What Is The Difference Between Congress And House Of Representatives

The Constitution of the United States of America was approved on September 17, 1787, by representatives from the twelve states that were in attendance. Article 1 in the Constitution governs how the legislative branch will be operative. The main focal point of Congress is to create laws. It created a bicameral legislative branch which is a governmental body with two houses, known as the United States congress. The framers of the Constitution thought that having two houses would limit the amount of preposterous submissions that came through Congress. The two houses that make up the legislative branch are the House of Representatives and the Senate. Although each chamber is unable to manage without the other, they have particular things different
which separate them. During the time period when the Constitution was being created, the states began having disputes over the amount they were being represented. The bigger states, like Virginia, wanted to be represented in Congress based on their population, seeing they had a bigger population. If they had more representatives which equaled more voice in court, then they could sway the vote more effectively of what happens in the country.
The smaller states, such as New Jersey, contended that each state should have the same amount of representatives. Since they had a smaller population, if Virginia won the dispute, small states such as New Jersey would not be represented well. Due to the dispute that took place, the Senate was developed to appease New Jersey, and the House of Representatives was developed to satisfy Virginia. The House of Representatives has representatives from each state but there are different numbers of representatives for each state based of the state’s population. The House of Representatives has a total of four hundred and thirty-five members, as opposed to the Senate, which has a total of one hundred senators, and two representing each of the states. In the House, each of the representative’s seat goes up for re- election every two year. In the Senate, re-election is every six years. In order to become a representative an individual must be at least twenty-five years old and have been a citizen of the United States for a minimum seven years. In order to become a Senator an individual must be at least thirty years old and have been a citizen for a minimum nine
years. In my opinion, Senators minimal age is years older than the minimum age of the representatives because back when the constitution was being created thirty was considered old and wise. I know the times have changed and people are living longer lives but with the age, the amount of years as a citizen, and the length of the term of a Senator; Senators are expected to be experts in life, the voice of reason and experience, and the wise ones.
Also, I think having the age at twenty-five for the House of Representatives is a good thing because I think the younger people in this day and age are more receptive and open minded to things. With that being said, I think having someone younger take in the needs of their state and make decisions based of the majority would be easier because majority of older people are often closed minded and stuck in their ways and what they think is best. The House by itself has the authority to initiate revenue bills. Be that as it may, that authority is undemonstrative because the House along with the Senate must approve all bills, even revenue bills. The House of Representatives have the authority to impeach, which is the authority to fittingly indict the president, vice president, as well as any other national government civil officers with serious crimes. The Senate has the authority to delegate the court to try impeachments, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
officiating. In order for impeachment a two- thirds vote from the Senate is required. I know we have been talking about things that make the House and Senate different but a similarity is that both representatives and senators must live in the state that they want to represent at the time of the election. The powers of congress are specified under Article I, Section 8. “Implied powers are contained under the Necessary and Proper Clause. The House and the Senate share the power to declare war, raise an army and navy, borrow and coin money, regulate interstate commerce, create federal courts, establish rules for the naturalization of immigrants, and make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers." In conclusion, the foundation of our bicameral legislative branch guarantee that each of the states would have equivalent and sufficient representation. Also, that the separation of powers which is “the principle or system of vesting in separate branches the executive, legislative, and judicial powers of the government” would be preserved in the new federal Congress. The issue of representation whether it be lack of or whatever it may be; it had a vital impact on not only the Federalists but the Anti-Federalists as well. All of the fifty states wanted to perpetuate fairness in the national legislature while retaining equal representation. All of this framed a nail biting set of circumstances for our Founders; but through all of the suggested plans, continuous arguments, and supporting legal agreements, the Great Compromise framed a stabilizer of representation and separation of powers with the configuration of a bicameral legislative branch.