Introduction

branchesThe Us spent eight long years of desperate fighting for independence from 1775 to 1783. Past 1789, the Founding Fathers had gear up about constructing a government "built on the cardinal confidence of revolutionary-era republicanism: that no fundamental authority empowered to coerce or discipline the citizenry was permissible , since information technology merely duplicated the monarchical and aristocratic principles that the American Revolution had been fought to escape. The United states of america is now the oldest enduring republic in world history, with a set of political institutions and traditions that have stood the examination of time."

According to Firm.gov , "To ensure a separation of powers, the U.Southward. Federal Regime is made up of three 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 oft referred to equally " checks and balances ," and prevents any one part of government from wielding besides much political power.

Why information technology 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 force the U.Due south. Congress to pass laws. From the very beginning, and still to today, the American people have access to and influence over their elected representatives.

The House of Representatives almost directly reflects the desires of the American public due to the ratio of American citizens to U.S. Representatives and the constant election wheel every two years. Much of the deadlock of the U.Due south. authorities that we witness today reflects a divided American people.

This brief focuses on the Legislative co-operative of the U.Due south. government, in particular the House of Representatives, including the nuts and bolts of how its inner workings, and how everyday citizens can influence the legislative process. For a brief on the U.South. Senate, click here .

Relieve Salvage

What is the Legislative Branch?

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

CrashCourse U.Due south. Government and Politics, produced in collaboration with PBS, explains the Bicameral Congress (9 min):

Of all federal government institutions, the House of Representatives is designed to be closest to American voters, most closely reflecting the private cares and concerns of American taxpayers. In fact, the House is the just institution that has been directly elected by American voters since its germination in 1789.

"'If proportional representation takes identify, the small States contend that their liberties will exist in danger. If an equality of votes is to be put in its place, the large States say their money will be 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 adamant by state population, and a Senate, where each state had two seats regardless of population."

Size and Construction of the Firm

There are 435 representatives in the House , and have been since the number was stock-still by law in 1911. Each House representative is elected to a 2-twelvemonth term serving the people of a specific congressional district in a country. "Each state receives representation in the Business firm in proportion to the size of its population simply is entitled to at to the lowest degree ane representative." This means that states with large populations have more representatives than pocket-size states accept. Representation based on population was "one of the most important components of the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787," every bit one of the founders' greatest concerns was designing a system of government that would better correspond 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 Democracy of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. The Resident Commissioner and Delegates are able to serve and vote on committees, but do not have the same full voting rights every bit the 435 state representatives.

The Role of the Demography

Specifically, seats in the House " are apportioned based on country population co-ordinate to the constitutionally mandated Census."  The Census, which occurs every ten years and is overseen by the Bureau of the Demography, office of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Tying representation to Demography data allows the number of each state'southward representatives to increase or decrease along with fluctuations in land population. The Census data is then used to determine congressional districts, areas in the state from which representatives are elected to the Business firm. This process is called redistricting. For more on redistricting and the Census, see The Policy Circle's Decennial Demography Brief.

Elections

Members of the House of Representatives " must stand for election every two 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 post-obit January. To exist elected, a representative must be at to the lowest degree 25 years old, a United states of america denizen for at least seven years, and a resident of the country he or she represents. U.S. House candidates are not required to live in the congressional commune they represent.

The Life of a Representative

Co-ordinate to Congressional Management Foundation'due south Life in Congress study , when representatives are in Washington, D.C., they written report spending their time as follows:

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

When in their abode commune, they reported spending time as follows:

  • 32% on "Constituent Services Work"
  • 18%  on "Political/Entrada Piece of work"
  • xiv% on "Press/Media Relations"
  • 12%  on "Legislative/Policy Work"
  • 9% with "Family/Friends"
  • 8% on "Personal Time"
  • 7% on "Administrative/Managerial Work"

Compensation

Article I, Section half-dozen of the Constitution requires Congress to determine its own pay. Congress's " current automatic adjustment formula , which is based on changes in private sector wages," was established by the Ethics Reform Human action of 1989. The last pay adjustment was in January 2009. Since, virtually 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 individual entities that retain or employ a lobbyist.

What does the Firm of Representatives do?

Responsibilities of the House

Per the Constitution , the Business firm and Senate together make and laissez passer 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'south jurisdiction. Though both make up Congress, there are a few distinctions betwixt the two. In detail, the Constitution "provides that only the Firm of Representatives may originate revenue bills, " and by tradition information technology also originates appropriation bills.

Additionally, while the Constitution does not specifically mention investigations and oversight , "the authority to conduct investigations is unsaid since Congress possesses 'all legislative powers'." The House initiates impeachment proceedings and passes articles of impeachment (the Senate sits as a court to try the impeachment).

Finally, during a presidential election, the House of Representatives steps in if no candidate receives a majority of the total balloter votes. Each land delegation has one vote to choose the President from among the summit 3 candidates with the largest number of balloter votes.

Leadership in the House

After each election, the political political party that wins the virtually representatives is designated the " Majority ." The other party is the " Minority. " The bulk party holds key leadership positions, such as Speaker of the House. The same party tin have the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or the chambers can be split. Third parties rarely have enough members to elect their own leadership, so independents mostly join one of the larger party organizations to receive committee assignments.

The House is run by majority rule.  When a majority of members vote to do something in the House, it gets washed. Majority rule makes passing legislation relatively efficient, and that means that the political party in the minority has less power to fix the agenda or pass its proposals. This contrasts with the Senate, where a single senator – in the majority or the minority – can more often than not force a vote or terminate a beak in its tracks.

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

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the Business firm, and is elected past the members of the House. The Speaker administers the Oath of Office to Firm members, chairs certain committees or nominates commission chairs (namely the chairs of the Firm Administration Committee and the Rules Committee ), and appoints members of various committees and House staff. Afterward the Vice President, the Speaker is second in line to succeed the Vice President.

Majority and Minority Leaders stand for their respective parties on the House floor. Each is elected by his or her respective 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 party's spokesperson, essentially the minority party's counterpart to the Speaker. He or she also chairs the minority party's commission assignment panel.

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, align support for political party positions on the floor, count votes on key legislation, and persuade wavering Members to vote for the party position."

The Speaker of the House is elected past the entire House of Representatives, while the Republican Conference and Democratic Caucus elect the other leadership positions. The Republican Conference is the formal organization of Republican Members in the House, and the Autonomous Conclave is that of the Democratic Members.

See electric current House Leadership positions here.

The Office of Committees

Committees " are permanent panels governed by House bedchamber rules, with responsibleness to consider bills and issues and to accept 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 within their jurisdiction. Each committee has a chair that leads the full committee, and a ranking member who leads the minority members of the committee. Commission consignment directly affects a representative'south piece of work in Congress. Afterwards a Congressional election, political parties assign newly elected representatives to standing committees

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

Some of the nigh well-known committees include:

  • The House Committee on Ways 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 Business firm Committee on Foreign Affairs , which has jurisdiction over strange assistance and oversees national security developments affecting foreign policy.
  • The House Commission on the Judiciary, which oversees the judiciary and ceremonious and criminal proceedings.

Virtually committees are regular standing committees, which proceed from one Congress to the next. There are also select committees, special committees formed for a short period of fourth dimension for a specific purpose such every bit an investigation, and in that location are several joint committees with the Senate. Encounter a full list of all House Committees here .

Legislation in the House

Legislation begins with an thought . It may come up from a Congressman, a staffer, a constituent, or a thought leader or expert on a given subject. You may remember the School House 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 House parliamentarians —  lawyers and clerks who provide nonpartisan guidance on rules and procedures — and other Congressional staff on Capitol Colina, the Congressional representative's staff drafts the beak. The parliamentarians have specific expertise; they work closely with staff in a non-partisan way to draft 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 bill when the firm is in session by " placing it in the 'hopper, '" a box on the House Clerk'southward desk in the Capitol building. The Fellow member who introduces the nib is known every bit the master sponsor. The beak is and so formally assigned a number past the Clerk. A bill originating in the House will commencement with "H.R." (for the House of Representatives, equally opposed to "S." for the Senate). The Speaker's office then assigns that bill to its commission(s) of jurisdiction, which then assigns the bill to a subcommittee(s).

Commission Procedure

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 make up one's mind" whether or not the subcommittee recommends the pecker to the full committee. In the full committee, the subcommittee reports on the bill; this meeting provides an opportunity for Members to amend the legislation. There is too the possibility that the committee tables the neb or fails to take action , which prevents the bill from reaching the total Firm. You can watch House Committee hearing videos here .

To get to the total House, the committee staff writes a report describing the purpose of the bill, why the pecker is recommended, and an analysis of each part of the bill and how the neb may impact existing law. A full committee marker-upwards and the determination of what legislation makes it to the 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 information technology awaits a decision by leadership to schedule fourth dimension for it to be debated on the House floor. This determination is a negotiation based on priorities of the committee and of leadership.

Later on a committee has reported a neb, the bill is placed on the agenda . This means the bill is eligible for flooring consideration, but not that it will necessarily arrive to the floor. In the Firm, it is up to the bulk party leadership to decide which bills the House will consider on the floor, and in what guild.

Committee on Rules

Once leadership has decided that a specific piece of legislation will receive floortime, the Business firm Bulk Leader alerts the committee of jurisdiction that the nib volition be considered on the Firm Floor, and this kicks off the Rules Committee procedure.

The Commission on Rules , or Rules Committee, is one of the oldest continuing 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 information technology is the mechanism by which the Speaker maintains control of the Firm Floor. The Rules Committee is sometimes besides referred to equally " the traffic cop of the House ," as it determines how much fourth dimension will be immune for fence on each slice of legislation considered on the House flooring, and if any (and which) amendments will exist allowed to be considered during the debate.

Most bills are considered under a procedure known as suspension of the rules , "which limits contend to 40 minutes and does not allow amendments to be offered past members on the flooring." Otherwise, the nib is considered nether terms tailored for the particular bill. In this case, the House adopts a resolution called a special rule from the Rules Committee. Later the Rules Committee reports the dominion for because the bill and the Business firm votes to adopt the rule, the Firm can then proceed to the floor debate.

Flooring Argue

In one case the dominion has been adopted, the House commonly considers the bill "in a procedural setting called the Commission of the Whole , which is essentially "the Business firm assembled in a unlike form; it is a committee of the Firm composed of every Representative that meets in the House chamber." This process "allows members an efficient way to consider and vote on amendments."

Subsequently the floor fence on amendments and the underlying legislation, the Committee of the Whole reports to the total House, which then votes on the neb. The bill passes the House past a elementary majority , 218 votes of the 435 full. It then goes to the Senate and waits to be scheduled for floor time.

See The Policy Circumvolve's Senate Cursory to come across how the process continues.

Additional Resources

Glossary of terms

Different types of legislation

Alternative legislative procedures in the Business firm

Means to Get Involved/What You Can Do

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

  • Practise you know who your Congressional Representative is ? What about your country elected officials ?
  • Track your representatives' votes with GovTrack .

Accomplish out: You lot are a goad. Finding a common cause is a cracking opportunity to develop relationships with people who may be outside of your firsthand network. All information technology takes is a small team of two or three people to set a path for real improvement. The Policy Circle is your platform to convene with experts you desire to hear from.

  • Notice 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 outcome to your local Congressional office. Also achieve out to community leaders to educate them and asking their engagement on the issue.

Program: Prepare some milestones based on your state's legislative agenda .

  • Yous can discover the legislative agenda for the House of Representatives here .
  • Don't hesitate to contact The Policy Circumvolve team, communications@thepolicycircle.org , for connections to the broader network, communication, insights on how to build rapport with policy makers and establish yourself as a civic leader.

Execute: Give it your best shot. You tin can:

  • Research: Make sure y'all know the facts about the issue you are raising. Regime agencies, think tanks, and media outlets can all be good resources. Remember to enquiry all sides of the issue to brand sure you lot understand various angles. You can also talk with people who are affected by the event with which yous are concerned; anecdotal information combined with measured information can exist powerful.
  • Write: Although nosotros may be more than inclined to email in the digital age, writing an quondam-fashioned letter to your local elected representatives or to members of Congress is still one of the nigh constructive ways to influence lawmakers.
      • Run across these tips for step-by-footstep instructions to write letters to elected officials, including how to accost your representative, reference specific legislation, and properly send your correspondence.
  • Organize: Organize people to call in, follow-up on written material, and reach out to other community members to educate them on the consequence. Demonstrating wide support can be very constructive in influencing a legislator to support your position.

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