The 

United States Congress or U.S. Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal

government of the United States and consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The
Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Both senators and representatives
are chosen through direct election, though vacancies in the Senate may be filled by a governor's
appointment. Congress has 535 voting members: 100 senators and 435 representatives, the latter
defined by the Reapportionment Act of 1929. In addition, the House of Representatives has six non-
voting members, bringing the total membership of the Congress to 541 or fewer in the case of
vacancies.[1]
The sitting of a congress is for a two-year term, at present beginning every other January; the
current congress is the 117th. Elections are held every even-numbered year on Election Day. The
members of the House of Representatives are elected for the two-year term of a congress
representing the people of a single constituency, known as a district. Congressional
districts are apportioned to states by population every ten years using the United States
Census results, provided that each state has at least one congressional representative. Each state,
regardless of population or size, has two senators. Currently, there are 99 senators representing the
50 states (including one vacancy). Each senator is elected at-large in their state for a six-year term,
with terms staggered, so every two years approximately one-third of the Senate is up for election.
Article One of the United States Constitution requires that members of Congress must be at least 25
years old (House) or 30 years old (Senate), have been a citizen of the United States for seven
(House) or nine (Senate) years, and be an inhabitant of the state which they represent. Members in
both chambers may stand for re-election an unlimited number of times.
The Congress was created by the Constitution of the United States and first met in 1789, replacing
in its legislative function the Congress of the Confederation. Although not legally mandated, in
practice since the 19th century, Congress members are typically affiliated with one of the two major
parties, the Republican Party or the Democratic Party and only rarely with a third
party or independents affiliated with no party.

Contents

 1Overview
 2History
o 2.11780s–1820s: Formative Era
o 2.21830s–1900s: Partisan Era
o 2.31910s–1960s: Committee Era
o 2.41970s–Present: Contemporary Era
 3Role
o 3.1Powers of Congress
 3.1.1Overview of congressional power
 3.1.2Enumerated powers
 3.1.3Implied powers and the commerce clause
 3.1.4Territorial government
o 3.2Checks and balances
 4Structure
o 4.1Committees
 4.1.1Specializations
 4.1.2Power
 4.1.3Officer
 o 4.2Support services
 4.2.1Library of Congress
 4.2.2Congressional Research Service
 4.2.3Congressional Budget Office
 4.2.4Lobbyists
 4.2.5United States Capitol Police
o 4.3Partisanship versus bipartisanship
 5Procedures
o 5.1Sessions
o 5.2Joint sessions
o 5.3Bills and resolutions
 6Congress and the public
o 6.1Advantage of incumbency
 6.1.1Citizens and representatives
 6.1.2Expensive campaigns
 6.1.3Television and negative advertising
 6.1.4Public perceptions of Congress
o 6.2Smaller states and bigger states
o 6.3Members and constituents
o 6.4Congressional style
 7Privileges and pay
o 7.1Privileges protecting members
o 7.2Pay and benefits
 8See also
 9Notes
 10Citations
 11References
 12Further reading
 13External links

Overview[edit]

Overview of the United States legislative process, as explained by the Library of Congress

In 1868, this committee of representatives prosecuted President Andrew Johnson in his impeachment trial, but
the Senate did not convict him.

Article One of the United States Constitution states, "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be
vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of
Representatives." The House and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process—legislation
cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers. However, the Constitution grants each
chamber some unique powers. The Senate ratifies treaties and approves presidential appointments
while the House initiates revenue-raising bills. The House initiates impeachment cases, while the
Senate decides impeachment cases.[2] A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required before an
impeached person can be removed from office.[2]
The term Congress can also refer to a particular meeting of the legislature. A Congress covers two
years; the current one, the 117th Congress, began on January 3, 2021, and will end on January 3,
2023. Since the adoption of the Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the
Congress has started and ended at noon on the third day of January of every odd-numbered year.
Members of the Senate are referred to as senators; members of the House of Representatives are
referred to as representatives, congresswomen, or congressmen.
Scholar and representative Lee H. Hamilton asserted that the "historic mission of Congress has
been to maintain freedom" and insisted it was a "driving force in American government"[3] and a
"remarkably resilient institution."[4] Congress is the "heart and soul of our democracy," according to
this view,[5] even though legislators rarely achieve the prestige or name recognition of presidents
or Supreme Court justices; one wrote that "legislators remain ghosts in America's historical
imagination."[5] One analyst argues that it is not a solely reactive institution but has played an active
role in shaping government policy and is extraordinarily sensitive to public pressure.[5] Several
academics described Congress:
Congress reflects us in all our strengths and all our weaknesses. It reflects our regional
idiosyncrasies, our ethnic, religious, and racial diversity, our multitude of professions, and our
shadings of opinion on everything from the value of war to the war over values. Congress is the
government's most representative body ... Congress is essentially charged with reconciling our many
points of view on the great public policy issues of the day.

— Smith, Roberts, and Wielen[3]

Congress is constantly changing and is constantly in flux.[6] In recent times, the American
south and west have gained House seats according to demographic changes recorded by the
census and includes more minorities and women although both groups are still underrepresented.
[6]
 While power balances among the different parts of government continue to change, the internal
structure of Congress is important to understand along with its interactions with so-
called intermediary institutions such as political parties, civic associations, interest groups, and the
mass media.[5]
The Congress of the United States serves two distinct purposes that overlap: local representation to
the federal government of a congressional district by representatives and a state's at-large
representation to the federal government by senators.
Most incumbents seek re-election, and their historical likelihood of winning subsequent elections
exceeds 90 percent.[7]
The historical records of the House of Representatives and the Senate are maintained by the Center
for Legislative Archives, which is a part of the National Archives and Records Administration.[8]
Congress is directly responsible for the governing of the District of Columbia, the current seat of the
federal government.

History[edit]
Main article: History of the United States Congress
The First Continental Congress was a gathering of representatives from twelve of the thirteen
colonies of North America.[9] On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted
the Declaration of Independence, referring to the new nation as the "United States of America."
The Articles of Confederation in 1781 created the Congress of the Confederation, a unicameral body
with equal representation among the states in which each state had a veto over most decisions.
Congress had executive but not legislative authority, and the federal judiciary was confined to
admiralty.[10] and lacked authority to collect taxes, regulate commerce, or enforce laws.[11][12]

The 1940 painting Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States, depicting George
Washington presiding over the signing of the United States Constitution.

Government powerlessness led to the Convention of 1787 which proposed a revised constitution

with a two–chamber or bicameral congress.[13] Smaller states argued for equal representation for
each state.[14] The two-chamber structure had functioned well in state governments.[15] A compromise
plan, the Connecticut Compromise, was adopted with representatives chosen by
population (benefiting larger states) and exactly two senators chosen by state governments
(benefiting smaller states).[6][16] The ratified constitution created a federal structure with two
overlapping power centers so that each citizen as an individual was subjected to both the power of
state government and the national government.[17][18][19] To protect against abuse of power, each
branch of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—had a separate sphere of authority and
could check other branches according to the principle of the separation of powers.[2] Furthermore,
there were checks and balances within the legislature since there were two separate chambers.
[20]
 The new government became active in 1789.[2][21]
Political scientist Julian E. Zelizer suggested there were four main congressional eras, with
considerable overlap, and included the formative era (1780s–1820s), the partisan era (1830s–
1900s), the committee era (1910s–1960s), and the contemporary era (1970s–today).[22]

1780s–1820s: Formative Era[edit]

Federalists and anti-federalists jostled for power in the early years as political parties became
pronounced, surprising the Constitution's Founding Fathers of the United States. With the passage
of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the anti-federalist movement was exhausted. Some
activists joined the Anti-Administration Party that James Madison and Thomas Jefferson were
forming about 1790–91 to oppose policies of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton; it soon
became the Democratic-Republican Party or the Jeffersonian Republican Party[23] and began the era
of the First Party System. Thomas Jefferson's election to the presidency marked a peaceful
transition of power between the parties in 1800. John Marshall, 4th chief justice of the Supreme
Court, empowered the courts by establishing the principle of judicial review in law in the landmark
case Marbury v. Madison in 1803, effectively giving the Supreme Court a power to nullify
congressional legislation.[24][25]

1830s–1900s: Partisan Era[edit]

These years were marked by growth in the power of political parties. The watershed event was
the Civil War which resolved the slavery issue and unified the nation under federal authority, but
weakened the power of states' rights. The Gilded Age (1877–1901) was marked
by Republican dominance of Congress. During this time, lobbying activity became more intense,
particularly during the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant in which influential lobbies
advocated for railroad subsidies and tariffs on wool.[26] Immigration and high birth rates swelled the
ranks of citizens and the nation grew at a rapid pace. The Progressive Era was characterized by
strong party leadership in both houses of Congress as well as calls for reform; sometimes reformers
would attack lobbyists as corrupting politics.[27] The position of Speaker of the House became
extremely powerful under leaders such as Thomas Reed in 1890 and Joseph Gurney Cannon. The
Senate was effectively controlled by a half dozen men.

1910s–1960s: Committee Era[edit]

United States Congress meeting, c. 1915

A system of seniority—in which long-time members of Congress gained more and more power—
encouraged politicians of both parties to serve for long terms. Committee chairmen remained
influential in both houses until the reforms of the 1970s.
Important structural changes included the direct popular election of senators according to
the Seventeenth Amendment,[16] ratified on April 8, 1913, with positive effects (senators more
sensitive to public opinion) and negative effects (undermining the authority of state governments).
[16]
 Supreme Court decisions based on the Constitution's commerce clause expanded congressional
power to regulate the economy.[28] One effect of popular election of senators was to reduce the
difference between the House and Senate in terms of their link to the electorate.[29] Lame
duck reforms according to the Twentieth Amendment reduced the power of defeated and retiring
members of Congress to wield influence despite their lack of accountability.[30]
The Great Depression ushered in President Franklin Roosevelt and strong control by
Democrats[31] and historic New Deal policies. Roosevelt's election in 1932 marked a shift in
government power towards the executive branch. Numerous New Deal initiatives came from
the White House rather than being initiated by Congress.[32] The Democratic Party controlled both
houses of Congress for many years.[33][34][35] During this time, Republicans and conservative southern
Democrats[36] formed the Conservative Coalition.[35][37] Democrats maintained control of Congress
during World War II.[38][39] Congress struggled with efficiency in the postwar era partly by reducing the
number of standing congressional committees.[40] Southern Democrats became a powerful force in
many influential committees although political power alternated between Republicans and
Democrats during these years. More complex issues required greater specialization and expertise,
such as space flight and atomic energy policy.[40] Senator Joseph McCarthy exploited the fear of
communism during the Second Red Scare and conducted televised hearings.[41][42] In 1960,
Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy narrowly won the presidency and power shifted again to the
Democrats who dominated both houses of Congress until 1994.

1970s–Present: Contemporary Era[edit]

Historical graph of party control of the Senate, House, and Presidency.[43] Since 1980, the Democrats have held
the Presidency for four terms, but because of the Senate filibuster, have only been able to freely legislate in two
years. The Republicans have been similarly disabled.

Congress enacted Johnson's Great Society program to fight poverty and hunger. The Watergate

Scandal had a powerful effect of waking up a somewhat dormant Congress which investigated
presidential wrongdoing and coverups; the scandal "substantially reshaped" relations between the
branches of government, suggested political scientist Bruce J. Schulman.[44] Partisanship returned,
particularly after 1994; one analyst attributes partisan infighting to slim congressional majorities
which discouraged friendly social gatherings in meeting rooms such as the Board of Education.
[5]
 Congress began reasserting its authority.[32][45] Lobbying became a big factor despite the
1971 Federal Election Campaign Act. Political action committees or PACs could make substantive
donations to congressional candidates via such means as soft money contributions.[46] While soft
money funds were not given to specific campaigns for candidates, the money often benefited
candidates substantially in an indirect way and helped reelect candidates.[46] Reforms such as the
2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act limited campaign donations but did not limit soft
money contributions.[47] One source suggests post-Watergate laws amended in 1974 meant to
reduce the "influence of wealthy contributors and end payoffs" instead "legitimized PACs" since they
"enabled individuals to band together in support of candidates."[48] From 1974 to 1984, PACs grew
from 608 to 3,803 and donations leaped from $12.5 million to $120 million[48][49][50] along with concern
over PAC influence in Congress.[51][52] In 2009, there were 4,600 business, labor and special-interest
PACs[53] including ones for lawyers, electricians, and real estate brokers.[54] From 2007 to 2008, 175
members of Congress received "half or more of their campaign cash" from PACs.[53][55][56]
From 1970 to 2009, the House expanded delegates, along with their powers and privileges
representing U.S. citizens in non-state areas, beginning with representation on committees
for Puerto Rico's resident commissioner in 1970. In 1971, a delegate for the District of Columbia was
authorized, and in 1972 new delegate positions were established for U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
1978 saw an additional delegate for American Samoa, and another for the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands began in 2009. These six members of Congress enjoy floor
privileges to introduce bills and resolutions, and in recent congresses they vote in permanent and
select committees, in party caucuses and in joint conferences with the Senate. They have Capitol
Hill offices, staff and two annual appointments to each of the four military academies. While their
votes are constitutional when Congress authorizes their House Committee of the Whole votes,
recent Congresses have not allowed for that, and they cannot vote when the House is meeting as
the House of Representatives.[57]
In the late 20th century, the media became more important in Congress's work.[58] Analyst Michael
Schudson suggested that greater publicity undermined the power of political parties and caused
"more roads to open up in Congress for individual representatives to influence decisions."[58] Norman
Ornstein suggested that media prominence led to a greater emphasis on the negative and
sensational side of Congress, and referred to this as the tabloidization of media coverage.[6] Others
saw pressure to squeeze a political position into a thirty-second soundbite.[59] A report characterized
Congress in 2013 as being unproductive, gridlocked, and "setting records for futility."[60] In October
2013, with Congress unable to compromise, the government was shut down for several weeks and
risked a serious default on debt payments, causing 60% of the public to say they would "fire every
member of Congress" including their own representative.[61] One report suggested Congress posed
the "biggest risk to the U.S. economy" because of its brinksmanship, "down-to-the-wire budget and
debt crises" and "indiscriminate spending cuts," resulting in slowed economic activity and keeping up
to two million people unemployed.[62] There has been increasing public dissatisfaction with Congress,
[63]
 with extremely low approval ratings[64][65] which dropped to 5% in October 2013.[66]
On January 6th, 2021, the Congress gathered to confirm the election of Joe Biden, when supporters
of Donald Trump violently entered the building. The session of Congress ended prematurely and
Congress representatives evacuated. Trump supporters occupied Congress until D.C police
evacuated the area. The event was the first time since the Burning of Washington that the United
States Congress was forcefully occupied.