The US political system is unique and comprises of different branches. This division helps in maintain a balance e of power and ensures the proper use of power to maintain decorum in the country. According to Article I of the US constitution, the legislative branch comprises two different branches:
- The house of representatives
- The Senate
Together, these two bodies form the United States Congress, which comprises the sole authority to declare war, run taxes, maintain presidential appointments, and investigate other substantial powers.
The House of Representatives
It comprises 435 elected members, out of which 50 are divided among states with different populations. In addition to these, there are six nonvoting members in the house. They are:
- Members of the District of Columbia
- Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- Four union territories of the United States
In this branch, the President is the house speaker and is re-elected byte the representatives. This house’s members are represented every two years after they follow the criteria for appearing in the election. The house solely has many powers assigned to it, which include:
- Impeachment of the President and other officials
- Electing the President inc case of an electoral tie
- Generating revenue and tax bills; etc
In cases where the President cannot fulfill the powers, the Vice president takes the position and casts a decisive vote.
The Senate
Just like the House of Representatives, the Senate also has certain power divisions – one of the primary ones includes confirming all the presidential appointments and also to rectify and provide consent to all foreign treaties, with the following exceptions:
- The house must agree to the appointment of the vice president
- The Senate is responsible for all decisions by federal officials in the house.
Powers of the US Congress
The congress has significant powers of the Constitution, vested upon the citizens in bold. Moreover, Congress comprises almost all legislative powers, which means they can also make new laws or mend the existing ones to ensure the smooth flow of governmental procedures.
One of the most potent responsibilities of Congress is that it can pass the bills in the state even if it is stored by the President when it receives a two–thirds majority in the house. All the powers of Congress are mentioned in article 1 of the Constitution. It also has the right to execute all the powers that seem right in the situation while abiding by the Constitution.
Both chambers of Congress also have certain authorities and extensive investigation powers, which would help in collecting certain pieces of evidence and proof in case of need. They are also formed to split the balance of power in the state.