Describe One of the Powers of the House of Representatives

• Introduction
• What is the Legislative Branch?
• What does the House of Representatives do?
• Additional Resources
• Ways to Get Involved/What You Tin Do
• Suggestions for Your Adjacent Conversation

Introduction

The United States spent eight long years of desperate fighting for independence from 1775 to 1783. By 1789, the Founding Fathers had set about constructing a government "built on the cardinal conviction of revolutionary-era republicanism: that no key authority empowered to coerce or discipline the denizens was permissible , since it only duplicated the monarchical and aloof principles that the American Revolution had been fought to escape. The U.s.a. is now the oldest enduring republic in world history, with a ready of political institutions and traditions that have stood the test of time."

According to House.gov , "To ensure a separation of powers, the U.S. Federal Government is made upwardly of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. To ensure the government is effective and citizens' rights are protected, each co-operative has its own powers and responsibilities, including working with the other branches." This is oftentimes referred to as " checks and balances ," and prevents any one role of regime 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 power indefinitely and is unable to force the U.Due south. Congress to pass laws. From the very get-go, and still to today, the American people have admission to and influence over their elected representatives.

The Business firm of Representatives nearly directly reflects the desires of the American public due to the ratio of American citizens to U.S. Representatives and the constant election cycle every two years. Much of the deadlock of the U.S. regime that we witness today reflects a divided American people.

This brief focuses on the Legislative branch of the U.S. government, in particular the Firm of Representatives, including the basics and bolts of how its inner workings, and how everyday citizens can influence the legislative process. For a brief on the U.S. Senate, click here .

Relieve Salvage

What is the Legislative Branch?

The legislative branch is made up of the Business firm of Representatives and the Senate , known collectively every bit the Congress. Amidst other powers, the legislative branch "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 (9 min):

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

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

Size and Structure of the House

There are 435 representatives in the Firm , and have been since the number was fixed by law in 1911. Each House representative is elected to a two-yr term serving the people of a specific congressional district in a country. "Each country receives representation in the House in proportion to the size of its population but is entitled to at to the lowest degree one representative." This ways that states with large populations have more representatives than modest states take. Representation based on population was "1 of the most of import components of the Federal Ramble Convention of 1787," as ane of the founders' greatest concerns was designing a system 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 the states, in that location 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 same full voting rights every bit the 435 state representatives.

The Role of the Census

Specifically, seats in the Firm " are apportioned based on country population according to the constitutionally mandated Census."  The Census, which occurs every ten years and is overseen past the Agency of the Demography, part of the U.Southward. Section of Commerce. Tying representation to Demography information allows the number of each country's representatives to increase or decrease along with fluctuations in state population. The Demography data is and so used to determine congressional districts, areas in the state from which representatives are elected to the Firm. This process is called redistricting. For more on redistricting and the Census, see The Policy Circle'south Decennial Census Brief.

Elections

Members of the House of Representatives " must correspond election every 2 years , after which it convenes for a new session and essentially 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 November, and the Congress commences in the following January. To be elected, a representative must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for at least 7 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

Co-ordinate to Congressional Management Foundation's Life in Congress report , 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/Entrada Work"
• 9% on "Press/Media Relations"
• 9% on "Family/Friends"
• vii% on "Administrative/Managerial Work"
• vi% on "Personal Fourth dimension"

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

• 32% on "Elective Services Work"
• 18%  on "Political/Campaign Work"
• 14% on "Press/Media Relations"
• 12%  on "Legislative/Policy Work"
• 9% with "Family/Friends"
• viii% on "Personal Time"
• vii% on "Administrative/Managerial Work"

Compensation

Article I, Department 6 of the Constitution requires Congress to determine its ain pay. Congress's " current automated adjustment formula , which is based on changes in private sector wages," was established by the Ethics Reform Deed of 1989. The terminal 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 salary at $223,500. Additionally, representatives "are field of study to some specific laws and regulations regarding the acceptance of gifts ," specially gifts from registered lobbyists or from private entities that retain or employ a lobbyist.

What does the Firm of Representatives do?

Responsibilities of the Business firm

Per the Constitution , the House and Senate together make and pass federal laws, innovate 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 2. In particular, the Constitution "provides that only the House of Representatives may originate revenue bills, " and by tradition information technology also originates appropriation bills.

Additionally, while the Constitution does non specifically mention investigations and oversight , "the dominance to bear investigations is implied since Congress possesses 'all legislative powers'." The Business firm initiates impeachment proceedings and passes articles of impeachment (the Senate sits equally a court to attempt 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 land delegation has one vote to choose the President from amongst the top 3 candidates with the largest number of balloter votes.

Leadership in the House

Later on each election, the party that wins the nigh representatives is designated the " Bulk ." The other political party is the " Minority. " The majority party holds central leadership positions, such as Speaker of the House. The aforementioned party can have the bulk in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or the chambers can be dissever. Tertiary parties rarely accept plenty members to elect their own leadership, so independents generally join one of the larger party organizations to receive commission assignments.

The Business firm is run by majority dominion.  When a majority of members vote to do something in the Business firm, it gets washed. Majority rule makes passing legislation relatively efficient, and that ways that the party in the minority has less power to set up the agenda or pass its proposals. This contrasts with the Senate, where a single 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 Majority and Minority Whips.

The Speaker of the Business firm is the presiding officer of the House, and is elected past the members of the House. The Speaker administers the Adjuration of Part to House members, chairs sure committees or nominates committee chairs (namely the chairs of the House Administration Committee and the Rules Commission ), and appoints members of various committees and House staff. Later on 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 corresponding party. The bulk leader is second to the Speaker and schedules legislative business organisation, planning legislative agendas rather than serving on committees. The minority leader serves as the minority party's spokesperson, essentially the minority political party's counterpart to the Speaker. He or she also chairs the minority party's committee assignment console.

Majority and Minority Whips serve as middlemen to between their political party leaders and members. They "maintain communication between the leadership of the party and its members, marshal support for political party positions on the flooring, count votes on key legislation, and persuade wavering Members to vote for the party position."

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

See electric 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 have different legislative jurisdictions, but each considers, shapes, and passes laws related to its jurisdiction, and monitors agencies, programs, and activities inside their jurisdiction. Each committee has a chair that leads the full committee, and a ranking member who leads the minority members of the committee. Committee consignment directly affects a representative'due south piece of work in Congress. Afterward a Congressional ballot, political parties assign newly elected representatives to standing committees

Crash Class U.S. Government & Politics explains what Congressional committees practise (viii min):

Some of the most well-known committees include:

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

Near committees are regular standing committees, which continue from one Congress to the next. There are also select committees, special committees formed for a short period of time for a specific purpose such as an investigation, and there are several articulation committees with the Senate. Come across a full list of all House Committees here .

Legislation in the Business firm

Legislation begins with an idea . It may come from a Congressman, a staffer, a elective, or a thought leader or expert on a given subject. You may remember the School Business 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 Business firm parliamentarians —  lawyers and clerks who provide nonpartisan guidance on rules and procedures — and other Congressional staff on Capitol Colina, the Congressional representative'south staff drafts the bill. The parliamentarians accept specific expertise; they work closely with staff in a non-partisan mode to draft the specific language of the nib. Staff works to build sponsors and cosponsors earlier the bill is introduced.

Introducing a Neb

Any Member, Consul, or Resident Commissioner can introduce a neb when the business firm is in session by " placing it in the 'hopper, '" a box on the House Clerk'south desk in the Capitol edifice. The 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, as opposed to "South." for the Senate). The Speaker'south office then assigns that bill to its committee(s) of jurisdiction, which and then assigns the bill to a subcommittee(due south).

Commission Process

The Subcommittee seeks input from relevant departments and agencies and holds public hearings. After hearings, at that place is a markup on the legislation , in which "views of both sides are studied in detail and at the decision of deliberation a vote is taken to determine" whether or not the subcommittee recommends the beak to the full committee. In the total commission, the subcommittee reports on the bill; this meeting provides an opportunity for Members to amend the legislation. There is also the possibility that the commission tables the bill or fails to have action , which prevents the neb from reaching the full Business firm. You can watch House Commission hearing videos here .

To become to the full Firm, the committee staff writes a study describing the purpose of the bill, why the bill is recommended, and an analysis of each part of the bill and how the bill may affect existing law. A full committee mark-up and the decision of what legislation makes it to the Business firm floor is tightly controlled past the Committee Chairman'south role and leadership. When the legislation is reported favorably out of the full committee information technology awaits a decision 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.

Later a commission has reported a nib, the bill is placed on the calendar . This means the bill is eligible for floor consideration, but not that it will necessarily brand it to the flooring. In the House, it is upward to the majority party leadership to decide which bills the Business firm will consider on the floor, and in what order.

Commission on Rules

Once leadership has decided that a specific slice of legislation will receive floortime, the House Majority Leader alerts the committee of jurisdiction that the beak volition exist 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 continuing committees in the Business firm. The Committee is commonly known as "The Speaker'southward Commission" – prior to 1910, the Speaker chaired the Rules Committee, and today information technology is the mechanism past which the Speaker maintains control of the House Floor. The Rules Commission is sometimes also referred to as " the traffic cop of the House ," as it determines how much fourth dimension volition be allowed for fence on each piece of legislation considered on the Firm flooring, and if any (and which) amendments will be allowed to exist considered during the contend.

Most bills are considered under a procedure known every bit suspension of the rules , "which limits debate to 40 minutes and does not allow amendments to be offered by members on the floor." Otherwise, the neb is considered under terms tailored for the item bill. In this case, the House adopts a resolution called a special rule from the Rules Committee. Subsequently the Rules Committee reports the rule for considering the neb and the House votes to adopt the rule, the House can then proceed to the floor fence.

Floor Debate

Once the rule has been adopted, the Business firm ordinarily considers the bill "in a procedural setting chosen the Commission of the Whole , which is substantially "the House assembled in a different grade; it is a committee of the Business firm composed of every Representative that meets in the House sleeping accommodation." This procedure "allows members an efficient way to consider and vote on amendments."

After the flooring debate on amendments and the underlying legislation, the Committee of the Whole reports to the full Firm, which so votes on the beak. The neb passes the House past 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'due south Senate Brief to run into how the process continues.

Additional Resource

Glossary of terms

Different types of legislation

Culling legislative procedures in the Firm

Means to Get Involved/What Y'all Tin can Do

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

• Exercise yous know who your Congressional Representative is ? What about your state elected officials ?
• Runway your representatives' votes with GovTrack .

Attain out: You are a catalyst. Finding a common crusade is a dandy opportunity to develop relationships with people who may be exterior of your immediate network. All information technology takes is a small team of two or 3 people to ready a path for real improvement. The Policy Circle is your platform to convene with experts yous want to hear from.

• Observe allies in your community or in nearby towns and elsewhere in the land.
• Foster collaborative relationships with colleagues, neighbors, friends, and local organizations to mobilize an effort to bring attention to your event to your local Congressional office. Also reach out to community leaders to educate them and request their engagement on the event.

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

• Yous can discover the legislative calendar for the House of Representatives here .
• Don't hesitate to contact The Policy Circumvolve team, 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 certain you know the facts almost the event y'all are raising. Government agencies, think tanks, and media outlets tin can all be good resources. Remember to research all sides of the outcome to brand certain yous understand various angles. Yous can too talk with people who are affected by the issue with which you lot are concerned; anecdotal information combined with measured data can exist powerful.

• Write: Although we may be more inclined to e-mail in the digital age, writing an old-fashioned letter to your local elected representatives or to members of Congress is all the same one of the most constructive means to influence lawmakers.

• • • Run into these tips for step-by-pace instructions to write messages to elected officials, including how to accost your representative, reference specific legislation, and properly send your correspondence.

• Organize: Organize people to phone call in, follow-upwards on written fabric, and attain out to other community members to educate them on the event. Demonstrating wide support can be very effective in influencing a legislator to back up your position.

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

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Source: https://www.thepolicycircle.org/brief/makes-u-s-exceptional-u-s-house-representatives-explained/