10/06/2025
Overview of the United States Congress
United States Congress is a bicameral legislature, meaning it consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Bicameral Structure
The structure of Congress consists of:
House of Representatives
Senate
Representation Differences
Virginia Plan: Calls for representation based on population.
New Jersey Plan: Calls for equal representation regardless of state size.
Apportionment of Members
Total members in the House: 435.
Apportionment of House members based on state population:
For example:
Florida: 28 Representatives
Texas: 38 Representatives
California: 52 Representatives
North Dakota / South Dakota: 1 Representative each due to smaller population.
In the Senate:
Each state has 2 Senators (total of 100 Senators from 50 states).
Legislative Power Dynamics
Larger states, due to higher populations, have more representatives, which can significantly impact legislative decisions.
Example:
Florida (28 votes) vs. North Dakota (1 vote).
A significant block of votes from larger states can sway legislative agendas.
Historical Context
Original government location was in New York, moved to Philadelphia, and ultimately established in Washington D.C.
Current Political Landscape in the Senate and House
Senate representation:
Red states: Typically have two Republican Senators.
Blue states: Typically have two Democratic Senators.
Purple states: Often have a mix of party representation.
Current majority parties:
Senate: Republican Party
House: Republican Party
Power dynamics shift, with majorities changing based on elections.
Qualifications for Congress Members
House of Representatives:
Minimum age: 25 years.
U.S. citizenship duration: 7 years.
Senate:
Minimum age: 30 years.
U.S. citizenship duration: 9 years.
No educational or professional experience requirements.
Example of a unique background: Congresswoman Adams was a former police officer before her election.
Term Lengths
House of Representatives: 2-year terms.
Senate: 6-year terms.
Implication of short House terms:
Representatives must continuously campaign, which can be burdensome and lead to lack of stability in representation.
Suggested Reforms
Proposal for longer term limits (e.g., 12 years) combined with term limits to promote variety in Congressional representation.
Residency Requirements
Members must reside in the state they represent at election time.
Responsibilities and Powers of Congress
Constitutional Responsibilities
Both Houses share the following powers:
Levy taxes,
Borrow and spend money,
Regulate commerce and currency,
Establish a postal system,
Provide for patents and copyrights,
Establish federal courts,
Oversee national property,
Declare war,
Govern the nation’s capital.
Exclusive responsibilities:
Senate:
Try impeachments,
Ratify treaties,
Confirm federal judges, ambassadors, cabinet members, and other officials.
House of Representatives:
Initiate tax bills,
Bring impeachment charges, which is the first step in the impeachment process.
Impeachment Process
Three Steps:
A crime must be committed by a federal officer (e.g., President).
The House Judiciary Committee reviews evidence and votes on whether to recommend impeachment.
Full House votes on the impeachment recommendation.
Impeachment does not equal removal from office.
Historical examples of impeached presidents:
Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump.
Richard Nixon: Resigned before full House vote, hence not officially impeached.
Unofficial Responsibilities of Congress Members
Franking Privilege: Enables members to mail communications without charge, excluding campaign materials.
Pork Barrel Legislation / Earmarks:
Funding specific projects to gain political support. Example: Proposed funds for sewer plants, schools, etc.
In 2024: Over 8,000 earmarks led to $14.6 billion in budgeting.
Casework and Constituent Services
Casework relates to assisting constituents with their interactions with government agencies, like Social Security or Medicare. This can significantly expedite processes that could take civilians much longer.
Congressional staff often assigned to help constituents navigate bureaucratic dealings.
Leadership Structure in the House
Speaker of the House: Controls legislative agenda and committee assignments.
Majority Leader: Works closely with the Speaker, leads the majority party.
Minority Leader: Leads the minority party and helps navigate house procedures.
Whips: Majority and Minority whips ensure party members adhere to party lines during votes. Whips use incentives (earmarks) as persuasion tools.
Voting Discipline
Members are allowed to vote against their party but risk backlash and losing support during elections.
Leadership Structure in the Senate
Majority Leader: Similar role as Speaker of the House, prioritizes legislative agendas.
Vice President: Acts as the President of the Senate, only votes to break ties.
President Pro Temp: Ceremonial position, next in line for presidency after Vice President.
Filibuster
A tactic used to delay or block legislative action, unique to the Senate. Requires a supermajority to end.
Longest known filibuster: Approximately 24 hours.
Types of Committees
Standing Committees: Permanent committees that oversee specific areas (e.g., Judiciary, Agriculture).
Subcommittees: Offshoots of standing committees focusing on specific issues (e.g., Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education).
Conference Committees: Resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
Joint Committees: Comprised of members from both chambers.
Select Committees: Temporary committees formed for specific purposes.
Processing Legislation
Bills initiated in either the House or Senate, assigned to relevant committees, amended, debated, and voted upon. If a bill does not achieve majority support in committee, it dies.
The importance of being part of the majority for committee assignments and the successful passage of legislation.
Congressional Offices
Congress members maintain a DC office for legislative duties and one or more district offices for constituent services.
Notable difference is the location and purpose of each office type.
Budgeting considerations based on office expenses and services offered to constituents.
This guide summarizes the components of the legislative process, the structure of Congress, and the roles of members through a detailed exploration of requirements, responsibilities, and political dynamics.