Member-only story

The House of Representatives: The Government

Nikolai Gogol

·4.5k Followers· Follow

Published in The House Of Representatives (The U S Government: How It Works)

6 min read · 3 weeks before

976 View Claps

59 Respond

Save

Listen

The House of Representatives is the lower house of the United States Congress. It is composed of 435 members, each representing a congressional district. The House is responsible for passing laws, impeaching federal officials, and confirming presidential appointments.

The House of Representatives (The U.s. Government: How It Works)

by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3102 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Print length	:	112 pages

How the House Works

The House is led by the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the members of the House. The Speaker presides over the House and sets the agenda for debate. The House is divided into committees, which are responsible for considering and reporting on legislation. When a bill is passed by a committee, it is then debated and voted on by the full House.

The Powers of the House

The House has a number of powers, including the power to:

Pass laws
Impeach federal officials
Confirm presidential appointments
Declare war
Raise and spend money
Regulate commerce

The Importance of the House

The House of Representatives is an important part of the United States government. It is the only branch of government that is directly elected by the people. The House plays a vital role in the legislative process and in holding the other branches of government accountable.

The History of the House

The House of Representatives was established by the Constitution of the United States in 1787. The first House of Representatives was elected in 1789. The House has met in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., since 1800.

The Members of the House

The members of the House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms. There are 435 members of the House, each representing a congressional district. The number of representatives each state gets is based on its population.

The Speaker of the House

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House. The Speaker is elected by the members of the House and serves a two-year term. The Speaker has a number of powers, including the power to:

Preside over the House
Set the agenda for debate
Appoint members to committees
Refer bills to committees
Sign legislation into law

The Committees of the House

The House of Representatives is divided into committees, which are responsible for considering and reporting on legislation. There are 20 standing committees and a number of select committees. The standing committees are:

Agriculture
Appropriations
Armed Services
Budget
Education and Labor
Energy and Commerce
Financial Services
Foreign Affairs
Homeland Security
House Administration
Judiciary
Natural Resources
Oversight and Government Reform
Rules
Science, Space, and Technology
Small Business
Transportation and Infrastructure
Veterans' Affairs
Ways and Means

The Legislative Process

The legislative process begins when a member of the House introduces a bill. The bill is then referred to a committee, which considers the bill and reports it back to the full House. The House then debates and votes on the bill. If the bill is passed by the House, it is sent to the Senate. The Senate then considers the bill and votes on it. If the bill is passed by the Senate, it is sent to the President. The President can either sign the bill into law or veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, it can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both the House and the Senate.

The Role of the House in the Government

The House and the President

The House has a number of powers that it can use to check the power of the President. For example, the House can impeach the President, which is the process of removing the President from office. The House can also refuse to pass legislation that the President supports. The House can also investigate the President and his administration

The House and the Senate

The House and the Senate are equal partners in the legislative process. Both chambers must pass a bill before it can become law. The House and the Senate often disagree on legislation, and the two chambers must negotiate to reach a compromise. The House and the Senate also have different powers. The House has the sole power to impeach the President, and the Senate has the sole power to confirm presidential appointments.

The House and the Courts

The House can also investigate the courts. The House can impeach federal judges, and the Senate can try and remove them from office. The House can also pass legislation that affects the courts. For example, the House can pass legislation that changes the jurisdiction of the courts or that creates new courts

The Future of the House

The House of Representatives is facing a number of challenges. One challenge is the increasing partisanship in Congress. The two parties are becoming more divided, and it is becoming more difficult to pass legislation. Another challenge is the growing influence of money in politics. Wealthy individuals and corporations are spending more and more money on elections, and this is giving them a greater say in the political process. Despite these challenges, the House of Representatives remains an important part of the United States government. It is the only branch of government that is directly elected by the people, and it plays a vital role in the legislative process and in holding the other branches of government accountable.

The House of Representatives (The U.s. Government: How It Works)

by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack

5 out of 5