Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. They were founded to strengthen each other and be distinctive.
The Senate can convict and remove an official from office if it chooses to do so. The British government and American colonial governments have a similar pattern in place.
Do bills go through Senate or House first?
Laws start with ideas. A committee for study is assigned to the bill. The bill is put on a calendar to be debated or amended if it is released by the committee. The bill would move to the Senate if it passes by a simple majority. If the bill is released and assigned to another committee, it can be debated and voted on in the Senate. The bill is passed by a simple majority (51 of 100). Any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill are worked out by a conference committee made up of House and Senate members. Final approval of the bill is expected from the House and Senate. The revised bill is printed in the Government Printing Office.
Do the House and Senate have the same powers?
The power to impeach a government official is given to the House of Representatives by the constitution. The Senate has sole authority to conduct impeachment trials and serve as jury and judge. Twenty federal officials, including three presidents, have been tried by the Senate since 1789.
Do the House and Senate have the same committees?
The bill is referred to the appropriate committee for review after being introduced. The Senate has 17 committees, with 70 subcommittees, and the House has 23 committees with 104 subcommittees. Changes in number and form are required for efficient consideration of legislation, and the committees are not set in stone. The subcommittees take on more specialized policy areas that are overseen by each committee. Subcommittees on Social Security and Trade can be found on the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Is the Senate the higher chamber?
The lower chamber of the Congress is the House of Representatives, while the upper chamber is the United States Senate. The national bicameral legislature of the United States is composed of them together.
How many terms can a senator serve?
How long do members of congress stay in office? The members of the House of Representatives are considered for reelection every year. Only 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection during any election, because Senators serve six-year terms and elections are staggered over even years.
Can the House of Representatives declare war?
The Senate can confirm the appointments of the President by a majority vote, as well as ratifies treaties by a two-thirds supermajority vote. The confirmation of the Vice President is dependent on the approval of the House of Representatives.
Are the Senate and House of Representatives equal?
Equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives were established during the summer of 1787 by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The plan for congressional representation was called the ‘Connecticut Compromise’ and it was the most controversial part of the Constitution.
What can the Senate do that the House Cannot?
The Senate has sole authority to confirm the President’s appointments that require consent and to give advice and consent to treaties. Appointment to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade are exceptions to this rule. The House referred federal officials to the Senate for possible impeachment.
