Author
Home > Public > What is the Difference Between Congress and Senate?

Guilherme Mazui

•3 minutes to read

What is the Difference Between Congress and Senate?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

The United States Congress consists of two legislative bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate. While both work together to propose and enact laws, there are several differences between them:

  1. Membership: The House of Representatives has 435 members, with each state having a minimum of one representative. Senators, on the other hand, represent their entire state, with each state having two senators.
  2. Terms of Office: Members of the House serve two-year terms, while senators serve staggered six-year terms.
  3. Age and Citizenship Requirements: House members must be at least 25 years old and citizens for seven years. Senators must be at least 30 years old and citizens for nine years.
  4. Representation: Members of the House represent individual districts within their states, while senators represent their entire states.
  5. Powers: The House has exclusive powers, such as initiating revenue bills, impeaching federal officials, and electing the President in the case of an Electoral College tie. The Senate has exclusive powers, such as approving treaties and confirming presidential appointments.
  6. Committee System: Both the House and Senate use a committee system to deal with various policy issues. The House has 23 committees, while the Senate has 20 committees.
On this page
  • What is the Difference Between Congress and Senate?
  • Comparative Table: Congress vs Senate

    • Comparative Table: Congress vs Senate

    The United States Congress consists of two legislative bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate. While both houses work together to propose and enact laws, there are several differences between them:

    Feature House of Representatives Senate
    Size 435 members 100 members (two senators per state)
    Representation Based on state population, with each state having a minimum of one representative Each state represented equally with two senators
    Term Length Two-year terms Six-year terms
    Origination of Revenue Legislation Only the House can originate revenue legislation -
    Presidential Nominations and Treaties The Senate confirms presidential nominations and approves treaties -
    Rules and Procedure The House adopts new rules every two years and depends less on tradition and precedent The Senate is a "continuous body" and relies more on tradition and precedent when determining procedure

    The differences between the House and Senate were established as a result of the Great Compromise, which aimed to ensure equal representation for residents of all states.

    Read more:

    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.