United States Congress

The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Here is a detailed overview:

History

• Founding: The idea of a bicameral legislature was established by the Constitution of the United States in 1787, following the Philadelphia Convention.
• First Session: The first session of Congress convened on March 4, 1789, in New York City, which was then the capital of the United States.
• Move to Washington: Congress moved to Washington, D.C. in 1800 after the construction of the Capitol Building was sufficiently completed.

Structure

• Senate: Composed of 100 members, with each state having two senators, regardless of population size. Senators serve six-year terms, with one-third of the seats up for election every two years.
• House of Representatives: Has 435 members, apportioned among the states based on population. Each state is entitled to at least one representative, with additional seats allocated by population. Representatives serve two-year terms.

Powers and Functions

• Legislative: Congress has the power to make laws, which includes the authority to propose, debate, and pass legislation that affects national policy, taxation, federal spending, and other areas.
• Checks and Balances: Congress checks the power of the other branches through its ability to override presidential vetoes, approve appointments, and impeach federal officials.
• Oversight: It conducts investigations to ensure that executive agencies are operating legally and efficiently.

Leadership

• President of the Senate: The Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate but has no vote unless there is a tie.
• Speaker of the House: Elected by the members of the House of Representatives, the Speaker leads the House and is second in the line of presidential succession after the Vice President.

Notable Events

• War Declarations: Congress has the sole power to declare war, which it has done on several occasions, including during World War II and the Gulf War.
• Impeachment: Congress has the power to impeach the President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States, leading to trials in the Senate.

Modern Congress

• Partisanship: Recent years have seen increased polarization between the Democratic and Republican parties, affecting legislative productivity.
• Technology: Advances in technology have transformed how Congress operates, from electronic voting to live streaming of proceedings.

External Links

• Congress.gov - Official website for U.S. legislative information.
• Senate.gov - Official website of the U.S. Senate.
• House.gov - Official website of the U.S. House of Representatives.
• National Archives - Information on the U.S. Constitution.

Related Topics

• Legislative Process
• Bicameralism
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances