Legislative Branch Facts
435
How many members are in the House of Representatives?
100
How many members are in the Senate?
535
How many members in Congress?
2
How many years is a Representative's term?
6
How many years is a Senator's term?
Joint Committee
Legislative committee composed of members of both houses.
Capitol Building
Meeting place of Congress
Floor Leader
Members of the House and Senate picked by their parties to carry out party decisions and steer legislative action to meet party goals.
Must live in state represented
State citizenship requirements for Representatives
Must live in state represented
State citizenship requirements for Senators
Conference committee
Temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses' versions of a bill.
25 years old
Age requirement for Representatives
30 years old
Age requirement for Senators
Article 1
Article Number in Constitution
Majority Leader
The floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of Congress.
Minority Leader
The floor leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house of Congress.
President pro tempore
The member of the United States Senate or of the upper house of a State's legislature, chosen to preside in the absence of the president of the Senate.
Speaker of the House
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and from the majority party in the House.
Seniority Rule
Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving the top posts in each chamber, particularly committee chairmanships for members with the longest records of service.
Senate and House of Representatives
What two bodies make up congress?
7
Years of US citizen requirements for Representatives
9
Years of US citizen requirements for Senators
Whips
assistants to the floor leaders in the House and Senate responsible for monitoring and marshaling votes.
Subcommittee
division of existing committee that is formed to address specific issues.
Select Committee
legislative committee created for a limited time and for some specific purpose; also known as a special committee.
Standing Commitee
permanent committee in a legislative body to which bills of a specified subject matter are referred.