United States House of Representatives

Historical distribution of parties in US House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Together, they perform the legislative function of the United States federal government. The House of Representatives is responsible for making and passing federal laws. Each state is represented in the House in proportion to its population but is entitled to at least one Representative. The total number of Representatives is currently fixed at 435.

Composition and Powers

The House is composed of Representatives who sit for two-year terms. All members are elected directly by the constituents of their congressional districts via first-past-the-post voting. The number of Representatives each state has in the House is based on its population as determined in the decennial census. States are divided into congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 people, although this number can vary significantly.

The House has several exclusive powers not granted to the Senate, including the initiation of revenue bills, the impeachment of federal officials, and the election of the President in the case of an electoral college deadlock.

Leadership

The Speaker of the House, elected by the Representatives, is the House leader and its presiding officer. The Speaker is second in the United States presidential line of succession, after the Vice President. The current Speaker is a member of the majority party, but the Speaker can be elected from any party and does not have to be a member of the House.

Committees

The House operates through committees which have the power to draft and amend legislation. Committees also oversee various federal agencies and programs. The House has standing committees, select committees, and special committees. The Speaker of the House appoints all committee chairs.

History

The House of Representatives was established in 1789 by Article One of the United States Constitution. It was intended to be the more democratic of the two houses of Congress, with members elected directly by the people. The House has grown in size with the expansion of the country, reaching its current number of 435 members in 1913.

Significant Legislation

Over its history, the House has been responsible for initiating many significant pieces of legislation, including bills on civil rights, health care, and tax reform. The House played a crucial role in passing the Affordable Care Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Elections and Redistricting

House elections are held every two years, on the first Tuesday after November 1. Redistricting occurs every ten years, after the census, which can lead to changes in the number of seats each state has in the House. This process can be politically contentious, as state legislatures, which are usually responsible for redistricting, can create districts that favor one party, a practice known as gerrymandering.

See Also

• United States Senate
• United States Congress
• Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
• Impeachment in the United States