US Congress – Democracy in action or is it?

News from Congress

Senate confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Trump’s labor secretary

March 11, 2025

Cliff Notes Confirmation Vote and Background: The Senate confirmed Lori Chavez-DeRemer as U.S. labour secretary with a 67-32 vote. Key Responsibilities and Challenges: As head of the Department of Labour, Chavez-DeRemer will oversee enforcement of worker rights and protections while managing a budget of $13.9 billion and a workforce of nearly 16,000 employees. Political Balancing Act: During her confirmation hearing, Chavez-DeRemer faced scrutiny for her

Trump hails unstoppable America in return to Congress

March 5, 2025

The president hailed his first six weeks, vowing to press on with his polarizing bid to reshape the US government and end the Ukraine war – whatever the cost Donald Trump declared that the “American dream is unstoppable” on Tuesday in an address to Congress, which was met with Democratic hostility as he touted radical policies and hailed billionaire adviser Elon Musk. With Musk, the

What’s up for grabs in this election?

Congress is like the UK Parliament – with the House of Representatives similar to the House of Commons in the UK; it’s the lower house of Parliament. And the Senate, on the other hand, is like the House of Lords – the upper house.

US midterms: What will happen today?

The polls have started to open in the US at 05:00 EST (10:00 GMT)
Midterm elections decide who controls US Congress
Both the House and the Senate are controlled by Democrats at the moment
Republicans are predicted to take the House, whilst the Senate is too close to call
Losing either chamber would be a blow for President Biden
Americans are also electing 36 state governors

What time do the Polls open in the US?

The 2022 midterm elections are underway with polls opening at 06:00 EST (11:00 GMT) for residents in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other East Coast states.

What is Congress?

Congress is the legislative part of the executive branch

The US Congress consists of the two houses that make up Congress. It is made up of the House of rep and the Senate. Together, the houses are called Congress. They have the power to define laws, control policies, regulate interests, and proclaim war. Which of the three branches of government is most powerful? The legislative branch, which is made up of Congress, has the highest power as granted by the Constitution.

THE US Congress

What is the US Congress?

The US Congress is the legislative arm of the federal government of the United States. It is composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the United States Capitol city in Washington DC.

Through legislative debate, compromise, and vociferous lobbying, the U.S. Congress makes laws that influence our daily lives.

It holds hearings to inform the legislative process, conducts investigations to oversee the executive branch, and serves as the voice of the people and the states in the federal government.

While both bodies share the same general responsibility for drafting and passing laws, they are given separate functions within the legislative process. They also differ in overall size, term lengths served by members, and qualifications for service in the bodies.

They also differ in overall size, term lengths served by members, and qualifications for service in the bodies. More information is available at the House website.

Congress government shutdown

In the US Congress government shutdown occurs when there is a failure to enact funding legislation to finance the government for its next fiscal year or a temporary funding measure.

Ever since a 1980 interpretation of the 1884 Antideficiency Act, a “lapse of appropriation” due to a political impasse on proposed appropriation bills.

As a consequence of the impasse, the US federal government must enable a government shutdown.

It must curtail agency activities and services, close down all non-essential operations, furlough non-essential workers, and only retain essential employees in departments covering the safety of human life or protection of property.

It is often a very politically motivated and often manipulating agreement and often entails hundreds of backroom agreements to keep the government open. It is often how the US Congress bends the government to its will.