Powers and Characteristics of the House and Senate

Powers Unique to the House

Initiate tax laws and spending bills. All spending and taxation bills must originate in the House, specifically created in the Ways & Means Committee.
Holds the power to vote on the impeachment of the president and other federal officials.

Borrow money on behalf of the United States.
Regulate interstate commerce and foreign commerce (Commerce Clause).
Raise and support an army.
Declare war.
Establish rules for federal courts.
Establish naturalization (citizenship) laws.
Establish post offices.
Make laws necessary to carry out the powers listed above (Necessary & Proper Clause).

Confirm presidential nominations and appointments of federal judges, ambassadors, and cabinet members. This requires a majority vote to confirm and is part of the Advice & Consent of the Senate.
Ratify treaties, needing a \frac{2}{3} vote. This is also part of the Advice & Consent of the Senate.
Conduct trials of impeached officials and vote on removal from office, requiring a \frac{2}{3} vote.

Use committees to draft legislation before floor debate.
The majority party controls committee assignments.
Conference committees are used to create one version of bills when the House and Senate pass different versions.
Members can engage in logrolling (the practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation).

Members are voted into office by direct election.
Has 435 seats total.
Operates under proportional representation. The number of seats a state gets is dependent upon its population.
Has two-year terms.
The House Rules Committee determines the rules for debate for every bill, including the length of debate, types of amendments allowed, and how long each representative can speak.
Amendments to bills must be germane, meaning they have to directly relate to the contents of the bill.
Has the Ways & Means Committee, where tax and spending bills originate.

Has 100 seats total.
Employs equal representation, with each state getting two senators.
Has six-year terms.
Features unlimited, informal floor debate, which includes filibusters, holds, & clotures.
- Filibusters: Extended debates used to delay or block a vote on a bill.
- Holds: Informal practice allowing a senator to delay a bill by objecting to it.
- Clotures: A procedure to end a filibuster, requiring a supermajority vote (typically 60 votes).
Amendments to bills can be non-germane, meaning they do not have to be directly related to the contents of the bill (earmarks & pork barrel legislation).
- Earmarks: Provisions inserted into appropriation bills that allocate funds to specific projects or programs.
- Pork Barrel Legislation: Government spending that benefits a specific district or region, often seen as a way for politicians to gain favor with their constituents.