Here is some information I put together after seeing how many people here and on other forums have started to take an interest in the legislative procedures of Congress. I noticed a lot of questions being asked and thought this may fill in some blanks. I hope it helps.
American Government
Congress
Under its Constitution, the United States is a Federal, representative, democratic republic at the local, State, and national levels. The people grant legislative powers to Congress - the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Among the powers granted to the Congress are the authority to operate a Federal Government and the authority to make Federal laws.
Federal because power is shared among the local, State, and national levels of Government
Representative because delegates are elected by the people by free and secret ballot
Democratic because the people govern themselves
Republican because the U.S. Government derives its power from the will of the people.
Article I of the U.S. Constitution states that the Congress will consist of two separate houses, that is, Congress will be a bicameral legislature. These two houses that make up the U.S. Congress are the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The purpose of Congress is to be the primary lawmaking body in the national Government. When problems or issues arise, Members of Congress propose solutions by introducing bills or resolutions. After studying and discussing these legislative proposals, Members vote to adopt or to reject them. Members of Congress also review the work of executive agencies to determine if they are following Government policy. Based on what Congress discovers when it carries out this oversight function, new legislation may be introduced.
Bills accepted by both Houses of the Congress and by the President become law. When the President vetoes, or rejects, a bill and returns it to Congress, Congress reviews the reasons for the rejection but may still act to pass the bill. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to override the President's veto with a two-thirds majority vote of both the House and the Senate.
All Senators and Representatives are Congressman. The House of Representatives is based on state population and district. Congressional terms of office normally begin on January 3 of the year following a general election and run two years for representatives and six years for senators. A representative chosen in a special election to fill a vacancy is sworn in for the remainder of his or her predecessor's term. An individual appointed to fill a Senate vacancy usually serves until the next general election or until the end of the predecessor's term, as state law may provide. Some states, however, require their governors to call a special election to fill a Senate vacancy shortly after an appointment has been made.
American Government
Congress
Under its Constitution, the United States is a Federal, representative, democratic republic at the local, State, and national levels. The people grant legislative powers to Congress - the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Among the powers granted to the Congress are the authority to operate a Federal Government and the authority to make Federal laws.
Federal because power is shared among the local, State, and national levels of Government
Representative because delegates are elected by the people by free and secret ballot
Democratic because the people govern themselves
Republican because the U.S. Government derives its power from the will of the people.
Article I of the U.S. Constitution states that the Congress will consist of two separate houses, that is, Congress will be a bicameral legislature. These two houses that make up the U.S. Congress are the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The purpose of Congress is to be the primary lawmaking body in the national Government. When problems or issues arise, Members of Congress propose solutions by introducing bills or resolutions. After studying and discussing these legislative proposals, Members vote to adopt or to reject them. Members of Congress also review the work of executive agencies to determine if they are following Government policy. Based on what Congress discovers when it carries out this oversight function, new legislation may be introduced.
Bills accepted by both Houses of the Congress and by the President become law. When the President vetoes, or rejects, a bill and returns it to Congress, Congress reviews the reasons for the rejection but may still act to pass the bill. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to override the President's veto with a two-thirds majority vote of both the House and the Senate.
All Senators and Representatives are Congressman. The House of Representatives is based on state population and district. Congressional terms of office normally begin on January 3 of the year following a general election and run two years for representatives and six years for senators. A representative chosen in a special election to fill a vacancy is sworn in for the remainder of his or her predecessor's term. An individual appointed to fill a Senate vacancy usually serves until the next general election or until the end of the predecessor's term, as state law may provide. Some states, however, require their governors to call a special election to fill a Senate vacancy shortly after an appointment has been made.