Introduction

branchesThe United States spent 8 long years of desperate fighting for independence from 1775 to 1783. By 1789, the Founding Fathers had ready well-nigh constructing a authorities "congenital on the cardinal conviction of revolutionary-era republicanism: that no central authority empowered to coerce or subject area the citizenry was permissible , since it merely duplicated the monarchical and aristocratic principles that the American Revolution had been fought to escape. The United States is now the oldest indelible republic in earth history, with a set of political institutions and traditions that have stood the test of time."

According to Business firm.gov , "To ensure a separation of powers, the U.S. Federal Government is made up of 3 branches: legislative, executive and judicial. To ensure the government is effective and citizens' rights are protected, each branch has its ain powers and responsibilities, including working with the other branches." This is often referred to every bit " checks and balances ," and prevents any one part of government from wielding too 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 ability indefinitely and is unable to strength the U.S. Congress to pass laws. From the very outset, and still to today, the American people have access to and influence over their elected representatives.

The House of Representatives most directly reflects the desires of the American public due to the ratio of American citizens to U.Southward. Representatives and the abiding election cycle every two years. Much of the deadlock of the U.Due south. government that nosotros witness today reflects a divided American people.

This brief focuses on the Legislative co-operative of the U.S. government, in item the House of Representatives, including the nuts and bolts of how its inner workings, and how everyday citizens tin can influence the legislative process. For a brief on the U.S. Senate, click hither .

Salve Relieve

What is the Legislative Co-operative?

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

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

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

"'If proportional representation takes place, the pocket-size States fence that their liberties will exist in danger. If an equality of votes is to exist put in its place, the big States say their money will exist in danger,'" explained Benjamin Franklin . What eventually "emerged from weeks of stalemate was called the 'Not bad Compromise' and created a bicameral legislature with a House, where membership was adamant by land population, and a Senate, where each state had two seats regardless of population."

Size and Structure of the House

In that location are 435 representatives in the Business firm , and take been since the number was stock-still by police in 1911. Each House representative is elected to a ii-twelvemonth term serving the people of a specific congressional district in a state. "Each land receives representation in the Firm in proportion to the size of its population but is entitled to at to the lowest degree one representative." This means that states with large populations have more than representatives than small states have. Representation based on population was "one of the most important components of the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787," as ane of the founders' greatest concerns was designing a arrangement 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 the states, 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 non have the aforementioned full voting rights every bit the 435 state representatives.

The Role of the Demography

Specifically, seats in the House " 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, role of the U.Due south. Department of Commerce. Tying representation to Census information allows the number of each state's representatives to increment or subtract along with fluctuations in state population. The Census data is and so used to determine congressional districts, areas in the state from which representatives are elected to the House. This process is called redistricting. For more than on redistricting and the Demography, meet The Policy Circle's Decennial Census Brief.

Elections

Members of the Firm of Representatives " must stand for election every two years , later 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 institution." Biennial elections are held in Nov, and the Congress commences in the following January. To be elected, a representative must exist at least 25 years old, a U.s. denizen for at to the lowest degree 7 years, and a resident of the land he or she represents. U.S. House candidates are not required to live in the congressional district they stand for.

The Life of a Representative

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

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

When in their home district, they reported spending fourth dimension as follows:

  • 32% on "Constituent Services Piece of work"
  • eighteen%  on "Political/Campaign Work"
  • 14% on "Press/Media Relations"
  • 12%  on "Legislative/Policy Work"
  • 9% with "Family unit/Friends"
  • 8% on "Personal Fourth dimension"
  • 7% on "Administrative/Managerial Work"

Bounty

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

What does the House of Representatives do?

Responsibilities of the Firm

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

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

Finally, during a presidential ballot, the House of Representatives steps in if no candidate receives a majority of the total electoral votes. Each country delegation has one vote to cull the President from among the top 3 candidates with the largest number of electoral votes.

Leadership in the House

Subsequently each ballot, the political party that wins the nearly representatives is designated the " Majority ." The other political party is the " Minority. " The majority party holds fundamental leadership positions, such as Speaker of the House. The same party tin can have the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or the chambers tin be dissever. Tertiary parties rarely have plenty members to elect their own leadership, so independents generally join one of the larger political party organizations to receive committee assignments.

The House is run by majority 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 power to fix the agenda or laissez passer its proposals. This contrasts with the Senate, where a single senator – in the majority or the minority – can generally strength a vote or cease a pecker in its tracks.

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

The Speaker of the Firm 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 certain committees or nominates committee chairs (namely the chairs of the House Administration Committee and the Rules Commission ), and appoints members of various committees and Business firm staff. Later the Vice President, the Speaker is second in line to succeed the Vice President.

Bulk and Minority Leaders represent their corresponding parties on the House floor. Each is elected past his or her corresponding party. The majority leader is second to the Speaker and schedules legislative business, planning legislative agendas rather than serving on committees. The minority leader serves as the minority political party'southward spokesperson, essentially the minority party'due south analogue to the Speaker. He or she likewise chairs the minority party's committee assignment panel.

Majority and Minority Whips serve as middlemen to betwixt their party leaders and members. They "maintain communication between the leadership of the party and its members, marshal support 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 Firm is elected past the entire House of Representatives, while the Republican Conference and Autonomous Caucus elect the other leadership positions. The Republican Briefing is the formal system of Republican Members in the Firm, and the Autonomous Caucus is that of the Democratic Members.

See electric current House Leadership positions hither.

The Part of Committees

Committees " are permanent panels governed past Firm chamber rules, with responsibleness to consider bills and problems and to have full general oversight relating to their areas of jurisdiction." Committees take different legislative jurisdictions, but 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. Commission consignment straight affects a representative's work in Congress. Afterward a Congressional election, political parties assign newly elected representatives to standing committees

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

Some of the about well-known committees include:

  • The House Committee on Ways and Means , which oversees all taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures.
  • The House Committee on Appropriations , which has jurisdiction over setting specific government expenditures.
  • The House 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.

Most committees are regular standing committees, which keep from ane Congress to the next. At that place are likewise select committees, special committees formed for a short period of time for a specific purpose such as an investigation, and in that location are several articulation committees with the Senate. See a full listing of all House Committees here .

Legislation in the House

Legislation begins with an idea . It may come from a Congressman, a staffer, a constituent, or a thought leader or expert on a given discipline. You may remember the School Firm Rock video , which walks through the legislative procedure in an accessible way and is great 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'south staff drafts the neb. The parliamentarians have specific expertise; they work closely with staff in a non-partisan manner to typhoon the specific linguistic communication of the bill. Staff works to build sponsors and cosponsors before the bill is introduced.

Introducing a Bill

Any Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner tin innovate a beak 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 Member who introduces the bill is known as the primary sponsor. The bill is and so formally assigned a number by the Clerk. A neb originating in the Business firm will start with "H.R." (for the House of Representatives, as opposed to "S." for the Senate). The Speaker's office then assigns that bill to its committee(s) of jurisdiction, which so assigns the bill to a subcommittee(due south).

Committee 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 conclusion of deliberation a vote is taken to determine" whether or not the subcommittee recommends the bill to the full committee. In the full commission, the subcommittee reports on the neb; this meeting provides an opportunity for Members to amend the legislation. There is also the possibility that the committee tables the bill or fails to accept action , which prevents the bill from reaching the full House. You tin can sentinel Business firm Committee hearing videos here .

To become to the total House, the committee staff writes a study describing the purpose of the beak, why the nib is recommended, and an analysis of each office of the bill and how the neb may affect existing law. A total commission mark-upwardly and the conclusion of what legislation makes information technology to the Business firm floor is tightly controlled by the Committee Chairman'due south function 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 conclusion is a negotiation based on priorities of the committee and of leadership.

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

Committee on Rules

Once leadership has decided that a specific piece of legislation will receive floor fourth dimension, the Firm Majority Leader alerts the committee of jurisdiction that the beak will be considered on the House Floor, and this kicks off the Rules Commission process.

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'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 House Floor. The Rules Committee is sometimes also referred to as " the traffic cop of the Business firm ," as it determines how much time volition exist immune for contend on each piece of legislation considered on the House floor, and if any (and which) amendments will be immune to be considered during the contend.

Most bills are considered nether a procedure known as suspension of the rules , "which limits debate to twoscore minutes and does not allow amendments to be offered by members on the floor." Otherwise, the bill is considered under terms tailored for the detail nib. In this case, the House adopts a resolution called a special rule from the Rules Committee. After the Rules Committee reports the dominion for considering the nib and the Business firm votes to prefer the dominion, the Business firm can then proceed to the floor debate.

Floor Debate

Once the rule has been adopted, the Firm normally considers the bill "in a procedural setting called the Committee of the Whole , which is essentially "the Firm assembled in a unlike grade; it is a commission of the Firm composed of every Representative that meets in the Business firm sleeping room." This procedure "allows members an efficient way to consider and vote on amendments."

After the floor contend on amendments and the underlying legislation, the Committee of the Whole reports to the full Business firm, which so votes on the bill. The bill passes the House by a unproblematic majority , 218 votes of the 435 full. Information technology then goes to the Senate and waits to be scheduled for floor fourth dimension.

Run across The Policy Circle's Senate Brief to see how the process continues.

Additional Resource

Glossary of terms

Different types of legislation

Alternative legislative procedures in the House

Means to Get Involved/What You lot Can Do

Measure & Place : Who are the influencers in your land, county, or community? Learn about 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 common cause is a great opportunity to develop relationships with people who may exist outside of your immediate network. All it takes is a pocket-size team of 2 or three people to set a path for real comeback. The Policy Circle is your platform to convene with experts you lot want to hear from.

  • Discover 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 attention to your issue to your local Congressional part. Also reach out to community leaders to educate them and asking their date on the effect.

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

  • You lot tin can find the legislative agenda 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 establish yourself as a civic leader.

Execute: Give it your best shot. You can:

  • Research: Make sure you lot know the facts about the issue you lot are raising. Authorities agencies, think tanks, and media outlets can all be good resources. Remember to enquiry all sides of the issue to make sure you lot empathise diverse angles. You can also talk with people who are afflicted by the issue with which you are concerned; anecdotal information combined with measured data can be powerful.
  • Write: Although we may exist more than inclined to email in the digital age, writing an old-fashioned letter to your local elected representatives or to members of Congress is still i of the most effective ways 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 ship your correspondence.
  • Organize: Organize people to call in, follow-upwardly on written textile, and accomplish out to other community members to brainwash them on the issue. Demonstrating wide support tin can be very constructive in influencing a legislator to support your position.

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