United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislative, or law making, branch of the United States government. It meets in the United States Capitol.[3]
United States Congress | |
|---|---|
| 118th United States Congress | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate House of Representatives |
| History | |
| Founded | March 4, 1789 |
| Preceded by | Congress of the Confederation |
New session started | January 3, 2023 |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats |
|
| 250px | |
Senate political groups | Majority (51)
Minority (49)
|
| File:(118th) US House of Representatives.svg | |
House of Representatives political groups | Majority (221)
Minority (212)
|
| Elections | |
Senate last election | November 8, 2022 |
House of Representatives last election | November 8, 2022 |
Senate next election | November 5, 2024 |
House of Representatives next election | November 5, 2024 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| United States Capitol Washington, D.C., United States | |
| Website | |
| www | |
It has two houses (parts): The United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. This two house system is known as a bicameral (bi is the Latin word for "two", and camera is Latin for "chamber" or "room") legislature. There are 435 Representatives in Congress,[4] split between the states based on how many people live in the state.[5] There are 100 Senators in Congress, with two coming from each state.[6][7]
The primary duty of Congress is to write, debate, and pass bills (laws they want). For Congress to pass a bill, both houses must pass exactly the same bill. For each house to pass a bill, more than half of its members must vote in favor of passing the bill. After both houses pass the same bill, this bill is then sent to the President. If the President agrees the bill should be a law he or she signs the bill within 10 days. If the president does not agree, then he or she can veto the bill and send it back to Congress. If the bill is neither signed nor vetoed by the president within 10 days, the bill becomes law anyway if Congress does not adjourn (end its session) within that time. If Congress adjourns within that time, the bill does not become a law. Congress may override a president's veto of a bill by having more than two thirds of its members passing the bill. In that case, the bill becomes law even though the president vetoed it.
Article 1 of the United States Constitution lists what subjects Congress can pass laws on.
Members of Congress cannot be arrested, except for certain crimes, during a session of Congress or going to or returning from a session.
Each house of Congress can decide to expel (throw out) one of its members if more than two thirds of them vote to expel him or her.
The political party with the most members in a house of Congress usually decides which bills are voted on in their house.
United States Congress Media
Overview of the United States legislative process, as explained by the Library of Congress
In 1868, this committee of representatives prosecuted President Andrew Johnson in his impeachment trial, but the Senate did not convict him.
The 1940 painting Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States, depicting George Washington presiding over the signing of the United States Constitution
United States Congress c. 1915
Historical graph of party control of the Senate, House, and Presidency. Since 1980, the Democrats have held the Presidency for four terms, but because of the Senate filibuster, have only been able to freely legislate in two years. The Republicans have been similarly disabled.
Congresses' 200th anniversary in 1989 was honored by United States Congress Bicentennial commemorative coins.
Congress's "power of the purse" authorizes taxing citizens, spending money, and printing currency.
Congress authorizes defense spending such as the purchase of the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31).
Congress oversees other government branches, for example, the Senate Watergate Committee, investigating President Nixon and Watergate, in 1973–1974.
View of the United States Capitol from the United States Supreme Court building
Library of Congress video explanation of committees in the United States Congress
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Related page
References
- ↑ "Maine Independent Angus King To Caucus With Senate Democrats". Politico. November 14, 2012. https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2012/11/14/165149633/maine-independent-angus-king-to-caucus-with-senate-democrats. Retrieved November 28, 2020. "Angus King of Maine, who cruised to victory last week running as an independent, said Wednesday that he will caucus with Senate Democrats. [...] The Senate's other independent, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, also caucuses with the Democrats.".
- ↑ Sinema, Kyrsten. "Sen. Kyrsten Sinema: Why I'm registering as an independent". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ↑ "U.S. Capitol Visitor Center". U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.
- ↑ See Public Law 62-5 of 1911, though Congress may change the number of Representatives.
- ↑ United States Constitution Article I, Section 2.
- ↑ United States Constitution Article I, Section 3.
- ↑ United States Constitution Amendment XVII.
- ↑ The independent senators, Angus King of Maine, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, caucus with the Democrats.[1][2]