Introduction

branchesThe United states spent eight long years of desperate fighting for independence from 1775 to 1783. Past 1789, the Founding Fathers had set up about constructing a government "congenital on the cardinal conviction of revolutionary-era republicanism: that no fundamental say-so empowered to coerce or discipline the citizenry was permissible , since it but duplicated the monarchical and aristocratic principles that the American Revolution had been fought to escape. The Us is now the oldest indelible commonwealth in earth history, with a gear up of political institutions and traditions that have stood the test of time."

Co-ordinate to Firm.gov , "To ensure a separation of powers, the U.S. Federal Government is made upward 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 oftentimes referred to as " checks and balances ," and prevents any 1 part of government from wielding as well much political power.

Why it Matters

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

The Business firm of Representatives about direct reflects the desires of the American public due to the ratio of American citizens to U.South. Representatives and the abiding election bicycle every ii years. Much of the deadlock of the U.S. authorities that we witness today reflects a divided American people.

This cursory focuses on the Legislative co-operative of the U.S. government, in particular the House of Representatives, including the basics and bolts of how its inner workings, and how everyday citizens can influence the legislative procedure. For a brief on the U.S. Senate, click here .

Salvage Relieve

What is the Legislative Branch?

The legislative branch is made up of the Firm of Representatives and the Senate , known collectively as the Congress. Amongst other powers, the legislative co-operative "makes all laws, declares war, regulates interstate and foreign commerce and controls taxing and spending policies."

CrashCourse U.S. Regime and Politics, produced in collaboration with PBS, explains the Bicameral Congress (9 min):

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

"'If proportional representation takes place, the small States contend that their liberties will be in danger. If an equality of votes is to be put in its place, the big States say their coin will be in danger,'" explained Benjamin Franklin . What eventually "emerged from weeks of stalemate was called the 'Swell Compromise' and created a bicameral legislature with a House, where membership was determined by state population, and a Senate, where each land had two seats regardless of population."

Size and Structure of the Business firm

At that place are 435 representatives in the House , and accept been since the number was fixed by law in 1911. Each House representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district in a state. "Each land receives representation in the House in proportion to the size of its population but is entitled to at least one representative." This means that states with large populations have more than representatives than small states take. Representation based on population was "1 of the virtually important components of the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787," as i of the founders' greatest concerns was designing a organisation of regime that would improve represent the public than did the British model from which they had won independence.

In addition to the 435 representatives from u.s., 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, but do not have the same full voting rights equally the 435 state representatives.

The Role of the Demography

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

Elections

Members of the Firm of Representatives " must stand for election every two years , after which it convenes for a new session and substantially reconstitutes itself – electing a Speaker, swearing-in the Members-elect, and approving a slate of officers to administer the establishment." Biennial elections are held in November, and the Congress commences in the following January. To be elected, a representative must exist at least 25 years old, a Usa citizen for at least vii 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 correspond.

The Life of a Representative

Co-ordinate to Congressional Direction Foundation's Life in Congress study , when representatives are in Washington, D.C., they report spending their time as follows:

  • 35% on "Legislative/Policy Work"
  • 17% on "Constituent Services Work"
  • 17% on "Political/Campaign Work"
  • 9% on "Printing/Media Relations"
  • ix% on "Family unit/Friends"
  • vii% on "Administrative/Managerial Work"
  • half dozen% on "Personal Time"

When in their home commune, they reported spending time equally follows:

  • 32% on "Elective Services Piece of work"
  • eighteen%  on "Political/Campaign Work"
  • xiv% on "Press/Media Relations"
  • 12%  on "Legislative/Policy Work"
  • 9% with "Family/Friends"
  • 8% on "Personal Fourth dimension"
  • seven% on "Authoritative/Managerial Work"

Compensation

Article I, Section half dozen of the Constitution requires Congress to determine its own pay. Congress's " electric current automatic adjustment formula , which is based on changes in individual sector wages," was established by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989. The last pay adjustment was in January 2009. Since, most representatives earn $174,000 annually, while the majority and minority leaders make $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 utilise a lobbyist.

What does the Firm of Representatives do?

Responsibilities of the House

Per the Constitution , the House and Senate together make and pass federal laws, introduce bills and resolutions, offering amendments, and serve on committees that enable members to develop specialized cognition on the matters under that committee's jurisdiction. Though both make up Congress, there are a few distinctions between the two. In detail, the Constitution "provides that only the House of Representatives may originate revenue bills, " and past tradition it also originates appropriation bills.

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

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

Leadership in the House

Afterwards each election, the political party that wins the nigh representatives is designated the " Bulk ." The other political party is the " Minority. " The majority party holds cardinal leadership positions, such as Speaker of the House. The same party can have the majority in both the Business firm of Representatives and the Senate, or the chambers can be carve up. 3rd parties rarely have enough members to elect their own leadership, so independents generally bring together one of the larger party organizations to receive commission assignments.

The House is run past majority dominion.  When a majority of members vote to do something in the House, it gets washed. Majority rule makes passing legislation relatively efficient, and that means that the party in the minority has less ability to set the agenda or laissez passer its proposals. This contrasts with the Senate, where a single senator – in the bulk or the minority – tin can by and large forcefulness a vote or stop a nib in its tracks.

Business firm Leadership includes the Speaker of the Business firm, Majority and Minority Leaders, and Majority and Minority Whips.

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the Business firm, and is elected past the members of the House. The Speaker administers the Adjuration of Office to House members, chairs sure committees or nominates committee chairs (namely the chairs of the House Assistants Committee and the Rules Commission ), and appoints members of various committees and House staff. After 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 floor. Each is elected by his or her respective party. The majority leader is second to the Speaker and schedules legislative business organization, planning legislative agendas rather than serving on committees. The minority leader serves equally the minority political party's spokesperson, essentially the minority party'south analogue to the Speaker. He or she likewise chairs the minority party'due south committee assignment panel.

Bulk and Minority Whips serve equally middlemen to between their political party leaders and members. They "maintain advice between the leadership of the party and its members, marshal support for party positions on the floor, count votes on central legislation, and persuade wavering Members to vote for the party position."

The Speaker of the Business firm is elected past the entire Firm 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 Democratic Conclave is that of the Autonomous Members.

See current House Leadership positions here.

The Role of Committees

Committees " are permanent panels governed past House chamber rules, with responsibility to consider bills and issues and to have general oversight relating to their areas of jurisdiction." Committees take different legislative jurisdictions, only each considers, shapes, and passes laws related to its jurisdiction, and monitors agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdiction. Each commission has a chair that leads the full committee, and a ranking member who leads the minority members of the commission. Commission assignment directly affects a representative's work in Congress. Later a Congressional election, political parties assign newly elected representatives to standing committees

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

Some of the near well-known committees include:

  • The House Commission on Means and Means , which oversees all taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures.
  • The House Committee on Appropriations , which has jurisdiction over setting specific authorities expenditures.
  • The House Committee on Foreign Affairs , which has jurisdiction over foreign assistance and oversees national security developments affecting strange policy.
  • The House Commission on the Judiciary, which oversees the judiciary and ceremonious and criminal proceedings.

Most committees are regular standing committees, which continue from one Congress to the side by side. In that location are also select committees, special committees formed for a short period of time for a specific purpose such as an investigation, and at that place are several joint committees with the Senate. Come across a full listing of all House Committees hither .

Legislation in the House

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

Drafting Legislation

Working with House parliamentarians —  lawyers and clerks who provide nonpartisan guidance on rules and procedures — and other Congressional staff on Capitol Hill, the Congressional representative'due south staff drafts the nib. The parliamentarians have specific expertise; they work closely with staff in a non-partisan manner to typhoon the specific language of the bill. Staff works to build sponsors and cosponsors earlier the nib is introduced.

Introducing a Bill

Any Member, Consul, or Resident Commissioner tin introduce a nib when the house is in session by " placing information technology in the 'hopper, '" a box on the House Clerk'south desk in the Capitol building. The Fellow member who introduces the bill is known every bit the primary sponsor. The bill is so formally assigned a number past the Clerk. A bill originating in the House will first with "H.R." (for the House of Representatives, equally opposed to "S." for the Senate). The Speaker'south function then assigns that neb to its committee(s) of jurisdiction, which then assigns the bill to a subcommittee(southward).

Committee Procedure

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 conclusion of deliberation a vote is taken to determine" whether or not the subcommittee recommends the nib to the full committee. In the full committee, the subcommittee reports on the beak; this coming together provides an opportunity for Members to improve the legislation. There is besides the possibility that the committee tables the bill or fails to take action , which prevents the bill from reaching the full Business firm. You can watch Firm Commission hearing videos here .

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

After a committee has reported a bill, the bill is placed on the calendar . This ways the bill is eligible for flooring consideration, but not that information technology will necessarily make it to the floor. In the House, it is up to the majority party leadership to decide which bills the Firm will consider on the flooring, and in what society.

Committee on Rules

Once leadership has decided that a specific slice of legislation will receive floortime, the House Bulk Leader alerts the committee of jurisdiction that the neb will be considered on the House Flooring, and this kicks off the Rules Committee procedure.

The Committee on Rules , or Rules Committee, is one of the oldest standing committees in the House. The Committee is commonly known equally "The Speaker's Committee" – prior to 1910, the Speaker chaired the Rules Committee, and today it is the mechanism by which the Speaker maintains control of the Firm Flooring. The Rules Committee is sometimes also referred to as " the traffic cop of the Business firm ," equally it determines how much fourth dimension volition be allowed for debate on each slice of legislation considered on the House floor, and if any (and which) amendments will be immune to be considered during the debate.

Most bills are considered nether a procedure known as suspension of the rules , "which limits debate to forty minutes and does not allow amendments to be offered by members on the floor." Otherwise, the bill is considered nether terms tailored for the particular neb. In this case, the House adopts a resolution chosen a special rule from the Rules Committee. After the Rules Commission reports the rule for because the bill and the Firm votes to adopt the rule, the Business firm can and so proceed to the flooring debate.

Floor Debate

Once the rule has been adopted, the Firm usually considers the beak "in a procedural setting called the Committee of the Whole , which is essentially "the House assembled in a dissimilar form; it 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."

Subsequently the flooring argue on amendments and the underlying legislation, the Committee of the Whole reports to the full House, which then votes on the bill. The nib passes the House by a simple majority , 218 votes of the 435 full. Information technology then goes to the Senate and waits to exist scheduled for floor time.

Encounter The Policy Circle's Senate Brief to come across how the procedure continues.

Additional Resource

Glossary of terms

Different types of legislation

Alternative legislative procedures in the House

Means to Get Involved/What You Can Do

Measure & Identify : Who are the influencers in your country, county, or community? Learn about their priorities and consider how to contact them

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

Reach out: You are a catalyst. Finding a common cause is a neat opportunity to develop relationships with people who may exist outside of your immediate network. All it takes is a small-scale team of 2 or three people to set a path for real improvement. The Policy Circumvolve is your platform to convene with experts you 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 endeavor to bring attending to your event to your local Congressional function. Also accomplish out to customs leaders to educate them and asking their engagement on the issue.

Plan: Fix some milestones based on your land'south legislative agenda .

  • You tin notice the legislative calendar for the House of Representatives here .
  • Don't hesitate to contact The Policy Circumvolve squad, communications@thepolicycircle.org , for connections to the broader network, advice, insights on how to build rapport with policy makers and plant yourself as a civic leader.

Execute: Give it your best shot. You can:

  • Research: Brand sure yous know the facts about the issue you are raising. Government agencies, remember tanks, and media outlets can all be good resources. Retrieve to inquiry all sides of the issue to brand sure you understand various angles. Yous can as well talk with people who are afflicted by the outcome with which you are concerned; anecdotal information combined with measured data tin be powerful.
  • Write: Although nosotros may be more than inclined to email in the digital historic period, writing an former-fashioned letter to your local elected representatives or to members of Congress is even so one of the nigh effective means to influence lawmakers.
      • See these tips for step-by-step instructions to write letters to elected officials, including how to address your representative, reference specific legislation, and properly send your correspondence.
  • Organize: Organize people to call in, follow-up on written material, and attain out to other customs members to educate them on the issue. Demonstrating wide support tin can be very effective in influencing a legislator to back up your position.

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