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Understanding Congress

How Congress Works

The Senate, the House, and why a law needs both.

3 min read

Congress has two chambers — the House of Representatives and the Senate — and a bill must pass both to become law. Lex will show you how the two differ, and why there are two in the first place.

How Congress worksThe House by population, the Senate with two seats per state, and a bill that must pass both, with Lex.The House: many seatsThe Senate: 2 per stateLawA law needs both
Two chambers — and a law needs both.

Two chambers, side by side

House vs SenateA comparison of the House and Senate by seats, term length, representation, and special powers.HouseSenateSeats435100Term2 years6 yearsRepresentsBy population2 per stateSpecial powerStarts revenue billsConfirms, ratifies
The House and the Senate, compared.

The House has 435 seats divided among the states by population, with two-year terms. The Senate has 100 seats — two for every state, regardless of size — with six-year terms. The House alone starts revenue bills; the Senate alone confirms nominations and ratifies treaties.

Why two chambers?

Two chambers split the power to make law, so no single body can act alone — a bill must clear both. The split also balances two ideas of fairness: the House represents people, so larger states get more seats, while the Senate represents states equally, with two seats each. That balance was the compromise that made the Constitution possible.

Why two chambersA balance scale weighing the House by population against the Senate with states equal, with Lex.Houseby populationSenatestates equally
Two ways to be fair, held in balance.

Requiring a proposal to pass both Houses is a built-in safeguard: more than one set of representatives weighs in before anything becomes law.

What each chamber alone can do

Powers held aloneThe House starts revenue bills and brings impeachment; the Senate confirms nominees, ratifies treaties, and holds the trial, with Lex.HouseSenate$Starts revenue bills!Brings impeachmentConfirms nomineesRatifies treatiesHolds the trial
Powers each chamber holds alone.

Each chamber also holds powers the other does not. Only the House can start bills that raise revenue, and only the House can bring impeachment charges. Only the Senate confirms presidential nominees, ratifies treaties, and holds the trial when an official is impeached.