins when a lawmaker introduces an impeachment resolution, or when the House passes a resolution authorising an inquiry. The Committee on the Judiciary ordinarily has jurisdiction over impeachments, but special committees have also been formed to investigate charges. If the committee chooses to pursue articles of impeachment, these are put to a vote in the House. A simple majority is required for the House to adopt the articles and appoint members to manage the ensuing Senate trial.
The House has the power to impeach federal officials, including the president, vice president, federal judges, cabinet secretaries, and senators. The impeachment of President Andrew Johnson in 1868 marked the first time a president had been impeached by the House. More recently, the Illinois House of Representatives voted to impeach Governor Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges in 2009.
The power of impeachment can result in the removal of an official from office, as well as their disqualification from holding future office. The Senate requires a two-thirds majority to convict an official and can vote with a simple majority to bar them from holding federal office in the future.
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The House elects its own speaker
The United States Constitution, which outlines the framework of the federal government and its functions, includes provisions for the establishment and operation of the House of Representatives. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution specifically addresses the House of Representatives and its You may want to see also The US Constitution, in Article I, establishes a Congress of the United States, which consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is the larger of Congress's two legislative bodies. The Constitution outlines that the House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis. This agreement was part of what is referred to as The Great Compromise, which aimed to balance representation between large and small states. The House's membership is based on the population of each individual state, with each state entitled to at least one representative. The number of representatives is capped at one for every thirty thousand people. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been US citizens for at least seven years, and be inhabitants of the state they represent. The House possesses the sole authority to impeach federal officials and, in the case of indecisive Electoral College results, to elect a president. The House leadership includes the speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference. The speaker is elected by the members of the House and acts as its leader, combining various institutional and administrative roles. The House establishes its own rules, including the conduct of its members, and can punish members for disorderly behaviour. You may want to see also The House of Representatives is mentioned in Article I of the US Constitution. Article I describes the design of the legislative branch of the US government, which consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. It also outlines the process of electing Senators and Representatives, the powers of Congress, and the requirements for becoming a Representative. The House of Representatives is the lower house of Congress, with representation based on the population of each state. It has the power to impeach federal officials and, in the case of an indecisive Electoral College, to elect a president.Exploring Albuquerque: Miles from Montgomery to Constitution
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Frequently asked questions
