Congress vs. House

Attribute	Congress	House
Legislative body	One of the two chambers of the United States Congress	The lower chamber of the United States Congress
Number of members	535 (100 Senators and 435 Representatives)	435
Term length	6 years for Senators, 2 years for Representatives	2 years
Leadership	Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the House	Speaker of the House, Majority Leader, Minority Leader
Role in passing legislation	Both chambers must pass a bill for it to become law	Initiates revenue bills and has exclusive authority to impeach federal officials

Congress

Congress is the legislative branch of the United States government, consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is responsible for making laws, overseeing the budget, and representing the interests of the American people. Congress is made up of 535 members, with 100 Senators and 435 Representatives.

One of the key attributes of Congress is its bicameral structure, which allows for a system of checks and balances. The Senate and the House of Representatives have different powers and responsibilities, which helps prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This system was put in place by the Founding Fathers to ensure that no single branch of government could dominate the others.

Congress has the power to declare war, regulate commerce, and impeach federal officials. It also has the authority to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. This gives Congress significant influence over the actions of the executive branch and helps maintain a balance of power within the government.

Another important attribute of Congress is its role in representing the interests of the American people. Members of Congress are elected by the citizens of their respective states or districts to serve as their voice in the federal government. They are expected to listen to their constituents, address their concerns, and work towards policies that benefit the public good.

Congress meets in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., where members gather to debate and vote on legislation. The legislative process can be complex and time-consuming, as bills must pass through both chambers before being sent to the President for approval. This can lead to gridlock and partisan disagreements, but it also ensures that laws are carefully considered before being enacted.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of Congress, along with the Senate. It is often referred to as the "lower house" because it has more members and represents smaller districts than the Senate. The House is responsible for introducing revenue bills, impeaching federal officials, and electing the President in the event of an electoral college tie.

One of the key attributes of the House of Representatives is its proportional representation based on population. Each state is allocated a certain number of Representatives based on its population, with larger states having more Representatives than smaller states. This ensures that all citizens are equally represented in the House and that each member represents a similar number of constituents.

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer and leader of the House of Representatives. The Speaker is responsible for maintaining order, interpreting rules, and representing the House in negotiations with the Senate and the President. The Speaker is elected by the members of the House and is usually a senior member of the majority party.

The House of Representatives has the power to impeach federal officials, including the President, Vice President, and federal judges. Impeachment is the process of charging a federal official with misconduct or abuse of power, which can lead to their removal from office. The House has impeached several Presidents in the past, although none have been convicted and removed by the Senate.

Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and must run for re-election every even-numbered year. This frequent turnover ensures that the House remains responsive to the changing needs and priorities of the American people. It also allows for new ideas and perspectives to be introduced into the legislative process.

Comparison

• Congress is the legislative branch of the United States government, while the House of Representatives is one of its two chambers.
• Congress is bicameral, with the Senate and the House of Representatives having different powers and responsibilities.
• The House of Representatives has proportional representation based on population, while the Senate has equal representation with two Senators per state.
• Congress has the power to declare war, regulate commerce, and impeach federal officials, while the House of Representatives has the power to impeach and elect the President in the event of an electoral college tie.
• Members of Congress are elected to represent the interests of the American people, while members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and must run for re-election frequently.