Gavin Howe
The United States Congress is the central law-making body of the US government, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress has a wide range of powers, including the authority to enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers. The legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress, which is then referred to the appropriate committee for review. Congress also plays a crucial role in shaping the judiciary, with the power to confirm Supreme Court justices and impeach members of the federal judiciary. Congress meets in the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and its laws govern various aspects of American life, from education to vehicle safety standards.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legislative powers | Granted by Article I of the U.S. Constitution |
| Legislative process | Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation |
| Number of members | 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population, and 6 non-voting members |
| Election cycle | Two-year term of office for House members |
| Number of senators | 100 members, with each state represented by two senators |
| Senatorial term | Senators are elected for six-year terms, and every two years 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election |
| Age requirement | Senators must be at least 30 years old |
| Citizenship requirement | Senators must be citizens of the United States for nine years or more |
| Residence requirement | Senators must be residents of the state that they represent |
| Judicial powers | Can confirm or reject Presidential appointments to the Supreme Court |
| Investigative powers | Can investigate misuse of federal funds and abuses of power, and gather information needed to create new legislation |
| Veto powers | Can override presidential vetoes |
| Treaty powers | The Senate has the power to approve treaties |
| War powers | Can declare war |
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What You'll Learn
Create and change laws
Congress is the central law-making body of the United States government. It is made up of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives has 435 members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. In addition, there are six non-voting members representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other territories of the United States. The Senate consists of 100 members, with each state represented by two senators. Senators are elected for six-year terms, and every two years, one-third of the Senate is up for re-election.
Congress has the power to create and change laws that govern the United States. The legislative process typically begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Bills are often suggested by the President, such as the annual federal budget. Once a bill is introduced, it is referred to the appropriate committee for review. There are standing committees in both chambers, with members from both parties, that take the lead in developing and assessing legislation. The committees are chaired by a member of the majority party and oversee specific policy areas. The subcommittees within each committee take on more specialized policy areas. For example, the House Committee on Ways and Means includes subcommittees on Social Security and Trade.
After a bill is reviewed by the committee, it is debated and voted on by both chambers of Congress. For a bill to become a law, both the House and the Senate must separately agree to the same bill in the same form. The President can then choose to sign the bill into law or veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto and the bill will become a law. This is a rare occurrence, however, as Congress typically must accommodate the President's position on proposed policies.
In addition to creating and changing laws, Congress also has the power to impeach and try members of the federal judiciary, including Supreme Court justices, for "high crimes and misdemeanors". Congress can also change the size, structure, and jurisdiction of the courts. The Senate has the sole power to confirm appointments to the Supreme Court, as well as to confirm or reject many other Presidential appointments.
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Confirm presidential appointments
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It has the power to confirm or reject presidential appointments. The Appointments Clause requires that Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States be appointed by the President, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
The confirmation process can be one of the biggest challenges a nominee will face in their lifetime. Nominees for Senate-confirmed appointments must complete background investigation and financial disclosure forms, as well as committee questionnaires. The questions typically cover biographical and financial information, and some committees also ask nominees to respond to policy questionnaires. The Senate's role in the process officially begins when it receives an official written nomination from the President regarding the prospective appointment. The nomination is then sent to the appropriate committee. Once reported out from the committee, the nomination may be called up for consideration and vote by the full Senate. Nominees can expect serious scrutiny from the Senate, but most are eventually confirmed.
The President nominates Supreme Court justices, but the Senate has the sole power to confirm those appointments. The confirmation process has changed over time, but Congress’s capacity to shape the judiciary continues to be an important check on that interpretive body. The Senate’s advice-and-consent power over treaties and both chambers’ role in amending the Constitution also indicate the legislature’s essential role in the nation’s representative government.
There are a number of positions that required Senate confirmation of appointees in the past, but do not today. The Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011 eliminated the requirement of Senate approval for 163 positions, allowing the President alone to appoint persons to these positions.
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Declare war
The United States Congress is the country's central law-making body, with the power to declare war. It consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. Article I of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, as well as the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments and substantial investigative powers.
The process of declaring war begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. While anyone can write a bill, only members of Congress can introduce legislation. The bill is then referred to the appropriate committee for review. There are standing committees in both chambers of Congress, which are panels of members from both parties that typically take the lead in developing and assessing legislation. The committees are chaired by a member of the majority party and the committee's ranking member from the minority party. The committees and subcommittees oversee specific policy areas, with the House Committee on Ways and Means, for example, including subcommittees on Social Security and Trade.
Once the relevant committees have reviewed the bill, it is voted on by both chambers of Congress. The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are also six non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other U.S. territories. The Senate, on the other hand, consists of two senators from each state, for a total of 100 members. Senators are elected for six-year terms, and every two years, one-third of the Senate is up for re-election.
After the bill has been passed by both chambers, it is presented to the President for approval. The President has the power to veto legislation, which can affect the content of bills passed by Congress. However, Congress can override a presidential veto and enact the law without the President's approval. This power to declare war is a significant aspect of Congress's role in the nation's representative government and the separation of powers.
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Conduct investigations
Congress has substantial investigative powers. It maintains an investigative organisation, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which was founded in 1921 as the General Accounting Office. The GAO audits and generates reports on every aspect of the government, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and efficiently.
Congress's investigative powers also extend to the federal government, where it plays a role in investigating the misuse of federal funds and abuses of power. This power to investigate is a crucial tool for Congress to develop effective public policy, conduct oversight, and inform the public. For example, Congress investigated presidential wrongdoing and cover-ups during the Watergate Scandal, which "substantially reshaped" relations between the branches of government.
Congressional oversight of the federal government is essential for maintaining a system of checks and balances. Congress can gather information needed to create new legislation, and it has the authority to confirm or reject many presidential appointments, including Supreme Court justices. The Senate's advice-and-consent power over treaties also plays a significant role in shaping the judiciary.
Furthermore, Congress can also conduct investigations through its various committees. There are 17 Senate committees with 70 subcommittees and 23 House committees with 104 subcommittees. These committees are subject to change with each new Congress to efficiently consider legislation. Committee members and staff focus on drafting and considering legislative proposals, but they also engage in other activities, such as conducting investigations related to their specific policy areas.
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Provide oversight of policy implementation
Congress is the central law-making body of the United States government, with the power to create laws that govern the country. It is composed of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Once a law is enacted, Congress has the responsibility to provide oversight of its implementation. This ensures that the law is being carried out effectively and efficiently, and that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely.
Congressional committees play a crucial role in providing oversight of policy implementation. These committees are made up of members from both political parties, allowing for a balanced approach to overseeing the execution of laws. The committees are chaired by members of the majority party, who work closely with the ranking member of the minority party to ensure collaboration and consensus.
The members of these committees often serve for many years, becoming highly knowledgeable in specific policy areas. This expertise enables them to effectively monitor and assess the implementation of policies within their respective domains. They may also propose amendments to existing laws if adjustments are deemed necessary during the implementation phase.
In addition to the committees, Congress also maintains an investigative organisation known as the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO was founded in 1921 as the General Accounting Office, with an initial mandate to audit the budgets and financial statements submitted to Congress. Over time, its role has expanded to include auditing and reporting on various aspects of government operations, ensuring that taxpayer funds are utilised effectively and efficiently.
Through the collective efforts of its committees and the GAO, Congress fulfils its oversight responsibilities, playing a crucial role in ensuring that policies are implemented as intended and that public funds are managed responsibly.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It is the central law-making body of the US government.
Congress has the power to write and debate laws, as well as the power to override presidential vetoes. Congress can also confirm or reject Presidential appointments, such as Supreme Court justices. Congress can declare war, and it has substantial investigative powers.
Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Bills are referred to an appropriate committee for review. There are 17 Senate committees, with 70 subcommittees, and 23 House committees, with 104 subcommittees. Committees are chaired by a member of the majority party and include members from both parties. Once a law is enacted, Congress oversees its implementation.
Congress can shape the judiciary by confirming or rejecting appointments to the Supreme Court. Congress can also impeach and try members of the federal judiciary for "high crimes and misdemeanors". In addition, Congress can change the size, structure, and jurisdiction of the courts.
