Who Is in the House of Representatives for Colorado

Table of Contents

1. Difference Between House and Senate
2. House: Roles and Responsibilities
3. Senate: Roles and Responsibilities
4. How a Pecker Becomes Police
5. How Their Differences Brand the Firm and Senate Stronger

The U.S. Congress is often referred to as a unmarried entity, but it's actually a combination of two singled-out groups: the House of Representatives and the Senate. While both houses of Congress work together to propose and enact the laws that govern our country, the differences between the House and Senate ensure that each sleeping accommodation in this bicameral ("two room") system has singled-out roles and responsibilities.

Together, the Business firm and Senate form the legislative co-operative of government. They interact with the executive and judicial branches to implement the checks and balances that continue all three branches functioning and forestall any single branch from abusing its power.

Article I of the U.S. Constitution: Difference Betwixt House and Senate

The framers of the Constitution knew that it was of import to protect the smaller states of the newly formed Marriage from being overshadowed past their more than populous counterparts. They hoped that by dividing legislative power between two houses, they'd be able to ensure equal representation for residents of all states, equally the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center explains.

At the Ramble Convention of 1787, delegates from Connecticut proposed that the seats in the House be assigned based on population, while the seats in the Senate be assigned ii per state. The Swell Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise) gives each state equal representation in the Senate while ensuring equal representation per citizen in the Firm.

Commodity I, Department 2: Composition and Function of the Business firm of Representatives

Article I of the Constitution specifies the powers, duties, and responsibilities of each of the 2 houses of Congress. It lays out the rules for qualifying every bit a representative, as well every bit the method by which the seats in the Firm of Representatives are assigned to us and how vacancies are filled.

The Constitution affords the House — known every bit the lower bedroom because it has more than members than the Senate — much leeway in deciding how it will operate.

Age, citizenship, term duration, and residency requirements

Representatives:

• Must exist at to the lowest degree 25 years old.
• Must be citizens for at to the lowest degree 7 years.
• Are elected to a two-twelvemonth term.
• Must be residents of the states they represent.

Allotment of representatives based on population

Originally, the number of representatives was fix at ane per 30,000 inhabitants, but the representative count has since increased, equally the U.South. Firm of Representatives History, Art, and Archives website describes. The apportionment was to be based on an enumeration (population demography) that was to be made inside three years of the Constitution being ratified (approved) by the xiii states, and then every 10 years thereafter.

The Apportionment Human action of 1911 and its successor, the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, capped the number of representatives at 435. For this reason, equally of the 2010 Demography, the boilerplate number of inhabitants in a congressional district is about 710,000. The Firm of Representatives Athenaeum states that the number of representatives was limited to 435 because the U.S. population was growing faster in urban states than in rural ones, which gave large states a higher proportion of representatives than smaller states.

Power to devise its own rules of functioning

The Constitution allows each house of Congress to set its own rules. This has led to divergent practices and procedures in the Business firm and Senate. The Library of Congress summarizes the operating rules of the Firm of Representatives:

• Just a numerical majority is required to laissez passer legislation in the House, which allows bills to be processed quickly. By contrast, Senate votes typically require a three-fifths majority, or 60 votes in favor.
• Majority party leaders in the Business firm control the priority of various policies and determine which bills make their way to the House flooring for fence. In the Senate, minority party leaders have more influence over such procedures, and then the majority leaders must work more closely with them.

Power of impeachment

Article I, Section two of the Constitution states that the House "shall have the sole power of impeachment." This power applies to the offices of president, vice president, federal judges, and other federal officers, every bit the Library of Congress' Constitution Annotated explains. Grounds for impeachment are "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."

The House determines whether to impeach and if an impeachment is called for; the Senate decides whether to convict and remove the official from part. This follows a pattern established in the British authorities and American colonial governments dating back to the 17th century, as the Senate website explains.

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Article I, Section 3: Limerick and Function of the Senate

Commodity I, Section 3 of the Constitution calls for two senators from each land to be selected by a state'southward legislature to represent that state. However, the 17th Amendment, approved in 1913, mandates the direct election of U.S. senators, which means that they're elected by direct vote of the people rather than by state legislators.

As the Senate website explains, the amendment was in response to corruption and other problems that prevented country legislatures from choosing U.S. senators. The Senate is known every bit the upper chamber of Congress because it has fewer members than the Business firm.

Age, citizenship, term elapsing, and residency requirements

The Constitution requires that senators exist at least 30 years old, U.S. citizens for at least ix years, and residents of the states they'll represent. Senate terms are for six years; the terms are staggered so that approximately a third of all senate seats are up for election every 2 years. This is intended to protect the Senate from brusque-term political pressure level and to ensure that turnover in the Senate occurs evenly, rather than having stasis for six years followed by upheaval.

Allocation of Senators: Ii per State

As the Senate website indicates, the reason the framers decided to allow each state to be represented by 2 senators was to preclude the large states from overpowering their smaller counterparts. Benjamin Franklin believed that states should have equal votes in all matters except those involving money. (Article I, Section eight assigns to the House the ability to revenue enhancement and spend; this clause is described in the following department.)

Ability to devise its own rules of functioning

The Senate has the constitutional potency to set up its own rules, but as the Business firm does. The Senate website quotes George Washington as explaining to Thomas Jefferson that the framers intended the Senate to "cool" legislation passed by the House "merely as a saucer is used to cool hot tea."

• In the Senate, private senators have more options to slow the progress of a bill by making procedural requests, such as keeping floor contend open on the matter at hand. This is intended to encourage deliberation, or the careful discussion and consideration, of bug.
• Majority political party leaders in the Senate propose the priority of items to be debated, but they must piece of work with minority political party leaders — and ofttimes all senators — to make up one's mind the floor agenda: the order in which items are brought before the Senate.

Vice president equally president of the Senate

The Constitution makes the vice president the president of the Senate, but the vice president is allowed to vote only to break a tie. The Senate is empowered to choose its own officers and president pro tempore to preside over the Senate when the vice president is unavailable.

Ability to try and pass judgment on all impeachments

Senators are empowered to endeavor and judge impeachments; in this capacity, they serve nether "oath or affirmation." In the case of a president'south impeachment, the chief justice of the The states presides. An impeachment confidence requires a two-thirds majority vote of the full Senate.

If the impeachment trial leads to a confidence, the penalisation is removal from office and disqualification from "any office of honour, trust or profit under the United States," according to Commodity I, Section iii. All the same, the impeached person is "liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and penalty, co-ordinate to law."

Resources on the structure and role of the House of Representatives and Senate

• Cornell Law School'due south Legal Information Institute offers a fully annotated version of the Constitution and an explanation of the Constitution compiled by the Congressional Research Service.
• The Due south. Capitol Visitor Center features a written report guide that explains the deviation between the House and Senate. It poses six questions about the constitutional basis for the two houses of Congress and provides sample answers.

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U.S. House of Representatives: Roles and Responsibilities

The duties of the Firm of Representatives are stated in Commodity I, Sections 7 and eight of the Constitution. However, the powers granted to both houses of Congress are derived from Commodity I, Section 1, as the Legal Data Institute explains.

In the early on Supreme Court case McCulloch five. Maryland, Primary Justice John Marshall wrote that the government is "one of enumerated powers," which means that information technology tin exercise only the powers that have been granted to information technology explicitly past the Constitution. Paired with this doctrine is the ruling that legislative powers may not be delegated to any other branch of government.

Subsequent rulings have modified these ii doctrines, resulting in new categories of powers derived from this constitutional foundation.

Enumerated, implied, resulting, and inherent powers

Marshall's conclusion expanded the scope of the legislative powers enumerated in the Constitution past including the ability to declare war, levy taxes, and regulate commerce. These powers are derived from the Constitution'southward necessary and proper clause in Article I, Department 8.

This gives Congress the right to exercise any "means which are appropriate" to perform its constitutional duties, unless those ways are inconsistent with "the letter and spirit of the Constitution."

• Implied powers are those that aren't explicitly stipulated in the Constitution, only the government assumes these powers are granted to it by inference based on prior Supreme Court decisions, as the Legal Dictionary explains.
• Resulting powers are those that Congress has because they're needed for it to fulfill its duties. They're derived from other powers specifically granted to the government so that it can exercise its enumerated powers. The Legal Information Institute gives equally an case the ability to acquire territory, which results from the enumerated powers to make war and treaties.
• Inherent powers are besides called unsaid powers, equally the Constitution Annotated notes. They're powers that Congress possesses even though they've never been explicitly exercised. An example would be the power to tax net service providers.

Only congress may declare war, levy taxes, and regulate commerce

The power to declare war, levy taxes, and regulate commerce are among the congressional powers enumerated in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. The taxing and spending clause and the commerce clause have been used to broaden congressional authority over federal tax and economic policy.

In addition, Congress' war powers take created a lot of friction between the executive and legislative branches. For instance, presidents have tried to expand their power to engage the U.S. war machine in overseas conflicts, as the House of Representatives Archive describes. For example, in the period later World War II, presidents committed troops to the Dominican Commonwealth, Lao people's democratic republic, and Vietnam, among other countries, without requesting or receiving potency from Congress.

The House originates all acquirement legislation

Commodity I, Section 7 of the Constitution states that bills intended to raise revenue must originate in the Business firm. This is one of the major differences between the House and Senate. The Senate is allowed to advise amendments to spending and taxing legislation, just as information technology can with other bills sent to information technology from the Firm.

Bills require only a numerical majority vote

The conclusion of the framers to allow bills to pass the House after getting a simple bulk of votes was motivated by the desire to allow legislation to exist enacted quickly. The responsibility for assessing and developing bills belongs to standing committees that are chaired by members of the majority party, only are made up of members of both parties, as the Congressional Inquiry Service explains.

Majority party powers and prerogatives

The important office of political parties in the arrangement and functioning of the House is described past the Business firm of Representatives Archive. The bulk political party elects a speaker of the house and chooses other leadership positions, including the chair of all Firm committees. At that place are more members of the House than of the Senate, and so the majority party wields more power in the lower chamber.

Fix policy agenda

The speaker of the house usually selects the House majority leader. The House majority leader is charged with formulating the political party's legislative agenda, equally described past USHistory.org. The minority political party chooses a minority leader whose impact on the House policy agenda is much more limited.

Make up one's mind which legislation reaches the House flooring

Among the duties of the speaker of the business firm are presiding over all House proceedings, determining which bills go to which committees, influencing committee assignments for new House members, and deciding the priorities for bills to exist debated and voted upon by the entire trunk of representatives.

Chair all committees

While majority political party members are chosen to chair all House committees, they must piece of work with the ranking member of the minority political party to prepare bills for deliberation past all Firm members. The House of Representatives Archives describes the three types of Firm committees:

• Standing committees are permanent; their jurisdiction is defined in the Firm rules.
• Select committees are temporary; they're created past resolution and charged with conducting investigations or researching specific topics.
• Joint committees include members from the House and Senate, usually to study specific matters rather than to consider a slice of legislation.

Resources on Business firm of Representatives roles and responsibilities

• The legal site Justia details the powers that the Business firm derives from the taxing and spending clause of Commodity I, Section 8, including the types of taxes permitted and limits imposed on the power to tax and spend.
• The Business firm of Representatives website explains the composition and functions of the House, including its leadership, committees, commissions, schedule, rules, and history.

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U.S. Senate: Roles and Responsibilities

Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution describes the bones limerick, operation, and duties of the Senate, although the Constitution grants the Senate elbowroom in determining how it will conduct its business. The Senate website describes the powers and procedures of the legislative body, which include trying impeachments, reviewing and approval presidential nominees, approval treaties, and managing internal matters.

Powers

The Senate receives all its authority from the Constitution. Equally described higher up for the House, the Senate's powers are either enumerated, or expressly stated in the Constitution, or derived from the enumerated powers through the Commodity I, Section 8 necessary and proper clause.

Only the Senate confirms presidential nominations and treaties

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution grants the president ability to nominate and appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, and "other officers of the Usa." Notwithstanding, the Constitution requires that nominations and appointments be made "with the Advice and Consent of the Senate."

Similarly, the Senate is empowered to approve treaties proposed by the president by a two-thirds majority vote. The Senate also has the ability to change a treaty'due south terms. (The president'southward power to establish executive agreements with other nations doesn't require Senate approval.)

Senate rules and procedures encourage deliberation rather than speed

The Senate website explains that the framers modeled the upper bedchamber of Congress after early state senates and the governor's councils of the Colonial era. To shield senators from short-term political pressure, their terms were set at 6 years rather than the two-year terms of House representatives.

The Senate was intended to deed more deliberately than the Firm. This emphasizes the Senate's duty to advise on and consent to actions taken in the House and by the executive branch of government. In this part, the framers expressed their "suspicion of the presidency" by assuasive the Senate to serve as a check on executive powers. It also serves every bit a cheque against the impulsiveness of the House.

Individual senators have pregnant procedural leverage

The standing rules of the Senate promote deliberation past assuasive senators to "debate at length" and past requiring greater than a elementary majority to stop debate on a affair, as the Congressional Inquiry Service explains. The rules besides let Senators propose floor amendments to pending bills that are outside of the subject affair of the bills themselves. For case, the Existent ID Act of 2005 passed as a "passenger": an boosted provision to a military machine spending act that in its original version fabricated no reference to traveler identification, every bit ThoughtCo explains.

The result is an unpredictable daily floor schedule for Senate concern and the possibility that bills will exist proposed whose subjects haven't been researched or debated in committee. To bring some lodge to Senate proceedings, the majority leader is given priority in beingness recognized to speak and to propose the bills and legislation that the body volition consider.

Bulk political party powers and prerogatives

In addition to the Senate majority leader's power to control debates on the Senate floor, the majority political party is granted other rights in the operation of the Senate.

Proposes items for consideration

The duties of the Senate majority leader include handling all procedural matters that arise on the Senate floor and informing members of the majority party about the content, implications, and status of all pending legislation. In collaboration with Senate commission chairs, the majority leader addresses any conflicts that may prevent proposed bills from being passed.

Negotiates with the minority party to comport Senate floor action

Most Senate actions require greater than a unproblematic majority to pass. Therefore, the majority party must work more closely with the Senate minority party than is typical in the House, which needs but a simple bulk to corroborate measures. The Senate website describes the relationship between the majority and minority parties in the Senate as "ane of compromise and mutual forbearance" that'south intended to preclude stalemates from arising on important matters of legislation.

Chairs all committees

Similarly, members of the Senate bulk political party are chosen to chair all committees. However, the nature of the Senate requires that the majority leaders of committees piece of work with the ranking member of the minority party to accomplish the committee's goals. The Senate website explains that the majority party controls almost committee staff and resources, but the minority party retains a level of control based on its share of Senate seats.

Resource on Senate roles and responsibilities

• The Senate website details the institution'southward history and operation, including biographies of past senators, historical highlights, and a complete chronology.
• The Library of Congress profiles current members of the Senate and explains the trunk's policies and procedures. The site links to active legislation and floor activity, also as specific committees, leadership, and officers.

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How a bill becomes law

The process that Congress must follow to enact legislation is described in Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution. Usa.gov explains that anyone who has an thought for a new police force is encouraged to contact their U.S. representative or senator to suggest it. Even so, virtually bills originate in the offices of one or more of their legislative sponsors.

Step 1: The neb is introduced in either the Firm or the Senate

A bill can exist introduced by a representative or a senator; that person becomes the bill's sponsor (note that bills tin can have multiple sponsors). After meeting in pocket-sized groups to discuss the bill'southward merits, representatives or senators assign the nib to a commission for further enquiry, discussion, and potential amendments.

Step 2: The bill is debated and put to a vote

Once the bill is released by the committee, representatives or senators debate it and propose amendments or other changes prior to putting the neb to a vote. Afterward passing in the initial body (House or Senate), the bill goes to the other body, where it's researched, discussed, and amended further.

After both chambers accept the bill, joint committees piece of work out the differences between the two versions. Both houses and then vote on the verbal same nib. If the pecker passes, it'due south sent to the president for approval.

Step 3: The president considers the bill

The president has 10 days to sign or veto bills that Congress sends to the White House for approval. (A presidential veto prevents the legislation from taking upshot.) If the president approves the neb, it'southward signed into police force. If the president rejects the bill, it's returned to Congress with an explanation for the veto.

If Congress adjourns earlier the 10-twenty-four hour period catamenia for signing the bill expires, the president can simply choose not to sign the bill, and the bill won't go law. This is called a "pocket veto."

Step 4: Congress may vote to override a presidential veto

Congress has the ability to override a presidential veto by a two-thirds majority vote of both the Firm and Senate. If the veto is overridden, the nib becomes law. A pocket veto by the president tin can't be overridden past Congress.

Resources on how a neb becomes law

• The House of Representatives website explains the legislative process, including how bills and resolutions are proposed, introduced, amended, debated, voted on, and enacted.
• Vote Smart examines each footstep in the process of a bill becoming police force in both the Firm and Senate, including committee action, floor action, conference committees, and presidential review.

Conclusion: How Their Differences Brand the House and Senate Stronger

The framers of the Constitution worked carefully to ensure that the powers wielded by the three branches of authorities —  legislative, executive, and judicial — were carefully balanced then that the duties of each branch were articulate and no one co-operative would overpower the other 2. The bicameral legislature that splits legislative duties between a big House of Representatives and a smaller Senate is a key component of the framers' ability-sharing strategy.

Despite struggles and challenges that arose early in our land'south history and persist today, the partition of responsibilities and sharing of power have succeeded in keeping the wheels of government turning relatively effectively more than two centuries after the Constitution was written. While few constitutional experts and political scholars would contend that the bicameral legislative organization works perfectly, about would hold that the conception has stood the test of time.

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Additional Resources

The New York Times, "When the House and the Senate Are Controlled by 2 Different Parties, Who Wins?"

U.S. Congress, "The Legislative Process: Overview"

U.Due south. National Archives, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription"

U.S. Senate, "Constitution of the United States"

Vote Smart, "Regime 101: Congress"

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Source: https://online.maryville.edu/blog/difference-between-house-and-senate/

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