Introduction

branchesThe United States spent eight long years of desperate fighting for independence from 1775 to 1783. By 1789, the Founding Fathers had set most constructing a regime "congenital on the cardinal conviction of revolutionary-era republicanism: that no central authority empowered to coerce or bailiwick the citizenry was permissible , since it merely duplicated the monarchical and aristocratic principles that the American Revolution had been fought to escape. The Us is now the oldest enduring republic in world history, with a set of political institutions and traditions that accept stood the test of time."

According to House.gov , "To ensure a separation of powers, the U.S. Federal Regime is fabricated up of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. To ensure the government is effective and citizens' rights are protected, each branch has its own powers and responsibilities, including working with the other branches." This is often referred to as " checks and balances ," and prevents any i part of government from wielding likewise much political power.

Why it Matters

America benefits from a judicial branch positioned to halt executive branch overreach. The President of the United States cannot stay in power indefinitely and is unable to forcefulness the U.S. Congress to pass laws. From the very kickoff, and still to today, the American people have access to and influence over their elected representatives.

The House of Representatives well-nigh directly reflects the desires of the American public due to the ratio of American citizens to U.S. Representatives and the abiding election cycle every two years. Much of the deadlock of the U.S. authorities that we witness today reflects a divided American people.

This brief focuses on the Legislative co-operative of the U.Southward. regime, in particular the House of Representatives, including the basics and bolts of how its inner workings, and how everyday citizens tin can influence the legislative process. For a cursory on the U.South. Senate, click hither .

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What is the Legislative Branch?

The legislative branch is fabricated up of the House of Representatives and the Senate , known collectively equally the Congress. Amidst other powers, the legislative branch "makes all laws, declares war, regulates interstate and foreign commerce and controls taxing and spending policies."

CrashCourse U.S. Government and Politics, produced in collaboration with PBS, explains the Bicameral Congress (nine min):

Of all federal government institutions, the Business firm of Representatives is designed to be closest to American voters, most closely reflecting the individual cares and concerns of American taxpayers. In fact, the House is the only institution that has been directly elected by American voters since its formation in 1789.

"'If proportional representation takes place, the small-scale States contend that their liberties volition be in danger. If an equality of votes is to be put in its place, the large States say their money volition be in danger,'" explained Benjamin Franklin . What somewhen "emerged from weeks of stalemate was called the 'Smashing Compromise' and created a bicameral legislature with a Firm, where membership was determined by land population, and a Senate, where each country had two seats regardless of population."

Size and Structure of the House

At that place are 435 representatives in the House , and accept been since the number was fixed past law in 1911. Each House representative is elected to a two-yr term serving the people of a specific congressional district in a land. "Each state receives representation in the Business firm in proportion to the size of its population only is entitled to at least ane representative." This means that states with large populations have more representatives than small states accept. Representation based on population was "one of the most important components of the Federal Ramble Convention of 1787," every bit one of the founders' greatest concerns was designing a system of authorities that would better represent the public than did the British model from which they had won independence.

In addition to the 435 representatives from usa, there is a Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and Delegates from Washington D.C., American Samoa, Guam, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. The Resident Commissioner and Delegates are able to serve and vote on committees, just practise non take the same total voting rights as the 435 state representatives.

The Role of the Census

Specifically, seats in the Business firm " are apportioned based on state population according to the constitutionally mandated Census."  The Census, which occurs every ten years and is overseen by the Bureau of the Census, part of the U.South. Department of Commerce. Tying representation to Census information allows the number of each state's representatives to increase or decrease along with fluctuations in state population. The Census data is then used to determine congressional districts, areas in the state from which representatives are elected to the Business firm. This process is called redistricting. For more than on redistricting and the Census, meet The Policy Circle'south Decennial Census Brief.

Elections

Members of the House of Representatives " must stand up for ballot every ii years , afterward which it convenes for a new session and essentially reconstitutes itself – electing a Speaker, swearing-in the Members-elect, and blessing a slate of officers to administrate the institution." Biennial elections are held in November, and the Congress commences in the following Jan. To be elected, a representative must exist at to the lowest degree 25 years quondam, a U.s.a. citizen for at to the lowest degree seven years, and a resident of the state he or she represents. U.S. House candidates are not required to live in the congressional district they represent.

The Life of a Representative

According to Congressional Management Foundation's Life in Congress study , when representatives are in Washington, D.C., they report spending their fourth dimension as follows:

  • 35% on "Legislative/Policy Work"
  • 17% on "Constituent Services Piece of work"
  • 17% on "Political/Entrada Piece of work"
  • 9% on "Press/Media Relations"
  • ix% on "Family/Friends"
  • 7% on "Administrative/Managerial Work"
  • 6% on "Personal Time"

When in their habitation commune, they reported spending time as follows:

  • 32% on "Constituent Services Work"
  • 18%  on "Political/Campaign Piece of work"
  • 14% on "Press/Media Relations"
  • 12%  on "Legislative/Policy Piece of work"
  • 9% with "Family/Friends"
  • eight% on "Personal Fourth dimension"
  • seven% on "Authoritative/Managerial Work"

Compensation

Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution requires Congress to determine its ain pay. Congress's " current automatic adjustment formula , which is based on changes in individual sector wages," was established by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989. The final pay aligning was in January 2009. Since, most representatives earn $174,000 annually, while the majority and minority leaders brand $193,400. The Speaker earns the largest bacon at $223,500. Additionally, representatives "are subject to some specific laws and regulations regarding the acceptance of gifts ," particularly gifts from registered lobbyists or from private entities that retain or employ a lobbyist.

What does the House of Representatives practise?

Responsibilities of the House

Per the Constitution , the House and Senate together make and laissez passer federal laws, innovate bills and resolutions, offering amendments, and serve on committees that enable members to develop specialized cognition on the matters nether that commission's jurisdiction. Though both make up Congress, there are a few distinctions between the two. In particular, the Constitution "provides that simply the House of Representatives may originate acquirement bills, " and by tradition information technology also originates appropriation bills.

Additionally, while the Constitution does not specifically mention investigations and oversight , "the authority to conduct investigations is unsaid since Congress possesses 'all legislative powers'." The House initiates impeachment proceedings and passes articles of impeachment (the Senate sits as a courtroom to endeavour the impeachment).

Finally, during a presidential election, the House of Representatives steps in if no candidate receives a bulk of the total electoral votes. Each state delegation has one vote to choose the President from amidst the top three candidates with the largest number of electoral votes.

Leadership in the House

Afterwards each election, the political party that wins the most representatives is designated the " Majority ." The other party is the " Minority. " The majority party holds key leadership positions, such as Speaker of the House. The aforementioned party can have the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or the chambers can be split. Third parties rarely have plenty members to elect their own leadership, and so independents generally join one of the larger political party organizations to receive committee assignments.

The Firm is run by bulk rule.  When a bulk of members vote to do something in the Business firm, it gets done. Majority dominion makes passing legislation relatively efficient, and that means that the party in the minority has less ability to prepare the agenda or laissez passer its proposals. This contrasts with the Senate, where a unmarried senator – in the majority or the minority – can generally force a vote or stop a bill in its tracks.

House Leadership includes the Speaker of the House, Majority and Minority Leaders, and Bulk and Minority Whips.

The Speaker of the Business firm is the presiding officer of the Firm, and is elected by the members of the Firm. The Speaker administers the Oath of Office to Firm members, chairs sure committees or nominates commission chairs (namely the chairs of the House Administration Commission and the Rules Commission ), and appoints members of various committees and House staff. Afterward the Vice President, the Speaker is second in line to succeed the Vice President.

Majority and Minority Leaders represent their respective parties on the House flooring. Each is elected by his or her corresponding party. The bulk leader is 2d to the Speaker and schedules legislative business, planning legislative agendas rather than serving on committees. The minority leader serves every bit the minority party'due south spokesperson, essentially the minority party'south counterpart to the Speaker. He or she also chairs the minority party's commission assignment console.

Majority and Minority Whips serve every bit middlemen to between their party leaders and members. They "maintain communication between the leadership of the party and its members, align back up for party positions on the floor, count votes on key legislation, and persuade wavering Members to vote for the political party position."

The Speaker of the Business firm is elected by the unabridged House of Representatives, while the Republican Conference and Democratic Caucus elect the other leadership positions. The Republican Conference is the formal system of Republican Members in the House, and the Autonomous Conclave is that of the Democratic Members.

Meet current House Leadership positions here.

The Office of Committees

Committees " are permanent panels governed by Business firm chamber rules, with responsibleness to consider bills and issues and to have general oversight relating to their areas of jurisdiction." Committees have different legislative jurisdictions, simply each considers, shapes, and passes laws related to its jurisdiction, and monitors agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdiction. Each committee has a chair that leads the full committee, and a ranking fellow member who leads the minority members of the committee. Committee assignment directly affects a representative'due south work in Congress. After a Congressional election, political parties assign newly elected representatives to standing committees

Crash Form U.S. Government & Politics explains what Congressional committees do (8 min):

Some of the most well-known committees include:

  • The Business firm Committee on Ways and Means , which oversees all revenue enhancement, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures.
  • The Business firm Committee on Appropriations , which has jurisdiction over setting specific government expenditures.
  • The Firm Commission on Foreign Affairs , which has jurisdiction over foreign assistance and oversees national security developments affecting foreign policy.
  • The House Committee on the Judiciary, which oversees the judiciary and civil and criminal proceedings.

Nearly committees are regular continuing committees, which continue from one Congress to the adjacent. In that location are besides select committees, special committees formed for a short flow of time for a specific purpose such as an investigation, and there are several joint committees with the Senate. See a full listing of all House Committees hither .

Legislation in the House

Legislation begins with an thought . Information technology may come from a Congressman, a staffer, a constituent, or a thought leader or expert on a given subject. You may remember the School Firm Rock video , which walks through the legislative process in an accessible way and is great to share with your kids (3 min):

Drafting Legislation

Working with Firm parliamentarians —  lawyers and clerks who provide nonpartisan guidance on rules and procedures — and other Congressional staff on Capitol Hill, the Congressional representative's staff drafts the beak. The parliamentarians have specific expertise; they work closely with staff in a non-partisan way to draft the specific language of the pecker. Staff works to build sponsors and cosponsors before the bill is introduced.

Introducing a Pecker

Any Member, Consul, or Resident Commissioner tin introduce a bill when the house is in session by " placing it in the 'hopper, '" a box on the House Clerk's desk in the Capitol edifice. The Fellow member who introduces the bill is known as the primary sponsor. The bill is then formally assigned a number by the Clerk. A bill originating in the House will start with "H.R." (for the House of Representatives, equally opposed to "S." for the Senate). The Speaker's office then assigns that bill to its committee(southward) of jurisdiction, which then assigns the bill to a subcommittee(s).

Commission Process

The Subcommittee seeks input from relevant departments and agencies and holds public hearings. After hearings, there is a markup on the legislation , in which "views of both sides are studied in detail and at the determination of deliberation a vote is taken to determine" whether or not the subcommittee recommends the bill to the full commission. In the full committee, the subcommittee reports on the neb; this meeting provides an opportunity for Members to improve the legislation. At that place is besides the possibility that the committee tables the bill or fails to take action , which prevents the beak from reaching the full House. You lot can lookout Firm Committee hearing videos here .

To get to the full House, the committee staff writes a report describing the purpose of the bill, why the bill is recommended, and an analysis of each part of the beak and how the bill may affect existing law. A full committee mark-up and the decision of what legislation makes it to the House floor is tightly controlled by the Committee Chairman'south office and leadership. When the legislation is reported favorably out of the full committee it awaits a determination by leadership to schedule time for it to be debated on the House floor. This decision is a negotiation based on priorities of the commission and of leadership.

After a committee has reported a bill, the bill is placed on the calendar . This means the bill is eligible for flooring consideration, merely not that it will necessarily get in to the floor. In the House, it is up to the majority party leadership to determine which bills the House will consider on the floor, and in what order.

Committee on Rules

Once leadership has decided that a specific piece of legislation volition receive floortime, the House Bulk Leader alerts the committee of jurisdiction that the bill will be considered on the House Floor, and this kicks off the Rules Commission procedure.

The Committee on Rules , or Rules Committee, is one of the oldest standing committees in the House. The Committee is commonly known as "The Speaker'southward Committee" – prior to 1910, the Speaker chaired the Rules Commission, and today it is the machinery past which the Speaker maintains control of the Business firm Floor. The Rules Committee is sometimes also referred to as " the traffic cop of the Firm ," as it determines how much time will exist immune for contend on each piece of legislation considered on the Business firm flooring, and if whatever (and which) amendments will be allowed to be considered during the debate.

Nearly bills are considered under a procedure known as break of the rules , "which limits fence to 40 minutes and does not allow amendments to be offered by members on the flooring." Otherwise, the bill is considered under terms tailored for the particular bill. In this example, the Business firm adopts a resolution called a special rule from the Rules Committee. Subsequently the Rules Committee reports the rule for considering the beak and the House votes to adopt the rule, the House tin then go on to the floor contend.

Floor Debate

In one case the rule has been adopted, the Firm ordinarily considers the neb "in a procedural setting called the Committee of the Whole , which is substantially "the House assembled in a different class; information technology is a committee of the House equanimous of every Representative that meets in the House chamber." This procedure "allows members an efficient way to consider and vote on amendments."

Afterwards the floor debate on amendments and the underlying legislation, the Committee of the Whole reports to the full Business firm, which then votes on the pecker. The nib passes the House by a simple majority , 218 votes of the 435 total. It then goes to the Senate and waits to be scheduled for floor time.

See The Policy Circle'southward Senate Brief to encounter how the process continues.

Additional Resource

Glossary of terms

Dissimilar types of legislation

Alternative legislative procedures in the House

Ways to Get Involved/What Yous Tin can Practise

Mensurate & Identify : Who are the influencers in your state, county, or community? Acquire virtually their priorities and consider how to contact them

  • Do you know who your Congressional Representative is ? What about your state elected officials ?
  • Track your representatives' votes with GovTrack .

Reach out: You are a catalyst. Finding a mutual cause is a great opportunity to develop relationships with people who may exist outside of your firsthand network. All it takes is a pocket-sized squad of two or 3 people to set a path for real improvement. The Policy Circumvolve is your platform to convene with experts yous want to hear from.

  • Find allies in your community or in nearby towns and elsewhere in the state.
  • Foster collaborative relationships with colleagues, neighbors, friends, and local organizations to mobilize an effort to bring attending to your issue to your local Congressional office. Besides reach out to community leaders to educate them and request their engagement on the effect.

Plan: Set some milestones based on your state's legislative agenda .

  • You tin can find the legislative agenda for the Firm of Representatives here .
  • Don't hesitate to contact The Policy Circle team, communications@thepolicycircle.org , for connections to the broader network, advice, insights on how to build rapport with policy makers and establish yourself equally a civic leader.

Execute: Give it your best shot. You can:

  • Research: Make sure you lot know the facts about the consequence yous are raising. Regime agencies, retrieve tanks, and media outlets can all be practiced resources. Remember to research all sides of the issue to make sure you understand various angles. You can also talk with people who are affected by the issue with which y'all are concerned; anecdotal information combined with measured data can be powerful.
  • Write: Although we may exist more inclined to email in the digital age, writing an former-fashioned alphabetic character to your local elected representatives or to members of Congress is nevertheless one of the nigh effective ways to influence lawmakers.
      • Meet these tips for pace-by-step instructions to write messages to elected officials, including how to address your representative, reference specific legislation, and properly transport your correspondence.
  • Organize: Organize people to telephone call in, follow-up on written fabric, and accomplish out to other customs members to brainwash them on the issue. Demonstrating wide support tin can be very effective in influencing a legislator to support your position.

Working with others, yous may create something dandy for your community. Here are some tools to learn how to contact your representatives and write an op-ed .