| |
| |
House of Representatives of the United States
The United States House of Representatives is made up of 435 members of Congress , with the representation of each state determined by population (based on the Census count every 10 years) and each state getting at least one. They are elected for 2 year terms. The American territories have nonvoting delegates in the House.
Originally the constitutional provision was for there to be one representative for every 30 000 US citizens. That made the original size of the House 65. Today the formula has been adjusted to 1 for every 600,000 citizens (otherwise the House would have over 7000 members).
Member of the House must be at least 25 years old, citizens of the United States for at least 7 years, and residents of the state from which they are elected. The individual state may also set separate requirements for their representatives. The state legislatures also determine how the congressional districts are shaped geographically.
Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution defines the powers of Congress which include: raising and assessing taxes, borrowing money for the public treasury, regulating commerce, coining money & punishing counterfeiters, establishment of courts, maintaining the military, calling out the militia, declaring war, punishing piracy, naturalizing citizens, intellectual property, weights & measures, the postal system, bankruptcy laws, making all laws for the seat of government (Washington DC) and the right to propose amendments to the Constitution when 2/3 of both Houses deem it necessary and making all laws to enforce the Constitution.
The House has the sole power to act in impeachment hearings, and the Senate the sole power to try impeachments. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the United States may be impeached.
The House of Representatives has the special power of originating all bills for the raising of revenue, which is the only way in which the House differs from the Senate in initiating legislation.
The House chooses its own presiding officer, the Speaker of the House.
House Committees:
Committee on Agriculture
Committee on Appropriations
Committee on Armed Services
Committee on the Budget
Committee on Education and the Workforce
Committee on Energy and Commerce
Committee on Financial Services
Committee on Government Reform
Committee on House Administration
Committee on International Relations
Committee on the Judiciary
Committee on Resources
Committee on Rules
Committee on Science
Committee on Small Business
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee on Veterans Affairs
Committee on Ways and Means
Joint Economic Committee
Joint Committee on Printing
Joint Committee on Taxation
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
|
|
|
|
|
The U. S. Constitution
