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    Home»US Congress – Democracy in action or is it?
    The US Congress

    US Congress – Democracy in action or is it?

    US Congress – Democracy in action or is it?

    Latest News
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    US Midterms Live Every Angle Every Voice Every Side 2022

     
     
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    US midterms 2022 Elections
    Georgia Senate runoff result: Dem. Warnock victory seals Senate control

    Georgia Senate runoff result: Dem. Warnock victory seals Senate control 

    8:01 am
    US midterms 2022: Republicans narrowly win the House

    US midterms 2022: Republicans narrowly win the House

    7:12 am
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    Katie Hobbs beats Kari Lake in Arizona governor’s race, flipping state for Democrats

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    US midterms: no sign of ‘red wave’ as Democrats take Senate

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    Georgia race: What is a run-off election? 

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    United States 2022 Midterm Elections

    Nancy Pelosi stands down as leader of the US House Democrats

    November 18, 2022

    Nancy Pelosi stands down as leader of the US House Democrats Nancy Pelosi, who has led Democrats in the US House of Representatives for almost two decades, has announced she is standing down from the role. She is the most powerful Democrat in Congress and the first woman to serve as speaker of the House.  Pelosi, 82, will continue to represent her California district in

    US midterms 2022: Republicans narrowly win the House

    November 17, 2022

    US midterms 2022: Republicans narrowly win the House The Republican party has secured the 218 seats needed for the majority in the House of Representatives – a week after the midterm elections, CBS News projects.  The GOP was expected to win back the lower chamber of Congress, but it was expected they would win with a much bigger margin.  The party’s margin in the House

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    US Midterm Elections live
    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. 

    Info zone

    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.

    Read more

    House of Representatives

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    The Lower House in the US Congress - House of representatives

    House of Representatives – The lower House

    Senate

    SEI 147841886 878f - WTX News Breaking News, fashion & Culture from around the World - Daily News Briefings -Finance, Business, Politics & Sports

    Scientists reveal the difference between ‘showers and ‘growers’

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    Ivana left Donald Trump nothing but tried to give another ex-husband property

    The The U.S. Senate 2022 at night - Dome building near body of water under cloudy sky

    The U.S. Senate 2022 – Power, Pride, and Democracy

    Library of Congress

    Library Of Congress

    Library Of Congress

    Need To Know

    THE US Congress

    Explore more

    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.

    What is the role of Congress?

    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. 

    The US Senate

    Member Requirements and Term Specifications

    The United States Senate is comprised of 100 members, two from every state, who are elected for a six-year term. Senators are separated into three different classes, with each class coming up for election every two years. They have no term limits imposed on them and can serve as many terms as they wish if they can keep getting reelected by voters.

    Senators must be at least 30 years of age, a citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and a resident of the state they seek to represent.

    They are authorized to receive compensation for their services paid out of the treasury of the United States.

    They are prohibited from being appointed to any civil office whose position was created or whose compensation was increased during their term of service.

    The US Constitution originally stipulated that the state legislature elected senators. As a result, they were essentially an indirect choice of the citizens of their state, which would directly vote for the state legislature. However, the Seventeenth Amendment, proposed in 1911 and passed in 1913, changed the election of senators to a direct vote of the people.

    Senate Powers and functions

    The Senate is responsible for approving all governmental appointments by the president, including Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, ministers, and other civil officials.

    No specific baseline level of support is mentioned for approving these appointments, implying that a simple majority vote is required, or in the case of a 50-50 tie, the vice president casting the deciding vote.

    House of Representatives

    Member Requirements and Term Specifications 

    The United States House of Representatives is comprised of 435 members, apportioned by a state’s population, who are elected for a two-year term to represent a congressional district.

    Members of the House are all part of the same class and come up for re-election every two years. They have no term limits imposed on them and can serve as many terms as they desire if they can continually be elected by voters.

    House members must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States for seven years, and a resident of the state they seek to represent.

    They are authorized to receive compensation for their services paid out of the treasury of the United States. As with members of the Senate, they are prohibited from being appointed to any civil office whose position was created or whose compensation was increased during their term of service.

    While senators were originally chosen by the state legislature, apart from a direct vote, House members have always been elected by a direct vote.

    Although the House is generally considered to possess less authority, power, and prestige than the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives is by far the most powerful position in the United States Congress, third in line to the presidency if needed.

    It is also the only governmental body to draft legislation regarding taxation or revenue. 

    House of Representatives – Powers and Responsibilities 

    The House of Representatives is not involved in the advisement or approval process for any Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, ministers, or other civil officials.

    It does not have a presiding officer apart from the body itself to cast a deciding vote in the case of a tie since tie votes would rarely occur.

    The House can overturn a president’s veto in conjunction with the Senate if two-thirds of members from both houses vote to do so.

    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.

    Congress

    The Library Congress

    An image of the Library of Congress
    The de facto national Library of the US Congress

    Senate

    US Senate Poised to Vote on Defense Funding Veto Override

    President of Senate

    President of the Senate 

    President of the Senate 

    President of the Senate  Under the Constitution, the vice president serves as the president of the Senate and presides over the Senate’s daily proceedings.

    Democratic Leader

    Democratic Leader

    Democratic Leader

    Democratic Leader The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States. The party was founded in 1828. 

    Republican Leader

    Republican Leader

    Republican Leader

    Republican Leader The Republican Party is one of two major political parties in the United States. The party was founded in 1854. 

    House of Representatives

    The U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating the Capitol insurrection is also seeking information and testimony from Jenna Ellis, left, Sidney Powell, centre, and Boris Epshteyn

    Speaker of the House

    First woman Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd dies age 93

    First woman Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd dies aged 93

    Majority Leader

    Majority Leader

    Majority Leader

    Minority Leader

    Minority Leader

    Minority Leader

    Politics watch

    Latest news from Congress

    Read more
    US midterms 2022: How can I vote? 

    US midterms 2022: How can I vote? 

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    US midterms LIVE: Democrats in danger of crumbling as Americans want Truss-style tax cuts

    "No one is above the law," said Jerry Nadler,

    Breaking News: President Trump is about to be impeached

    Congress condemns China for crackdown on ethnic Muslims - WTX News Breaking News, fashion & Culture from around the World - Daily News Briefings -Finance, Business, Politics & Sports

    Congress condemns China for crackdown on Muslims

    Video

    How COngress works

    A short guide to how the United States COngress works, and some of the roles and responsibilities of each House. 

    Watch more videos
    The US Congress
    Learning

    HOw Congress works

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    US elections: Why are the US midterms so important? US elections: Why are the US midterms so important? 

    US elections: Why are the US midterms so important? 

    US midterm elections: All the FAQs 

    US midterm elections 2022: All the FAQs 

    2022 midterm election: understanding the jargon 

    2022 midterm election: understanding the jargon 

    Midterms 2022: What happens if … (the likely scenarios) 

    Midterms 2022: What happens if … (the likely scenarios) 

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