What Are the Responsibilities of the House of Representatives

• Introduction
• What is the Legislative Branch?
• What does the Firm of Representatives exercise?
• Additional Resources
• Ways to Become Involved/What You Can Practice
• Suggestions for Your Next Chat

Introduction

The United States spent eight long years of desperate fighting for independence from 1775 to 1783. By 1789, the Founding Fathers had set up about amalgam a government "built on the fundamental conviction of revolutionary-era republicanism: that no key authority empowered to coerce or discipline the denizens was permissible , since it merely duplicated the monarchical and aristocratic principles that the American Revolution had been fought to escape. The United States is now the oldest enduring republic in world history, with a gear up of political institutions and traditions that take stood the examination of time."

According to House.gov , "To ensure a separation of powers, the U.S. Federal Government is made up of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. To ensure the government is effective and citizens' rights are protected, each branch has its ain powers and responsibilities, including working with the other branches." This is often referred to every bit " checks and balances ," and prevents any 1 office of government from wielding too much political power.

Why it Matters

America benefits from a judicial branch positioned to halt executive co-operative overreach. The President of the United states cannot stay in power indefinitely and is unable to force the U.South. Congress to pass laws. From the very commencement, and notwithstanding to today, the American people take access to and influence over their elected representatives.

The House of Representatives most directly reflects the desires of the American public due to the ratio of American citizens to U.Southward. Representatives and the constant election bicycle every two years. Much of the deadlock of the U.S. government that we witness today reflects a divided American people.

This cursory focuses on the Legislative branch of the U.S. regime, in particular the House of Representatives, including the nuts and bolts of how its inner workings, and how everyday citizens can influence the legislative process. For a cursory on the U.S. Senate, click here .

Save Save

What is the Legislative Co-operative?

The legislative branch is made up of the Firm of Representatives and the Senate , known collectively as the Congress. Among other powers, the legislative branch "makes all laws, declares war, regulates interstate and foreign commerce and controls taxing and spending policies."

CrashCourse U.S. Government and Politics, produced in collaboration with PBS, explains the Bicameral Congress (9 min):

Of all federal government institutions, the House of Representatives is designed to exist closest to American voters, most closely reflecting the individual cares and concerns of American taxpayers. In fact, the Business firm is the only institution that has been directly elected by American voters since its formation in 1789.

"'If proportional representation takes place, the pocket-sized States contend that their liberties volition be in danger. If an equality of votes is to be put in its identify, the large States say their coin will be in danger,'" explained Benjamin Franklin . What eventually "emerged from weeks of stalemate was called the 'Great Compromise' and created a bicameral legislature with a House, where membership was determined past country population, and a Senate, where each land had two seats regardless of population."

Size and Structure of the House

At that place are 435 representatives in the Firm , and take been since the number was stock-still past law in 1911. Each House representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district in a country. "Each state receives representation in the Firm in proportion to the size of its population but is entitled to at least i representative." This means that states with large populations have more representatives than small states take. Representation based on population was "one of the virtually important components of the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787," every bit 1 of the founders' greatest concerns was designing a system of government that would better stand for the public than did the British model from which they had won independence.

In addition to the 435 representatives from the states, there is a Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and Delegates from Washington D.C., American Samoa, Guam, The Democracy of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. The Resident Commissioner and Delegates are able to serve and vote on committees, but do not accept the same full voting rights as the 435 country representatives.

The Part of the Demography

Specifically, seats in the House " are apportioned based on state population co-ordinate to the constitutionally mandated Census."  The Census, which occurs every ten years and is overseen by the Agency of the Demography, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Tying representation to Demography data allows the number of each state'south representatives to increment or decrease forth with fluctuations in state population. The Census data is then used to make up one's mind congressional districts, areas in the state from which representatives are elected to the Business firm. This process is called redistricting. For more on redistricting and the Demography, come across The Policy Circle's Decennial Census Brief.

Elections

Members of the Firm of Representatives " must correspond election every two years , after which it convenes for a new session and substantially reconstitutes itself – electing a Speaker, swearing-in the Members-elect, and approval a slate of officers to administer the institution." Biennial elections are held in November, and the Congress commences in the following January. To be elected, a representative must be at to the lowest degree 25 years former, a United States denizen for at least vii years, and a resident of the state he or she represents. U.S. Business firm candidates are non required to live in the congressional district they represent.

The Life of a Representative

According to Congressional Direction Foundation'due south Life in Congress study , when representatives are in Washington, D.C., they report spending their time equally follows:

• 35% on "Legislative/Policy Work"
• 17% on "Constituent Services Work"
• 17% on "Political/Campaign Piece of work"
• nine% on "Press/Media Relations"
• 9% on "Family unit/Friends"
• 7% on "Authoritative/Managerial Work"
• 6% on "Personal Fourth dimension"

When in their home district, they reported spending time every bit follows:

• 32% on "Constituent Services Work"
• 18%  on "Political/Entrada Work"
• xiv% on "Press/Media Relations"
• 12%  on "Legislative/Policy Work"
• 9% with "Family/Friends"
• eight% on "Personal Time"
• 7% on "Administrative/Managerial Piece of work"

Compensation

Article I, Section vi of the Constitution requires Congress to determine its ain pay. Congress'due south " current automatic aligning formula , which is based on changes in individual sector wages," was established by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989. The last pay aligning was in January 2009. Since, most representatives earn $174,000 annually, while the bulk and minority leaders make $193,400. The Speaker earns the largest bacon at $223,500. Additionally, representatives "are subject area to some specific laws and regulations regarding the acceptance of gifts ," particularly gifts from registered lobbyists or from individual entities that retain or employ a lobbyist.

What does the House of Representatives practice?

Responsibilities of the House

Per the Constitution , the House and Senate together brand and pass federal laws, introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments, and serve on committees that enable members to develop specialized knowledge on the matters nether that commission'southward jurisdiction. Though both make up Congress, there are a few distinctions between the two. In particular, the Constitution "provides that only the House of Representatives may originate revenue bills, " and by tradition it also originates appropriation bills.

Additionally, while the Constitution does not specifically mention investigations and oversight , "the authority to bear investigations is implied since Congress possesses 'all legislative powers'." The House initiates impeachment proceedings and passes manufactures of impeachment (the Senate sits as a court to try the impeachment).

Finally, during a presidential election, the House of Representatives steps in if no candidate receives a bulk of the full electoral votes. Each state delegation has i vote to choose the President from among the acme three candidates with the largest number of balloter votes.

Leadership in the House

Afterward each election, the political party that wins the most representatives is designated the " Majority ." The other party is the " Minority. " The majority political party holds central leadership positions, such as Speaker of the House. The same political party can have the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or the chambers tin exist split. Tertiary parties rarely have enough members to elect their own leadership, and then independents generally bring together one of the larger party organizations to receive committee assignments.

The Firm is run past bulk rule.  When a majority of members vote to practise something in the House, it gets done. Bulk rule makes passing legislation relatively efficient, and that means that the party in the minority has less power to set the calendar or pass its proposals. This contrasts with the Senate, where a unmarried senator – in the majority or the minority – can more often than not force a vote or stop a bill in its tracks.

House Leadership includes the Speaker of the Firm, Majority and Minority Leaders, and Majority and Minority Whips.

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House, and is elected by the members of the Business firm. The Speaker administers the Oath of Office to Business firm members, chairs certain committees or nominates committee chairs (namely the chairs of the House Administration Committee and the Rules Committee ), and appoints members of diverse committees and House staff. After the Vice President, the Speaker is 2d in line to succeed the Vice President.

Majority and Minority Leaders represent their respective parties on the Business firm flooring. Each is elected by his or her respective party. The bulk leader is second to the Speaker and schedules legislative business, planning legislative agendas rather than serving on committees. The minority leader serves as the minority party'due south spokesperson, essentially the minority political party'due south counterpart to the Speaker. He or she also chairs the minority party's committee assignment panel.

Majority and Minority Whips serve as middlemen to between their party leaders and members. They "maintain advice between the leadership of the party and its members, marshal support for party positions on the floor, count votes on central legislation, and persuade wavering Members to vote for the party position."

The Speaker of the House is elected by the entire House of Representatives, while the Republican Briefing and Autonomous Caucus elect the other leadership positions. The Republican Conference is the formal arrangement of Republican Members in the Firm, and the Democratic Caucus is that of the Autonomous Members.

Encounter current House Leadership positions hither.

The Part of Committees

Committees " are permanent panels governed by House chamber rules, with responsibility to consider bills and problems and to have full general oversight relating to their areas of jurisdiction." Committees have different legislative jurisdictions, but each considers, shapes, and passes laws related to its jurisdiction, and monitors agencies, programs, and activities inside their jurisdiction. Each commission has a chair that leads the total committee, and a ranking fellow member who leads the minority members of the committee. Committee assignment direct affects a representative's work in Congress. After a Congressional election, political parties assign newly elected representatives to continuing committees

Crash Course U.S. Government & Politics explains what Congressional committees do (8 min):

Some of the most well-known committees include:

• The Business firm Committee on Ways and Means , which oversees all taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures.
• The Firm Committee on Appropriations , which has jurisdiction over setting specific regime expenditures.
• The House Committee on Foreign Diplomacy , which has jurisdiction over foreign assist and oversees national security developments affecting strange policy.
• The House Committee on the Judiciary, which oversees the judiciary and ceremonious and criminal proceedings.

Nigh committees are regular standing committees, which continue from 1 Congress to the next. There are as well select committees, special committees formed for a short menstruum of time for a specific purpose such as an investigation, and in that location are several joint committees with the Senate. See a full list of all House Committees here .

Legislation in the House

Legislation begins with an idea . It may come from a Congressman, a staffer, a constituent, or a thought leader or practiced on a given subject area. You may remember the School House Rock video , which walks through the legislative process in an attainable manner and is bang-up to share with your kids (3 min):

Drafting Legislation

Working with Business firm parliamentarians —  lawyers and clerks who provide nonpartisan guidance on rules and procedures — and other Congressional staff on Capitol Hill, the Congressional representative's staff drafts the beak. The parliamentarians have specific expertise; they piece of work closely with staff in a non-partisan manner to typhoon the specific language of the bill. Staff works to build sponsors and cosponsors before the bill is introduced.

Introducing a Bill

Whatsoever Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner can introduce a bill when the firm is in session past " placing it in the 'hopper, '" a box on the Firm Clerk's desk-bound in the Capitol building. The Fellow member who introduces the nib is known as the primary sponsor. The nib is then formally assigned a number past the Clerk. A bill originating in the House will start with "H.R." (for the House of Representatives, as opposed to "S." for the Senate). The Speaker's office then assigns that bill to its committee(s) of jurisdiction, which then assigns the bill to a subcommittee(south).

Commission Process

The Subcommittee seeks input from relevant departments and agencies and holds public hearings. After hearings, at that place is a markup on the legislation , in which "views of both sides are studied in particular and at the conclusion of deliberation a vote is taken to determine" whether or not the subcommittee recommends the bill to the full committee. In the full committee, the subcommittee reports on the bill; this coming together provides an opportunity for Members to amend the legislation. There is too the possibility that the committee tables the bill or fails to take action , which prevents the bill from reaching the full House. You tin watch House Committee hearing videos hither .

To go to the full House, the commission staff writes a report describing the purpose of the nib, why the neb is recommended, and an analysis of each office of the bill and how the nib may affect existing police force. A full committee marking-upwards and the decision of what legislation makes it to the House floor is tightly controlled by the Commission Chairman's office and leadership. When the legislation is reported favorably out of the full committee it awaits a determination by leadership to schedule time for it to be debated on the Business firm floor. This conclusion is a negotiation based on priorities of the committee and of leadership.

Afterwards a committee has reported a bill, the nib is placed on the calendar . This ways the bill is eligible for flooring consideration, but not that it volition necessarily go far to the floor. In the House, it is up to the majority party leadership to make up one's mind which bills the Business firm will consider on the floor, and in what order.

Commission on Rules

Once leadership has decided that a specific piece of legislation will receive floortime, the House Majority Leader alerts the committee of jurisdiction that the nib will be considered on the House Floor, and this kicks off the Rules Committee process.

The Committee on Rules , or Rules Committee, is one of the oldest standing committees in the House. The Committee is commonly known as "The Speaker's Committee" – prior to 1910, the Speaker chaired the Rules Committee, and today information technology is the machinery past which the Speaker maintains control of the House Floor. The Rules Commission is sometimes also referred to equally " the traffic cop of the Business firm ," every bit it determines how much fourth dimension volition be allowed for debate on each piece of legislation considered on the House floor, and if any (and which) amendments will be allowed to be considered during the debate.

Most bills are considered under a procedure known as suspension of the rules , "which limits fence to forty minutes and does not allow amendments to exist offered by members on the floor." Otherwise, the bill is considered under terms tailored for the particular pecker. In this case, the Firm adopts a resolution called a special dominion from the Rules Committee. After the Rules Committee reports the rule for because the bill and the Business firm votes to adopt the rule, the House can then go along to the floor debate.

Floor Debate

In one case the rule has been adopted, the Business firm usually considers the bill "in a procedural setting called the Commission of the Whole , which is essentially "the House assembled in a different form; it is a committee of the Firm composed of every Representative that meets in the House bedchamber." This process "allows members an efficient manner to consider and vote on amendments."

After the floor contend on amendments and the underlying legislation, the Commission of the Whole reports to the full Firm, which then votes on the pecker. The bill passes the House by a simple majority , 218 votes of the 435 full. It then goes to the Senate and waits to be scheduled for flooring time.

See The Policy Circumvolve'due south Senate Brief to see how the process continues.

Additional Resources

Glossary of terms

Unlike types of legislation

Culling legislative procedures in the Business firm

Means to Become Involved/What Y'all Tin Exercise

Mensurate & Place : Who are the influencers in your state, county, or community? Acquire about their priorities and consider how to contact them

• Do you know who your Congressional Representative is ? What most your state elected officials ?
• Track your representatives' votes with GovTrack .

Reach out: Y'all are a catalyst. Finding a mutual crusade is a great opportunity to develop relationships with people who may exist exterior of your immediate network. All it takes is a pocket-size squad of two or three people to prepare a path for existent comeback. The Policy Circle is your platform to convene with experts you want to hear from.

• Detect allies in your community or in nearby towns and elsewhere in the state.
• Foster collaborative relationships with colleagues, neighbors, friends, and local organizations to mobilize an effort to bring attention to your issue to your local Congressional part. Also reach out to community leaders to educate them and asking their date on the effect.

Plan: Ready some milestones based on your state's legislative calendar .

• Y'all can observe the legislative calendar for the Firm of Representatives here .
• Don't hesitate to contact The Policy Circle team, communications@thepolicycircle.org , for connections to the broader network, advice, insights on how to build rapport with policy makers and establish yourself equally a civic leader.

Execute: Give information technology your best shot. Y'all can:

• Research: Brand certain you know the facts about the consequence y'all are raising. Government agencies, think tanks, and media outlets can all be good resource. Remember to research all sides of the issue to brand sure you sympathize various angles. You tin also talk with people who are affected by the event with which you are concerned; anecdotal information combined with measured information can be powerful.

• Write: Although we may be more inclined to email in the digital age, writing an erstwhile-fashioned letter to your local elected representatives or to members of Congress is still i of the about effective ways to influence lawmakers.

• • • Encounter these tips for pace-by-step instructions to write messages to elected officials, including how to address your representative, reference specific legislation, and properly send your correspondence.

• Organize: Organize people to call in, follow-upwards on written material, and reach out to other community members to brainwash them on the issue. Demonstrating wide support can be very effective in influencing a legislator to support your position.

Working with others, you may create something great for your community. Here are some tools to learn how to contact your representatives and write an op-ed .

youngertentme.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.thepolicycircle.org/brief/makes-u-s-exceptional-u-s-house-representatives-explained/