Congress

Two chambers, different roles

Congress is bicameral. The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, each elected for a two-year term from a district; the minimum age is 25. The Senate has 100 members, two per state, serving six-year terms staggered so that about one-third are up for election every two years; the minimum age is 30. Seats in the House are redistributed among states after each ten-year census (reapportionment), and district lines are then redrawn. Gerrymandering is drawing district lines to benefit a party or group; it has been used by both parties.

Powers

Congress's powers include making laws, taxing and spending, borrowing, regulating commerce, declaring war, raising armies, and overseeing the executive branch through hearings and investigations. Each chamber has special powers. Only the House can start revenue bills and impeach officials. Only the Senate confirms presidential appointments (by a majority) and ratifies treaties (two-thirds). The Senate also tries impeachments; conviction requires two-thirds of senators present.

Leadership and committees

The Speaker of the House is elected by the House and leads its majority party. The Senate's presiding officer is the Vice President, who votes only to break a tie, and in practice the majority leader directs the Senate's work. Most work is done in committees, which study bills, hold hearings and amend legislation. The House Rules Committee sets the terms of debate for most bills.

How a bill becomes law

1. A member introduces a bill in either chamber (revenue bills in the House).
2. A committee holds hearings, amends and votes on it.
3. The full chamber debates and votes. In the House, the Rules Committee shapes this stage.
4. The other chamber considers its version. If the versions differ, a conference committee or informal negotiation produces one text, which both chambers must pass.
5. The president signs the bill, or vetoes it. If the president does nothing for ten days (excluding Sundays) while Congress is in session, the bill becomes law without a signature.
6. A vetoed bill returns to Congress, and a two-thirds vote of both chambers overrides the veto.

The filibuster

In the Senate, debate can continue unless ended by cloture, which requires 60 votes of the 100 for most legislation. This is a Senate rule, not a constitutional requirement. It means that a determined minority can slow or block bills. Supporters say it forces compromise; critics say it causes gridlock. Both parties have favoured and opposed it depending on who held the majority.

Worked example: counting votes

1. A bill passes the Senate 54 to 46 on a simple-majority vote and becomes law after the House passes it and the president signs.
2. If the same bill faced a filibuster, 54 votes would fall short of the 60 needed for cloture by 6.
3. If the president vetoes it, 54 of 100 is well short of the 67 needed to override.

The count shows why majority control matters less than the specific threshold a procedure requires.