Congress
Congress is the name given to those in the Legislative Branch of government, the national lawmaking body of the government. It is found in Article I of the Constitution, saying “All legislative [law making powers] Herein granted shall be vested in a congress of the United States which shall consist of a senate and a house of representatives.” This means our system is “bicameral”, since it is split into two houses. The main responsibility of the Legislative Branch is to make laws, attempting to reflect the will of the public within those laws. Congress is also an example of Representative Democracy, meaning that citizens vote for delegates to represent them in Congress. The houses have a system of checks and balances to make sure no house has more power than the other. A term of Congress itself lasts two years, which usually stays true for members of the House of Representatives, and Senate members usually remain for six years.
Powers of Congress
Congress’s expressed powers consist of the power to tax, power to borrow, commerce power, currency power, bankruptcy power, foreign relations and war powers, naturalization, postal power, copyrights and patents, weights and measures, powers over territories and other areas, and some judicial powers to create all federal court systems below the Supreme Court. Their implied powers can be found in the “necessary and proper clause”, Clause 18. And their inherent power is the power to create a national government for the United States.
House of Representatives
The lower chamber of Congress has 435 voting members, elected based on the population of the states. This satisfied the larger states in terms of how they wanted government representation. Members must be at least 25 years old and a U.S. citizen for 7 years, and they must reside in the district of the election. Within the House of Representatives, there are 22 standing committees. Their special duties consist of originating all bills to raise money, and impeaching U.S. officials under the Constitution.
Senate
The upper chamber of Congress has 100 voting members, two from each state. This satisfied the smaller states who would have felt under-represented in a population-based government. Members must be at least 30 years old and a U.S. citizen for 9 years, and they must reside in the district of the election. Within the Senate, there are 17 standing committees and 4 select committees. Their special duties consist of approving treaties, approving presidential nominees, and trying U.S. officials who are accused while in office.
Three Branches 