Question

What two houses, or groups, are in Congress? What are some of the functions of Congress?

Answer 1

Congress is bicameral — made up of two houses:
- The House of Representatives (members apportioned by state population, 2-year terms)
- The Senate (two senators per state, 6-year terms)

Some principal functions of Congress:
- Make federal laws (draft, debate, and pass bills)
- Levy taxes and raise/spend money (create the federal budget and appropriations)
- Regulate interstate and foreign commerce and coin money
- Declare war and raise and support the armed forces
- Establish federal courts and create laws governing the federal judiciary
- Oversight of the executive branch (investigations, hearings, subpoenas)
- Advise and consent (Senate confirms presidential appointments and ratifies treaties)
- Impeachment (House brings charges; Senate holds the trial and can convict/remove federal officials)
- Propose amendments to the Constitution

These roles reflect Congress’s lawmaking, budgetary, oversight, and constitutional-check responsibilities in the U.S. federal government.