• Incumbents have 2 year terms

• Each state has a certain number of representatives depending on it's population. Every 10 years, the census is taken to determine how the 435 seats should be distributed among the states

• To be a member of the House of Representatives you need to:

  • Be 25 years or older

  • Be a U.S. Citizen for at least 7 years

  • Be a resident of the state they are trying to represent

• Constitutional powers of the House include:

  • Electing the president in the event of a tie

  • Impeaching government officials

  • Editing tax policies by initiating revenue bills

• Fun Facts:

  • Members of the house get scores depending on their average effectiveness as a lawmaker

  • The house had 65 members before the first apportionment

  • The House is the only branch that has been directly elected by the people since 1789

  • In the 1900s, the House fought with the Senate over issues like slavery and the conflict continued all the way until the Civil War

• Senators individually have 6 year terms

• Senators rotate every 2 years when 1/3 of the Senate gets elected or re-elected

• To be a member of the Senate you need to:

  • Be 30 years or older

  • Be a U.S. Citizen for at least 9 years

  • Be a resident of the state they are trying to represent

• Constitutional powers of the Senate include:

  • Declaring war

  • Nominating officials like members of the supreme court, ambassadors and ministers

  • Filibusters; blocking or debating legislation

• Fun Facts:

  • The longest serving senator served for 51 years

  • The longest speech given in U.S. history was a filibuster by Cory Booker about Trump's second presidency that lasted over 25 hours

  • "Senate" originates from the Latin word "Senex", which means "Old Man"

  • There have only been 4 American Indian senators

• Diana DeGette (Democrat)

• Joe Neguse (Democrat)

• Jason Crow (Democrat)

• Brittany Pettersen (Democrat)

• Gabe Evans (Republican)

• Jeff Crank (Republican)

• Lauren Boebert (Republican)

• Jeff Hurd (Republican)

Current Members of the Senate

• Michael Bennet - 15 years - Democrat

  • Health Care: Searching for high quality and affordable healthcare, and is introducing the Medicare-X Act which should give people more flexible financial healthcare options

  • Justice and Equality: Improving the justice system by fighting against unequal law enforcement towards people of color and advocating for the First Step Act

• John Hickenlooper - 3 years - Democrat

  • Equality & Civil Rights: Also believes that the justice system treats people of color unfairly and is in need of reform

  • Education: Looking to reduce student loan debt by creating bigger Pell grants and making more programs to substitute for a 4 year degree

I'm Represented by:

• Jason Crow

  • Trying to eliminate loop-holes around gun ownership, trying to seek equal access to justice for victims of gun violence

  • Stands with Ukraine, is against the elimination of USAID

• Both play a part in impeachment, the House as the prosecutors and Senate as the judge and jury

• Both introduce bills

• Combined they can borrow money on the credit of the United States

• They can regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes

• Can constitute hearings inferior to the supreme court

Differences:

• The House has a stronger hierarchy and the Senate is more equal

• The House has more committees and subcommittees than the Senate does

• The House has more rigid debate rules than the Senate

• The House focuses on tax and revenue, the Senate focuses on foreign affairs

• House members are specialized for their position while the Senate are generalists

• 213 Democrats

• 220 Republicans

•  2 Independents

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• 310 men

• 125 women

Senate

• 53 Republicans

• 45 Democrats

• 2 Independents

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• 74 men

•  26 women

28% of the House are racial minorities, 16% of the Senate are racial minorities:

• Black

• Hispanic

• Asian

• Native American

87% of Congress is Christian, 13% are other religions:

• Muslim

• Jewish

• Hindu

• Undecided

Views on minorities are getting better and they’re given more opportunities, congress is starting to reflect the diversity of the US more.

House Leaders:

• Speaker of the House: Rep. Mike Johnson

• Majority Leader: Rep. Steve Scalise

• Minority Leader: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries

Senate Leaders:

• President Pro Tempore: Charles E. Grassley

• Majority Leader: John Thune

• Minority Leader: Charles E. Schumer

Supported By Steve Cohen and Tim Burchett, because of accountability and making TVA salaries publicly accessible

• #2 Scalise: Economic Growth Through Reconciliation is Top Priority

  • “House committees are doing on reconciliation this month to codify President Trump’s agenda to reduce wasteful spending, ensure tax rates do not go up, put American energy first to lower prices, secure the border, and protect hardworking families.”