According to the United States Senate, the legislative branch of the American government was established in 1787 during the construction of Article 1 of the US Constitution. The legislative history of the United States Congress is an interesting tale as it’s one of three co-equal parts of the United States government. In the US, the legislative branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together comprise the nation’s Congress. If you are interested in learning more about legislative history in the US, keep reading!
Powers Bestowed on the Legislative Branch by the US Constitution
Congress holds a reasonable amount of power, with each part of the legislative branch often serving as a power balance to the other. It has the sole and absolute power and authority to declare war, reject or confirm appointments made by the President, to enact legislation, while also holding significant power to begin and administrate congressional investigations.
Size of the Legislative Branch
Throughout the legislative history of the United States, the number of Senators and Representatives has been determined in the same way. Each state receives two Senators, no matter the size, equaling 100 Senators for the nation. In the House of Representatives, 435 elected members are distributed across the 50 states according to population. Senators serve six-year terms, and Representatives serve two-year terms. The Senatorial elections are staggered so that only about a third of the members of the Senate are up for reelection in any given year.
Qualifications Needed to Run for Congress in the United States
In order to run for a Senate seat, one must be at least 30 years old. have US citizenship for a minimum of nine years, and be a resident of the state in which they are running. To run for election and hold a seat in the House of Representatives, the person running has to be at least 25 years of age and hold US citizenship for at least seven years. To hold a seat in the House, it isn’t necessary to live in the district one is hoping to represent, but one must live in the State.
Any American who is interested in serving their country as a congressperson should take the time to understand how the legislative body of the United States government works. Learn more about our government today by contacting Legislative Intent Service.