The United States Congress consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. While both are essential to the legislative process, they differ significantly in size, structure, powers, and the roles they play in American government.

Quick Comparison Table

Size and Representation

The House: 435 Members

The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, each representing a congressional district. The number of districts per state is based on population, determined by the U.S. Census every 10 years. California has the most representatives (52), while states like Alaska, Delaware, and Wyoming have just one.

The Senate: 100 Members

The Senate has 100 members—2 from each of the 50 states, regardless of population. This equal representation ensures that smaller states have the same Senate voice as larger states, balancing the population-based House.

Term Lengths and Elections

House members serve 2-year terms, with all 435 seats up for election every two years. This keeps the House closely tied to current public opinion and allows voters to respond quickly to national events.

Senators serve 6-year terms, with only about one-third of the Senate (33-34 seats) elected every two years. This staggered system, organized through three Senate classes, provides continuity and stability. Learn more about how Senate classes work.

Unique Powers of Each Chamber

Exclusive House Powers

• Initiating Revenue Bills: All bills for raising revenue must originate in the House (Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution).
• Impeachment: The House has the sole power to impeach federal officials, including the President. Impeachment is essentially bringing formal charges.
• Electing the President (in a tie): If no presidential candidate receives a majority of Electoral College votes, the House selects the President.

Exclusive Senate Powers

• Confirming Appointments: The Senate confirms or rejects presidential appointments, including Cabinet members, federal judges, and Supreme Court justices.
• Ratifying Treaties: International treaties negotiated by the President require approval by a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
• Impeachment Trials: After the House impeaches, the Senate conducts the trial and decides whether to convict and remove the official from office.
• Electing the Vice President (in a tie): If no vice presidential candidate wins an Electoral College majority, the Senate selects the Vice President.

Why a Bicameral System?

The Framers of the Constitution created a two-chamber Congress as a compromise between large and small states (the Great Compromise of 1787). The House represents the people proportionally, while the Senate ensures equal representation for each state.

This system also provides checks and balances within the legislative branch itself. For a bill to become law, both chambers must agree on the exact same text, encouraging deliberation and preventing hasty legislation.

Differences in Debate and Rules

The House has stricter rules limiting debate time and amendments due to its larger size. The Speaker of the House and the Rules Committee have significant control over which bills are considered and how they're debated.

The Senate operates with more flexible rules. Senators can speak for unlimited time (leading to the filibuster), and individual senators have more power to delay or block legislation. The Senate is often called "the world's greatest deliberative body" due to this emphasis on extended debate.

Explore Your Representatives

Want to see who represents you in both chambers? Use our interactive map to explore your state's congressional delegation and see when each member's term ends.