Everything you need to know about US Congress

The US government structure is quite different from the rest of the countries, focusing more on a federal system where the President plays the ultimate role and is considered the highest governing and authoritative body. Although most of the powers and controls rest in the hands of the President, the US government relies significantly on Congress. Established under the Constitution of the United States, it plays a crucial role in maintaining the nation’s stability, implementing laws and authority, and supervising governance across all the states. 

To understand the functioning of the US Congress, it’s imperative to know about its structure, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, along with the importance, key committees and their roles and responsibilities, and the challenges encountered. Additionally, you should also know the relationship between Congress and the President to understand the government structure of the United States. With this being said, we have prepared a brief but comprehensive guide, explaining everything about the Congress of the United States of America that you must know. 

What is the US Congress?

The US Congress is the major governing body of the United States of America, often termed as the legislative section of the federal government. It was first established in the late 18^th century, after the great American Revolution, operating under the Articles of Confederation. Later on in 1787, The Constitution of the United States replaced the Articles of Confederation and established the bicameral body of the Congress. George Washington was the first President during the age of the Early Congress. 

Structure of the US Congress

In this brief section, we have illustrated the structure of the US Congress to help you understand how this legislative body of the federal government works. The Congress is segregated or bifurcated into two bodies, namely the House of Representatives and the Senate. 

1. The Senate has 100 members, with each state having 2 senators regardless of the population. Senators have a 6-year term where one-third of the numbers can stand up for re-election every 2 years. To become a senator, the person has to be 30 years of age and should be a US citizen for 9 years. 
2. The House of Representatives consists of 435 members, where states with higher populations will have more representatives. Usually, members of the House serve a term of 2 years, after which re-election occurs again. As per the eligibility, one has to be 25 years of age and should be a US citizen for at least 7 years.

Roles and responsibilities of the US Congress

The key roles and responsibilities of the US Congress are as follows:

• Legislation: The Congress is responsible for creating and passing a bill that will create, amend, or pass a new law for the entire country. Both the House and the Senate must pass a bill so that it can finally become a law. 
• Budgeting: It is the responsibility of Congress to determine the federal budget, allocate funds for government programs and agencies, and raise revenue through different taxation reforms. 
• Overseeing Executive branch: Also, Congress oversees that the Executive body, i.e., the President and the federal government abide by the law. 
• Investigation and impeachment: Congress has the authority to hold investigations and hearings for any member of the federal government along with impeaching the US President. 
• Confirming appointments: The Senate appoints important members of the law, including Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and cabinet members. 
• Treaty ratification: Also, the Senate has the authority to ratify any international treaty with a requirement of majority of two-thirds of votes. 
• Influencing public opinions: The House is responsible for listening to the public opinions and addressing their concerns through Town Hall events and public speeches. 
• Declare war: One of the key responsibilities of Congress is to declare war and maintain military funding even when the President acts as the Commander-In-Chief. 

How members of the Congress are elected?

Election of the Senate

• Every state has voters who are responsible for selecting both the Senators through a single election. 
• Although a plurality voting system is preferred by which the person with the majority of votes wins, some states can implement the runoff system when no majority is there. 

Election of the House

• The entire country is divided into numerous congressional districts, where the voters are allowed to select one representative for the House through the plurality system. 
• Sometimes, the district boundaries can be expanded further to favor a preferred political party and choose the representatives for the House. 

Key committees and their functions

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the US Congress are formed of numerous key committees, each having a specific function or responsibility. These are:

1. Senate Finance Committee: Drafting taxation laws, overseeing programs like Medicaid and Social Security, and handling international trade agreements
2. Senate Judiciary Committee: Reviewing and confirming federal judiciary appointments, overseeing civil liberties and criminal justice, and examining issues related to constitutional amendments
3. Senate Armed Services Committee: Supervising the Department of Defense, reviewing the military budget, and conducting hearings for military readiness and defense policies
4. House Ways and Means Committee: Developing tax legislation, dealing with international trade laws, and overseeing Social Security programs
5. House Energy and Commerce Committee: Overseeing the public energy sector, handling healthcare policies, and regulating telecommunications
6. House Budget Committee: Developing the House’s budget, reviewing long-term financial issues, and overseeing fund deficiency

Relationship between the Congress and the President

The Congress and the President share a bittersweet relationship as they are often faced with conflicts and collaborative opportunities for the betterment of the country. For instance:

• The Congress can pass a bill to create laws but the President has the authority to veto or sign the same. 
• Congress can investigate any member of the Executive branch, including the President. On the contrary, the President can issue executive orders, but those cannot override the Congress laws. 
• While the US Congress holds the power of setting the budget and determining the fund allocation, the President can propose plans for influencing the budget and revenue plans. 

The Legislative process for the US Congress

The legislative process followed by the Executive and Congress of the US is described below. 

• The bill is first introduced under the jurisdiction of the House or the Senate. 
• All the committees take part in reviewing, amending, and debating the bill. 
• When there are differences between the versions proposed by the Senate and the House, the Conference Committee is set up to bridge the gaps. 
• The bill then goes to the President, who can sign, veto, or opt for taking no action on the same. 
• If the President signs the bill or Congress overrides the veto, the bill will become a new law. 

Key challenges faced by the US Congress

1. Political polarization between the Republicans and the Democrats has created several gridlock situations within the US Congress itself.
2. When faced with Partisan gridlock, Congress finds it difficult to pass a major legislation issue. 
3. Owing to the filibuster, a minority of the Senate can block the legislation through continuous debates. 
4. If the budget or spending bills are not passed on time, there can be a total shutdown of government operations.  
5. Gerrymandering or extension of the district boundaries to favor a single political party during the election of the House of Representatives can lead to incompetent elections. 
6. Congress often faces a challenge in fund allocation uniformly due to increased spending for the military budget, Social Security, and public healthcare systems. 

Conclusion 

Here, we have described the major facts that you need to know about the US Congress, including its structure, the key roles and responsibilities, some of the major committees, and many other aspects. With this, it’s evident that Congress plays a crucial role in the legislation process of the federal government and in implementing laws and other programs. Besides, the President and Congress work together on several occasions to stabilize the government and maintain impartiality throughout. 

FAQs

What is a congressperson in the USA?

Any elected male member of the US Congress is termed as the Congressman of the USA and he can belong to either the House of Representatives or the Senate. 

Who makes up the Congress in the USA?

In the USA, Congress is made up of the Senate (100 members) and the House of Representatives (435 members). 

Is the US President part of the Congress?

The President of the US is the head of the executive brand while Congress is the legislative body of the federal government.