What can both the house and senate do?

The House has several powers assigned exclusively to it, including the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the case of an Electoral College tie. The Senate is composed of 100 Senators, 2 for each state.

What powers do the Senate and House both have?

Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives has the power to impeach a government official, in effect serving as prosecutor. The Senate has the sole power to conduct impeachment trials, essentially serving as jury and judge.

What do the House and Senate do together?

the House of Representatives. The House has the power to impeach (formally accuse) while the Senate tries impeachments. In addition, the Senate approves treaties and certain presidential appointments, such as ambassadors and Supreme Court Justices.

What can the Senate do that the House Cannot?

The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President’s appointments that require consent, and to provide advice and consent to ratify treaties. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule: the House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade.

What are three powers that only Senate has?

Powers reserved to the Senate include:

  • Confirming or rejecting treaties,
  • Confirming or rejecting presidential appointments to office, including the Cabinet, other officials of the executive branch, federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, and ambassadors,

Who is more powerful the House or the Senate?

The House has several powers assigned exclusively to it, including the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the case of an electoral college tie. … The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President’s appointments that require consent, and to ratify treaties.


What are the 3 main roles of the House of Representatives?

The House of Representatives has three primary responsibilities: to make laws, to serve as a representative assembly, and to oversee the administration of public policy. Legislative duties are shared with the Senate and with the president of the United States.

What are the powers of the Senate?

The Senate shares full legislative power with the House of Representatives. In addition, the Senate has exclusive authority to approve–or reject–presidential nominations to executive and judicial offices, and to provide–or withhold–its “advice and consent” to treaties negotiated by the executive.

Can the House pass laws without the Senate?

Ultimately, a law can only be passed if both the Senate and the House of Representatives introduce, debate, and vote on similar pieces of legislation.

What is the purpose of a Senate?

The framers of the Constitution created the United States Senate to protect the rights of individual states and safeguard minority opinion in a system of government designed to give greater power to the national government.

What are the main powers given to Congress?

Congress has the power to:

  • Make laws.
  • Declare war.
  • Raise and provide public money and oversee its proper expenditure.
  • Impeach and try federal officers.
  • Approve presidential appointments.
  • Approve treaties negotiated by the executive branch.
  • Oversight and investigations.

What are the main differences between the two houses of Congress?

To balance the interests of both the small and large states, the Framers of the Constitution divided the power of Congress between the two houses. Every state has an equal voice in the Senate, while representation in the House of Representatives is based on the size of each state’s population.

Can the Senate declare war?

The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. … The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.

Why do all states have 2 senators?

According to Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution, “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof for six Years.” The framers believed that in electing senators, state legislatures would cement their ties with the national government.

What are the 4 duties of the Senate?

Senators, along with members of the House of Representatives, propose, author, and vote on federal legislation that touches upon all aspects of U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Senators provide advice and consent on executive nominations and treaties and conduct oversight of all branches of the federal government.

Who votes first House or Senate?

Before a bill can become a law, it must be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the President.

Why is the Senate more prestigious than the House?

The Senate is widely considered both a more deliberative and more prestigious body than the House of Representatives due to its longer terms, smaller size, and statewide constituencies, which historically led to a more collegial and less partisan atmosphere.

What is the House responsible for?

As per the Constitution, the U.S. House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws. The House is one of Congress’s two chambers (the other is the U.S. Senate), and part of the federal government’s legislative branch.

Who is the leader of the Senate?

As per the Constitution, the U.S. House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws. The House is one of Congress’s two chambers (the other is the U.S. Senate), and part of the federal government’s legislative branch.

Who is in charge of the Senate?

The United States Constitution designates the Vice President of the United States as president of the Senate. The Constitution also calls for a president pro tempore, to serve as the presiding officer when the president of the Senate (the vice president) is absent.

Does the House or Senate make laws?

Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government and makes laws for the nation. Congress has two legislative bodies or chambers: the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Anyone elected to either body can propose a new law. A bill is a proposal for a new law.

Who is in control of the House and Senate?

January 3, 2021: 117th Congress officially begins, with Democrats controlling the House, and Republicans in charge of the Senate.

What happens if a bill passed the House but not the Senate?

The bill is voted on. If passed, it is then sent to the other chamber unless that chamber already has a similar measure under consideration. … If the House and Senate pass the same bill then it is sent to the President. If the House and Senate pass different bills they are sent to Conference Committee.

Can the Senate pass a bill with 51 votes?

Bills described as reconciliation bills can pass the Senate by a simple majority of 51 votes or 50 votes plus the Vice President’s as the tie-breaker. The reconciliation procedure also applies to the House of Representatives, but it has minor significance there, as the House does not have a supermajority requirement.

What is pocket veto of U.S. president?

A pocket veto occurs when Congress adjourns during the ten-day period. The president cannot return the bill to Congress. The president’s decision not to sign the legislation is a pocket veto and Congress does not have the opportunity to override.

Is the President more powerful than Congress?

In recent years, Congress has restricted the powers of the President with laws such as the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and the War Powers Resolution, nevertheless, the Presidency remains considerably more powerful than during the 19th century.

What are the 17 powers of Congress?

The Powers of Congress

  • Power to tax and spend for the general welfare and the common defense.
  • Power to borrow money.
  • To regulate commerce with states, other nations, and Native American tribes.
  • Establish citizenship naturalization laws and bankruptcy laws.
  • Coin money.
  • Power to punish counterfeiters of money and stocks.

What can Congress not do?

Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states.

Why do we need 2 Houses of Parliament?

Lok Sabha represents the people, it is directly elected by the people and exercises the real power on behalf of the people, whereas Rajya Sabha represents the federal structure, it represents the interests of various states and regions.

Which branch of government has the most power?

In conclusion, The Legislative Branch is the most powerful branch of the United States government not only because of the powers given to them by the Constitution, but also the implied powers that Congress has. There is also Congress’s ability to triumph over the Checks and balances that limits their power.

What branch is coin money?

Among the many powers given to the legislative branch, or the Congress, are the powers to introduce bills, collect taxes, regulate commerce with foreign countries, coin money, and declare war.

Does president have power to declare war?

The Constitution divides war powers between Congress and the president. Only Congress can declare war and appropriate military funding, yet the president is commander in chief of the armed forces.

Do Both senators represent me?

Each state sends two Senators to represent their state in the U.S. Senate. However, in the House of Representatives, a state’s representation is based on its population. For example, smaller states like Vermont and Delaware have one representative while large states like California have 53 representatives.

How are senators chosen?

The 17th Amendment to the Constitution requires Senators to be elected by a direct vote of those she or he will represent. Election winners are decided by the plurality rule. That is, the person who receives the highest number of votes wins.

How old must you be to be a member of the Senate?

The Constitution sets three qualifications for service in the U.S. Senate: age (at least thirty years of age), U.S. citizenship (at least nine years), and residency in the state a senator represents at time of election.