Congress, the U.S. government’s legislative body, comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate. While senators are commonly used to refer to members of the Senate, representatives, congressmen, and congresswomen are more typically used to concern members of the House of Representatives. There are many parallels between the two bodies, even though each has its own rules and regulations to obey.
Although the House of Representatives and the Senate are two separate bodies, the U.S. Congress is frequently referred to as a single body since there are two chambers in this bicameral (“two-room”) government, the distinctions between the Senate and the House ensure that each body has distinct duties, even though both houses of Congress collaborate in drafting and passing the laws that govern the nation.
The House and Senate make up the legislative branch of the government together. They work with the executive and judicial branches to put the checks and balances in place to maintain all three branches operating and prevent any one branch from misusing its power.
What is House?
The House of Representatives, sometimes known as the House, is the lower House of Congress, consisting of 435 representatives, the number of which is decided by the population of each state. Representatives come up for re-election every two years because their tenure is two years long.
Article I, which establishes a Congress comprised of a House of Representatives and a Senate, acknowledges the supremacy of the people as expressed by their elected officials. The Constitution’s placement of Congress at the outset confirms that it is the “First Branch” of the federal government.
What is Senate?
The upper House of Congress is known as the Senate. There are 100 senators, with each state having two representatives regardless of population size. Senators are elected for six years, with one-third seeking re-election every two.
Acting on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations, and treaties requires the Senate to cast votes. Roll call votes, voice votes, and unanimous consent are all common voting procedures used by senators.
Similarities Between House and Senate
Representation and Responsiveness
With two senators in each state, the Senate equally represents large and small states, but the population of each state determines how many of the 435 House representatives that state receives. Compared to senators, whose terms are six years long, members of the House of Representatives are often more attentive to the needs of their people because of their two-year mandates. However, because one-third of the Senate is up for re-election every two years, senators cannot disregard their constituents.
Debate Procedures
Compared to the bigger House of Representatives, the smaller Senate often has less formal debate procedures. In addition, representatives in the House may be more sensitive to constituent concerns than senators due to their shorter terms. They may therefore be less inclined to forge bipartisan alliances supporting the legislation.
Committee Structure
The House and the Senate use a committee system since their work is intricate. Each group also hires employees to assist in running its committee meetings. Committees are present in both the House and the Senate to gather data, identify issues, identify solutions, and report conclusions. Both organizations have committee systems, but each utilizes a distinct set of rules for its system, and each committee creates its regulations based on these norms. The House and the Senate can introduce bills, but only some get out of committee. Some measures are abandoned in committee and never come up for discussion or a vote.
Convening in the Capitol
The Senate meets in the Senate Chamber, while the House meets in the House Chamber, both of which are located in the Capitol. In their respective chambers of the Capitol, senators, and representatives present, discuss, and vote on bills. The congressional office buildings, which are connected to the Capitol by a network of underground tunnels, House both the offices of the representatives and senators and are situated just a short stroll from the Capitol. Meetings can be planned freely at the Washington, D.C., or home-state offices of elected officials.
Establishing laws
Both teams are tasked with creating legislation that could pass into law. First, both the House and the Senate create draft laws that will be introduced, referred to committee, discussed, and put to the vote on the floor. Then, a measure approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate is forwarded to the President, who either signs it into law or vetoes it. Before votes are taken, the House and Senate have numerous opportunities to discuss and amend laws.
Purpose
They both have the same aim, which is their fundamental commonality. They both exist to draft laws for our country. Additionally, both have the power to enact legislation, which must pass both chambers to become law (with some exceptions, but this is meant to be the general course by which a bill becomes law).
FAQs
What do the House of Representatives and the Senate have in common?
There are some similarities seen between the Senate and the House of Representatives. For instance, the method through which a bill becomes a law, and the availability of anyone with a bill concept are similar. In addition, both legislatures deal with the impeachment of government leaders, which is another similarity.
What does the House do compared to the Senate?
While the Senate conducts impeachments, the House has the authority to impeach (officially accuse). The Senate also approves treaties and some presidential nominations, including those of Supreme Court justices and ambassadors.
What does the House do that the Senate doesn’t?
The House has several exclusive rights, including the ability to introduce revenue bills, remove federal officials from office, and choose the President in the event of a deadlock in the electoral college.
What’s the difference between the House of Reps and the Senate?
Members of the House represent particular districts, whereas senators represent their entire states. A state’s population determines how many districts there are in that state. There is a minimum of one representative from each state in Congress.
What are the 4 duties of the Senate?
The Senate is the Parliament’s second chamber. It is separate from the National Assembly’s function and enhances it. The Senate participates in creating and revising laws, oversight, and rebuking governmental actions.
The Senate performs three key functions:
Legislation.
Accountability / Oversight of the Executive.
Representation of Federating units.
How long is the term for a member of the House?
Representatives are required to be 25 years old and have been citizens of the United States for at least 7 years. Representative terms last for two years.
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