T h e C o n g r e s s

The Senate is composed of 100 members – 2 from each state, irrespective of population or area – elected by people in conformity with the provisions of the 17^th Amendment to the Constitution. That Amendment changed the former Constitutional method under which Senators were chosen by the respective State legislatures. A Senator must be at least 30 years of age, have been a citizen of the US for 9 years, and when elected, be a resident of the state for which the Senator is chosen. The term of the office is 6 years and one-third of the total membership of the Senate is elected every second year. If a Senator dies or resigned during the term, the governor of the Senate must call a special election unless the State legislature has authorized the governor to appoint a successor until the next election, at which time a successor is elected for the balance of the term. Most of the State legislatures have granted their governors the power of appointment.

The House of Representatives is composed of 435 members elected every 2 years from among the 50 states, apportioned to their total populations. A Representative must be at least 25 years of age, have been a citizen of the U.S. for 7 years, and when elected, be a resident of the State in which the Representative is chosen.

A Congress lasts for 2 years, commencing in January of the year following the biennial election of Members, and is divided into 2 sessions.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have equal legislative functions and powers (except that only the House of Representatives may initiate revenue bills), and the designation of one as the “upper” House and the other as the “lower” House is not appropriate.

The chief function of Congress is the making of Laws. In addition, the Senate has the function of advising and consenting to treaties and to certain nominations by the President. In the matter of impeachments, the House of Representatives presents the charges – a function similar to that of a grand jury – and the Senate sits as a court to try the impeachment. Both Houses meet in joint session on the 6^th day of January, following a presidential election, to count the electoral votes.

Q u e s t i o n s :

1) What is the legislative branch vested in?

2) Every member of the House of Representatives is elected every 2 years, isn’t he?

3) What are the functions of the Senate and the House of Representatives?

Text 2. F o r m s o f C o n g r e s s i o n a l A c t i o n

The work of Congress is initiated by the introduction of a proposal in one of 4 principal forms. These are: the bill, the joint resolution, the concurrent resolution, and the simple resolution. By far the most customary form used in both Houses is the bill.

B i l l s .

A bill is the form used for most legislation, whether permanent or temporary, general or special, public or private.

J o i n t R e s o l u t i o n s .

Joint resolutions may originate either in the House of Representatives or in the Senate – not, as may be supposed, jointly in both Houses. There is little practical difference between a bill and a joint resolution, and although the latter are not as numerous as bills, the 2 forms are often used indiscriminately. Statutes that have been initiated as bills have later been amended by a joint resolution, and vice versa. Both are subject to the same procedure -–with the exception of a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution. When a joint amending the Constitution is approved by two-thirds of both Houses it is sent directly to the Archivist of the United States for submission to the several States for ratification. It is not presented to the President for approval.

C o n c u r r e n t R e s o l u t i o n s .

Matters affecting the operations of both Houses are usually initiated by means of concurrent resolutions. In modern practice, these normally are not legislative in character but are used merely for expressing facts, principles, opinions, and purposes of the two Houses. They are not equivalent to a bill and their use is narrowly limited within these bounds. The term “concurrent” does not signify simultaneous introduction and consideration in both Houses.

S i m p l e R e s o l u t i o n s .

A matter concerning the operation of either House alone is initiated by a simple resolution. They are considered only by the body in which they are introduced and on adoption are attested to by the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate, as the case may be, and are published in the Congressional Record.

Q u e s t i o n s :

1) What are the forms of the work of Congress?

2) Is there any difference between a bill and a joint resolution?

3) Is a joint resolution sent to the president of the USA for approval?

4) Whom is a simple resolution attested by?