Differences between House of Representatives and Senate
Contents
House of Representatives vs. Senate[edit]
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the U.S. federal government, consisting of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The structure was established by the Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, which created a dual system of representation.[1][2] In the House, each state is assigned a number of seats proportional to its population, while in the Senate, all states have equal representation with two seats each.[2][3] Both chambers must pass legislation for it to become law.[4]
Comparison table[edit]
| Category | House of Representatives | Senate |
|---|---|---|
| Number of members | 435 voting members[5] | 100 members |
| Term length | Two years | Six years (staggered) |
| Representation | Based on state population | Two per state |
| Minimum age | 25 years | 30 years |
| Citizenship requirement | 7 years | 9 years |
| Role in revenue bills | Must originate all revenue bills | May amend revenue bills[5] |
| Role in impeachment | Has the sole power to impeach officials[5] | Has the sole power to try all impeachments |
| Role with treaties | No formal constitutional role | Provides "advice and consent" to ratify treaties |
| Presidential appointments | No formal constitutional role | Confirms presidential appointments |
Distinct powers[edit]
The Constitution grants each chamber specific powers. The House of Representatives has the exclusive authority to initiate all revenue bills, a power rooted in the principle of popular representation. It also possesses the sole power of impeachment, which allows it to formally charge federal officials with wrongdoing.[5] In cases where no presidential candidate secures a majority in the Electoral College, the House is responsible for electing the President.
The Senate holds several unique powers that check the authority of the other branches of government. It has the constitutional role to provide "advice and consent" on various executive actions. This includes the power to ratify treaties negotiated by the President, which requires a two-thirds supermajority vote. The Senate also confirms presidential appointments, including cabinet secretaries, federal judges, and ambassadors, by a majority vote. Following an impeachment by the House, the Senate conducts a trial to determine whether to convict and remove the official from office.
References[edit]
- ↑ "wikipedia.org". Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "senate.gov". Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "britannica.com". Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "civicsrenewalnetwork.org". Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "visitthecapitol.gov". Retrieved November 28, 2025.
