![]() ![]() Roosevelt (1933–45), the Democratic Party controlled both houses of Congress. In particular, committee chairmen remained particularly strong in both houses until the reforms of the 1970s.ĭuring the long administration of President Franklin D. Leaders in the Senate were somewhat less powerful individual senators still retained much of their influence. In the House of Representatives, the office of Speaker became extremely powerful. The early twentieth century witnessed the rise of party leadership in both houses of Congress. These issues were addressed by the Seventeenth Amendment (ratified in 1913), which provided for the direct election of senators. ![]() Senate elections were tainted by corruption, bribery and gridlock preventing the election of a senator. The post Civil War Gilded Age was marked by Republican dominance of Congress. In order to preserve further the authority of the states, it was provided that state legislatures, rather than the people, would elect senators. Eventually, a compromise was reached the House of Representatives to provide representation proportional by population, whereas the Senate would provide equal representation by states. The smaller states, however, favored a unicameral Congress with equal representation for the states. James Madison called for a bicameral Congress: the lower house elected directly by the people, and the upper house elected by the lower house. Originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, it ended up writing a completely new constitution. The ineffectiveness of the federal government under the Articles led Congress to summon the Convention of 1787. On 4 July 1776, the Second Continental Congress declared thirteen former colonies independent states, referring to them as the "United States of America." Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was a unicameral body in which each state was equally represented, and in which each state had a veto over most action. The Congress of the United States has its roots from the First Continental Congress, a meeting of representatives of twelve of Great Britain's eighteen North American colonies, in the autumn of 1774. Thus, as of 2006, the 109th Congress is in session. The term, "Congress" may also refer to a particular meeting of the Congress, reckoned according to the terms of Representatives. Bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives, as well as any impeachment proceedings.Ĭongress meets in the U.S. The Senate's advice and consent is required to confirm presidential nominations to high-level executive and judicial positions, and for the ratification of treaties. However, there are some special powers granted to one chamber only. Through Acts of Congress, Congress may regulate interstate and foreign commerce, levy taxes, organize the federal courts, maintain the military, declare war, and exercise certain other " necessary and proper" powers. The powers of Congress are limited to those enumerated in the Constitution all other powers are reserved to the states and the people. The United States Constitution vests all legislative powers of the federal government in the Congress. Both Senators and Representatives are chosen through direct election. There are 100 senators, serving staggered six-year terms. ![]() Each state has two Senators, regardless of population. House seats are apportioned among the states on the basis of population. The Northern Mariana Islands are not represented. The House of Representatives has 435 voting members (plus non-voting delegates from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands), each representing a congressional district and serving a two-year term. It is bicameral, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate. The United States Congress is the legislature of the United States federal government. Related subjects: Politics and government ![]()
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