Kara Sears
The House of Representatives is one of Congress's two chambers, the other being the Senate. The House is the larger of the two legislative bodies, with 435 voting representatives, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states. Each representative speaks for about 550,000 people in their district, and they are elected directly by the people every two years. The House is responsible for making and passing federal laws, and its members introduce bills, offer amendments, and serve on committees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of members | 435 |
| Term length | 2 years |
| Eligibility | 25 years old, US citizen for at least 7 years, inhabitant of the state they represent |
| Powers | Make and pass federal laws, declare war, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, control the nation's financial policies |
| Leadership structure | Speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, party caucus or conference |
| Voting | Majority rule system, with each representative having one vote |
| Committees | Permanent panels responsible for considering bills and overseeing specific areas |
| Non-voting members | Resident commissioner from Puerto Rico and delegates from Washington D.C., American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands |
What You'll Learn
Representatives introduce and vote on bills
The United States House of Representatives is one of Congress's two chambers, the other being the US Senate. Together, they form the federal government's legislative branch. The House of Representatives is directly responsible and responsive to the people. Each representative speaks for the people in their district, which is a smaller area than that of a senator. Representatives are elected to two-year terms, serving the people of a specific congressional district.
The majority party in the House has significant power to draft chamber rules and schedule bills for floor debate and voting. House rules often limit debate so that important legislation can be passed within one legislative business day. The House operates on a majority rule system, meaning decisions are made when a majority of members vote in favor. This means that the minority party has less influence in setting the agenda or passing its proposals.
Representatives also offer amendments and serve on committees. They carry out a broad scope of work to best represent their constituents, including speaking with constituents and other groups, and reviewing constituent mail, press clips, and various reports.
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They can impeach officials
The United States Constitution grants the House of Representatives "the sole Power of Impeachment" (Article I, section 2). The House has initiated impeachment proceedings more than 60 times, but there have only been 21 impeachments, including three presidents, one cabinet secretary, and one senator.
The House of Representatives brings articles (charges) of impeachment against an official. If the House approves the articles by a simple majority vote, the official is impeached. The Senate then sits as a High Court of Impeachment and conducts a trial. In the case of a presidential impeachment trial, the U.S. Supreme Court chief justice presides. The official may be removed from office if found guilty. They may also be barred from holding elected office in the future. If they are acquitted, they can continue to serve in their position.
The Constitution outlines that impeachment is for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." However, the definition of "high Crimes and Misdemeanors" is not specified in the Constitution and has long been a subject of debate. The impeachment process is a fundamental component of the system of "checks and balances" in the U.S. government.
It is important to note that impeachment does not apply to Members of Congress. This is indicated by the Constitution's structure, historical practice, and specific provisions, such as the Ineligibility Clause.
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They elect the President if no candidate receives a majority of votes
The United States House of Representatives is one of Congress's two chambers, the other being the U.S. Senate. Together, they form the federal government's legislative branch. The House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws, with representatives introducing bills and resolutions, offering amendments, and serving on committees.
The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states. Each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district.
In the House of Representatives, the majority party holds significant power to draft chamber rules and schedule bills for floor debate and voting. The House leadership includes the speaker, majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference.
In the context of electing the President, if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the Presidential election moves away from the Electoral College process and into the hands of Congress. The House of Representatives then becomes responsible for electing the President from the three Presidential candidates who garnered the most electoral votes. Each state delegation has one vote, and it is up to the individual states to determine their voting approach.
To become the President-elect, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of state delegation votes, which currently stands at 26 votes. The House continues balloting until it successfully elects a president. This process is known as a contingent election and is outlined in Article Two, Section 1, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution, with further modifications specified in the Twelfth Amendment.
It is important to note that as of 2025, this specific scenario of the House of Representatives electing the President due to a lack of majority electoral votes has not occurred.
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They represent citizens based on district populations
The House of Representatives is designed to ensure that the House closely mirrors the nation's demographic distribution, making it a key element of American representative democracy. The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states. Each representative speaks for about 550,000 people in their district, the area in which they live. This means that representatives can have a narrow focus on issues, hearing the complaints and hopes of the people in their district. They can travel their represented area, meet with their constituents, and try to see people from their district when they visit Washington.
The number of representatives per state is proportionate to the population of that state. For example, smaller states like Vermont and Delaware have one representative, while larger states like California have 53. This means that the House of Representatives is directly responsible and responsive to the people, reflecting the will of the people.
The House of Representatives operates on a majority rule system. The majority party holds significant power to draft rules and schedule bills for debate and voting. Passing legislation is relatively efficient, with decisions made when a majority of members vote in favour.
Any member, delegate, or resident commissioner can introduce a bill when the House is in session. Once introduced, the bill is assigned a unique number, and its title is read on the House floor. The bill is then assigned to the appropriate committee, which considers the bill and oversees its area of jurisdiction.
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They are responsible for committees and committee meetings
The United States House of Representatives is one of Congress's two chambers, the other being the US Senate. The House of Representatives is directly responsible and responsive to the people. Each representative speaks for the people in their district, which comprises about 550,000 people. They are elected to serve the people of a specific congressional district for a two-year term and are considered for re-election every even year.
The House of Representatives operates on a majority rule system. The majority party holds significant power in drafting rules and scheduling bills for debate and voting. The House is responsible for committees and committee meetings, which are an essential part of the legislative process. Committees are permanent panels responsible for considering bills and overseeing their areas of jurisdiction. Each committee has a distinct focus and is led by a chair and a ranking member from the minority party. Committee assignments significantly impact a representative’s work and are made by political parties after each Congressional election.
Representatives introduce bills, offer amendments, and serve on committees. Any member, delegate, or resident commissioner can introduce a bill when the House is in session by placing it in the "hopper," a wooden box on the House Clerk's desk in the Capitol building. Once introduced, the bill is assigned a unique number, and its title is read on the House floor before being entered into the Congressional Record. The Speaker's office then assigns the bill to the appropriate committee(s) of jurisdiction.
Committees play a crucial role in reviewing and discussing bills, resolutions, and interim studies before deciding whether to send them to the full body for consideration. This process allows for a more detailed examination of proposed legislation and ensures that it aligns with the needs and interests of the people in the representatives' districts.
The House of Representatives, through its committees and committee meetings, ensures that the legislative process is thorough and that the voices of the people are heard and reflected in the decisions made.
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Frequently asked questions
The House of Representatives is the larger of the two legislative bodies of Congress, with the other being the Senate. The House is responsible for making and passing federal laws.
The House operates on a majority rule system. The party with the most seats is designated as the majority, while the other becomes the minority. Decisions are made when a majority of members vote in favour.
Each representative is elected to a two-year term, serving the people of a specific congressional district. They are elected directly by the people of the district in which they live.
Representatives introduce and vote on bills, speak with constituents, offer amendments, and serve on committees. They also review constituent mail, press clips, and reports.
The House of Representatives has the power to impeach officials, although this does not remove them from office. It also has the power to declare war, regulate commerce, and control the nation's financial policies.
