Malcolm Rivera
The House of Representatives is one of two chambers that make up the US Congress, the other being the Senate. The House of Representatives has four calendars of business: the Union Calendar, the House Calendar, the Private Calendar, and the Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees. Bills originating in the House of Representatives are designated by 'H.R.', followed by a number that remains the same throughout all its parliamentary stages. The House of Representatives also has the power to originate revenue legislation. The Speaker of the House of Representatives often receives letters from the President of the United States, transmitting a draft of a proposed bill.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recipient | Speaker of the House of Representatives |
| Sender | The President |
| Contents | Developments in Yemen and the broader Middle East region |
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What You'll Learn
Letters from the President
One such letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, dated April 22, 2025, focused on developments in Yemen and the broader Middle East region. In this letter, the President expressed concern over Houthi militant activities, including piratical aggressions against shipping and attacks on United States forces in the region. The President affirmed their commitment to defending US forces and upholding navigational rights and freedoms. To address these issues, the President directed the Department of Defense to deploy additional combat-equipped forces to the Middle East to enhance defensive capabilities.
The letters from the President can also contain proposed bills, which are then transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. These bills are designated by the letters "H.R." followed by a number, signifying their origin in the House of Representatives. The House has its own rules and practices, allowing a numerical majority to process legislation efficiently. Once a bill is introduced, legislative analysts from the Congressional Research Service write a summary describing its significant provisions.
Additionally, the House of Representatives maintains four calendars of business: the Union Calendar, the House Calendar, the Private Calendar, and the Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees. These calendars provide an overview of the House's activities, including the progress of bills through committees and their eventual passage. The House also has specific legislative action steps, outlined in the U.S. Congress Legislative Status Steps, which provide a structured process for bill consideration.
In conclusion, letters from the President to the House of Representatives play a crucial role in initiating legislative processes, keeping Congress informed, and proposing necessary actions. They serve as a formal channel of communication between the executive and legislative branches, ensuring a collaborative approach to governance.
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Legislative measures
One of the key legislative measures specific to the House of Representatives is the power to initiate revenue bills. According to Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution, all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. This is a significant distinction from the Senate, which confirms presidential nominations and approves treaties. However, it's important to note that the enactment of law requires the agreement of both chambers on the same bill before it can be presented to the President.
The legislative process typically begins with a bill, which is the primary form of legislative measure used to propose a law. A bill can be introduced in the House of Representatives or the Senate, and it follows different paths depending on its chamber of origin. Bills in the House of Representatives are designated with "H.R." and are assigned a legislative number by the Clerk. The Speaker, with the assistance of the Parliamentarian, then refers the bill to the appropriate committee or committees, following the rules of the House.
Committees play a crucial role in the legislative process. They are responsible for drafting and considering legislative proposals, as well as providing oversight and conducting investigations. Committee members offer, debate, and vote on amendments to the bill. During this process, they consider committee reports, which include explanations of the provisions, arguments for approval, cost estimates, and other relevant information. Once a bill is reported out of a committee, legislative analysts from the Congressional Research Service write a summary detailing its effects on current programs and laws.
After the committee stage, the bill is brought to the chamber floor for consideration. In the House, the majority party leaders play a significant role in setting the policy agenda and deciding which proposals receive floor consideration. The House of Representatives, known for its numerical majority, tends to process legislation more quickly compared to the Senate. Once a bill passes in the House, it still needs to be approved by the Senate, and ultimately, the President, who has the power to veto legislation.
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Calendars of business
The Committee of the Whole House is a committee that all representatives serve on, which meets in the House Chamber to consider measures from the Union calendar. The House leadership includes 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.
Before members are assigned to committees, the size and the proportion of Republicans to Democrats must be decided by the party leaders. The total number of committee slots allotted to each party is approximately the same as the ratio between majority and minority party members in the full chamber. The House will sometimes form a special or select committee for a short period and a specific purpose, often an investigation.
The House of Representatives is one of Congress's two chambers (the other being the Senate) and is part of the federal government's legislative branch. The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states. Each representative is elected to a two-year term, serving the people of a specific congressional district.
The House Calendar of Business is a list of all House measures that are eligible for Senate floor consideration.
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Congressional communications
Executive Communications
The US Constitution imposes an obligation on the President to report to Congress on the "State of the Union" and recommend measures for consideration. These communications are typically in the form of a message or letter from the President, a member of the President's Cabinet, or the head of an independent agency. They are addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate. Executive communications are a prolific source of legislative proposals and can include draft bills.
Petitions and Memorials
Congress also receives petitions and memorials, which are written statements or requests presented by citizens, state or local governments, or the legislature of a state or territory. Memorials may be referred by a Member of the House of Representatives, and the Senate does not differentiate between memorials and petitions.
Congressional Record
The Congressional Record is a publication that documents the proceedings of Congress. It includes a record of motions offered, votes taken, and amendments agreed upon, but it does not contain remarks delivered in the House or Senate. Bills introduced in the House or Senate are assigned a legislative number by the Clerk and are then referred to the appropriate committee or committees. Senators may request to have their formal statements and bills or resolutions printed in the Congressional Record.
Committee Reports
Committees in Congress produce reports that are published in the congressional report document series. These reports accompany measures reported by a committee and contain explanations of the provisions, arguments for approval, votes held, individual committee members' opinions, cost estimates, and other information.
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Procedural differences
Firstly, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation. This is because Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution states that all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House. The Senate, on the other hand, is the only chamber that can draft legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties.
Secondly, the House processes legislation through a majority vote, whereas the Senate prioritises deliberation and debate before voting. This is because the House rules and practices enable a numerical majority to process legislation quickly, while Senate rules give individual senators significant procedural leverage, allowing them to filibuster bills to delay a vote.
Thirdly, the House has a more structured debate process, with members given only a few minutes to speak and a limited number and type of amendments. In contrast, the Senate allows for unlimited debate, with senators able to speak on issues beyond the bill under consideration, and any amendment can be introduced.
Finally, the House has specific rules, such as the germaneness rule, which is designed to keep the focus of the House on a predictable subject matter. This rule does not apply in the Senate, where there is more flexibility to discuss a range of issues during debates.
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Frequently asked questions
The House of Representatives, along with the Senate, form a bicameral Congress, with each state electing two senators to serve 6-year terms. The House of Representatives has the power to originate revenue legislation and is responsible for processing legislation relatively quickly compared to the Senate.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is responsible for referring bills to the appropriate committees for consideration.
Bills originating in the House of Representatives are designated by "H.R.", which stands for "House of Representatives", followed by a number that remains constant throughout all parliamentary stages.
A bill must be agreed to in identical form by both the House of Representatives and the Senate before being presented to the President. If the President vetoes the bill, a two-thirds vote in each House is required to override the veto.
