Why Is There A House And A Senate?

The U.S. Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government, consisting of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Role of Congress is to represent the people, write and pass laws, check and balance the power of the President, and fund the federal government through enacting taxes and authorizing spending. The Constitution of the United States has created a unique bicameral legislature that serves as the foundation of American government, yet many are left wondering why exactly there is a House and a Senate?

The Need for a Balance of Power – Why There is a House and a Senate

The Founding Fathers of the United States understood the value of a strong balance of power, and they saw the need to incorporate unrelated elements of government that would check and balance each other, while still working together. This is the reason why there is a bicameral legislature consisting of two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The House of Representatives

The House of Representatives, or sometimes referred to as the lower house, is the larger chamber of Congress with 435 voting members. Each state is proportionally represented in the House of Representatives, with the number of Members representing the state in the House being roughly proportional to the population of the state. More populous states have more Representatives, while the least populous have only one.

The House is more directly exposed to citizen input with single-member districts, making the representatives accountable to their voters. Representatives serve for two-year terms and must stand for re-election every two years, ensuring constituents have more frequent ability to affect the decisions being made. The dynamics of the House often make it a more partisan chamber.

The Senate

The Senate, or the upper house of Congress, is composed of 100 Senators, two from each state. This arrangement was put in place in order to give the small states equal representation with the larger states. Members of the Senate serve in six-year terms, with one half of the members being chosen every two years.

The Senate is seen as a more deliberative body and is less subject to populism than the House of Representatives. Senators are more distant from their constituents, making them more exposed to the policies of those in power. This allows for the Senate to act as a restraint on hasty, unsubstantiated decision-making. The Senate is also responsible for providing “advice and consent” to the president in matters of treaties and international agreements.

Comparing the House and the Senate

It is important to note the differences between the two co-equal chambers. The House is larger and faster moving, with 435 members, each of whom serves a two year term, while the Senate is a smaller body with only 100 members, each of whom serves a six year term. The House is populated with more members and therefore legislates primarily with majority control while the Senate is required to pass legislation with a much greater number of votes since it only has 100 members.

These differences exist to create a balance of power between the two chambers. The House of Representatives is more reactive to the changes in the electorate and therefore more amenable to the popular opinion. The Senate has a more deliberative role and is intended to more cautiously consider legislation and to act as a restraint on hasty decision-making.

The Role of the Senate and the House in Making Laws

Both chambers of Congress are essential in the law-making process. Passage of federal legislation requires approval of both the House and Senate and typically proceeds along the following path:

• A bill is introduced in the House or Senate and referred to a committee for discussion and potential amendment
• The committees and house may debate the bill in a series of votes, eventually sending it back to the other chamber with a positive or negative report
• Both chambers may decide to pass the bill without changes, or they can offer differences in opinion in the form of an “amendment”
• The House and Senate will then work together to reconcile their differences
• After resolving any discrepancies, both chambers will then pass the bill in their respective houses
• The bill is then sent to the President, who may veto the bill or sign it into law

The two houses of Congress have served an important role in maintaining the structure of the federal government for more than two centuries. The House of Representatives represents the people, with each state being proportionally represented in the House, while the Senate is more distant from the people, allowing for more careful and deliberate consideration of legislative matters. Without the House and the Senate to balance each other, it is possible that the rights of the minority might be overlooked. With each chamber playing a unique, significant role in the law-making process and with the need for a strong balance of power, there is no doubt that the House and Senate best uphold the values of American government.

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