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.