1) Structure of Congress

a) House of Representatives – the lower house

i) Membership
(1) total number is fixed at 435
(2) Each state gets a number based on the
state’s population
(a) Each state has at least one representative
(b) Two years after the census is concluded the

states receive the number of representatives

the will get - reapportionment
ii) Election of representatives and term length
(1) Every two years all of the seats in the House

is up for reelection
(2) Term length is 2 years
iii) Requirements for the office
(1) Citizen of the United States – 7 years

(2) Resident of state – 1 year

(3) Minimum age requirement: 25 years old

iv) Key Duties of the House of Representatives

(1) Make laws that are necessary and proper

(Article I, Section 8, Clause 18)

(2) Regulate Commerce (I.8.3 – commerce
clause)
(3) All revenue (tax) bills must start in the
House (I.7.1.)
 (4) Override vetoes of the President (I.7.2)
(5) Declare War (I.8.11)
(6) Impeach (by the House of Representatives)

officials accused of “treason, bribery or other

high crimes and misdemeanors.” (I.3.7)
b) Senate – the upper house
i) Membership
(1) total number based on the number of
states
(2) Each state gets two senators
(a) The senator that was elected first is called

the Senior Senator

(b) The other one is called the Junior Senator
ii) Election of senators and term length
(1) Every two years one third of the seats in the

Senate are up for reelection

(2) Term length is 6 years
iii) Requirements for the office
(1) Citizen of the United States – 9 years

(2) Resident of state – 1 year

(3) Minimum age requirement: 30 years old

iv) Duties of the Senate
(1) Make laws that are necessary and proper

(Article I, Section 8, Clause 18)

(2) Regulate commerce
 (3) Confirm appointments made by the President
(Article II, Section 2, Clause 2) – these
appointments are officials (judges,
ambassadors…)
(4) Override vetoes of the President (I.7.2)
(5) Declare War (I.8.11)
(6) Hold trial for impeached (by the House of
representatives) officials (I.3.7)
(7) Ratify treaties (II.2.2) negotiated by the

President
c) Leaders of the houses of Congress
i) Senate
(1) President of the Senate
(a) Is the Vice President of the United States
(b) Is the presiding officer – maintains order

(c) Can only vote to break tie votes, but does

not have to vote
(2) President Pro Tempore – temporary

president of the Senate

(a) Given to senator of the majority party
that has served the longest
(b) Presiding officer of the Senate in the
absence of the President of the Senate
(c) Duties are given to some Junior Senator
(because no one really wants the job)
 (3) Majority and minority leaders
(a) Not mentioned in the Constitution
(b) Act as organizers for their party in the
Senate
ii) House of Representatives
(1) Speaker of the House of Representatives
(a) Elected by the members of the House
(ends up being a member of the majority
party)
(b) Extremely powerful position
(i) Preside over House debates
(ii) Assign bills to committees
(iii) Can vote on all legislation
(iv) Must vote to break ties (if already has

not voted)
(2) Majority and minority leaders – not in

Constitution
(a) Chosen by each party
(b) Organizes the party in the House
(3) Majority and minority whips – not in the

Constitution
(a) Chosen by each party
(b) Organizes the party when needed to
support important legislation