United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. Together, they compose the legislative branch of the federal government. The House is responsible for the creation and passage of federal legislation, which, when approved by the Senate and signed by the President, becomes law. It is considered the "lower house" of Congress, with representation based on state population.

Structure and Membership

The House of Representatives consists of 16 voting members, each serving two-year terms. The number of representatives per state is determined by the state's population, as measured by the decennial U.S. Census. In addition, there are non-voting delegates from U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

Powers and Functions

The House holds exclusive powers, including:

Initiating revenue-related bills. Impeaching federal officials, including the President. Electing the President in the event of an Electoral College tie. Legislation can originate in either chamber of Congress (except for revenue bills, which must originate in the House) and must be passed by both the House and Senate before being sent to the President.

Leadership

The House is led by the Speaker of the House, who is elected by its members and is second in the presidential line of succession after the Vice President. Other key leadership roles include the Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Whips from each party.

The House is organized into standing committees, which handle specific policy areas such as budget, foreign affairs, and judiciary matters. These committees play a crucial role in drafting and reviewing legislation before it is brought to the floor for debate and voting.