After the eight-year struggle for independence, the Founding Fathers crafted a new form of government deeply rooted in revolutionary ideals. They sought to create a system that would safeguard individual liberties and prevent the rise of an oppressive central authority, fundamentally different from the previous monarchical and aristocratic system.

The resulting framework of political institutions and traditions has proven remarkably durable. The United States is today the world’s longest-running republic, and its governmental structure has weathered numerous challenges and adaptations over the past two centuries.

The United States federal government has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This design creates separation of powers, ensuring no single entity can dominate the political landscape.

 “…the House should have an immediate dependence on, and intimate sympathy with, the people.”

JAMES MADISON

WHY IT MATTERS

The House of Representatives plays a crucial role in the American system of government, serving as the chamber that most directly reflects the will of the people. With its 435 members elected every two years, the House provides citizens with frequent opportunities to influence the legislative process. This structure ensures that Representatives remain closely attuned to the concerns and desires of their constituents. While this responsiveness can sometimes lead to legislative deadlock, especially when the American public is divided on key issues, it also serves as a vital check on executive power.

“If proportional representation takes place, the small States contend that their liberties will be in danger. If an equality of votes is to be put in its place, the large States say their money will be in danger.”

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

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Since 1911, there have been 435 representatives in the House of Representatives. Representatives are allocated based on state population, with more populous states receiving more representatives. Although, every state is guaranteed at least one.

This proportional representation system was a crucial innovation during the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787. It aimed to create a government that more accurately reflected the will of the people. This structure ensures that the House closely mirrors the nation’s demographic distribution, making it a key element of American representative democracy.

In addition to the state representatives, there are non-voting members. These include a resident commissioner from Puerto Rico and delegates from Washington D.C., American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. The resident commissioner and delegates can serve and vote on committees but do not have the same full voting rights as the state representatives.

 “Such will be the relation between the House of Representatives and their constituents. Duty, gratitude, interest, ambition itself, are the chords by which they will be bound to fidelity and sympathy with the great mass of the people.”

THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, NO. 57

THE ROLE OF THE CENSUS

Seats in the House of Representatives are allocated based on state population, as determined by the decennial Census. This constitutionally mandated count, conducted by the Census Bureau under the Department of Commerce, ensures that representation in the House reflects population changes over time. States may gain or lose representatives as their populations shift. Once the Census data is collected, states use it to redraw congressional districts, a process known as redistricting.

See The Policy Circle’s Decennial Census Deep Dive for more on redistricting and the Census.

ELECTIONS

Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years. After elections, the House convenes for a new session and reestablishes itself. Representatives swear in the Members-elect, elect a Speaker, and approve a slate of officers to administer the institution.

Biennial elections are held in November, and the Congress commences the following January. To be elected, a representative must be:

• At least 25 years old;
• A United States citizen for at least seven years;
• A resident of the state he or she represents. U.S. House candidates are not required to live in the congressional district they represent.

THE LIFE OF A REPRESENTATIVE

The House of Representatives is crucial in the legislative process since its members represent smaller, more localized districts. This structure allows representatives to be more attuned to their constituents’ specific needs and concerns, enabling them to engage directly with the public and foster closer relationships. Unlike senators, who often focus on broader state-wide concerns, House representatives can gather more immediate feedback on policy issues, making them uniquely positioned to address local matters in the national arena.

House members are typically involved in more frequent voting sessions, reflecting the fast-paced nature of their legislative responsibilities. This dynamic environment allows the House to act quickly and decisively, often shaping the legislative agenda more immediately than the Senate.

Since initiating revenue-related legislation, the House has significantly influenced fiscal policy. While the Senate may engage in extensive negotiations and deliberations, the House’s ability to swiftly pass bills and control the federal purse strings gives it considerable sway in determining national policy priorities.

COMPENSATION

House representatives, like their Senate counterparts, receive an annual salary of $174,000, which has remained unchanged since January 2009. This compensation is determined by Congress itself, as Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution mandates. The Ethics Reform Act of 1989 established an automatic adjustment formula based on changes in private sector wages, though this has not been applied in recent years. Leadership positions in the House command higher salaries, with the majority and minority leaders earning $193,400 annually, while the Speaker of the House receives the highest salary at $223,500. 

Representatives are entitled to various benefits beyond their base pay, but they must adhere to strict regulations regarding accepting gifts, especially from registered lobbyists or entities employing them.

The House of Representatives was designed to be the legislative body closest to the American people, reflecting constituents’ immediate concerns and desires. With its members up for election every two years and representing smaller districts, the House was intended to be more responsive to the rapidly changing will of the public.

The House holds several crucial responsibilities within the U.S. government. Its primary function is to legislate, working in tandem with the Senate to create and pass bills. The House has the exclusive power to initiate revenue bills, significantly influencing fiscal policy. It also plays a vital role in the system of checks and balances, with the authority to initiate impeachment proceedings of federal officials, including the president.

FISCAL POLICY

Article I, Section 7, Clause 1 of the Constitution states, “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.”

The House of Representatives plays a crucial role in the federal budget process, particularly initiating and shaping appropriations bills. Appropriations are decisions made by Congress about allocating discretionary federal spending, which covers a wide range of government activities from national defense to education.

The process typically begins with the House Budget Committee crafting a budget resolution, which sets overall spending levels and revenue targets for the upcoming fiscal year. Once adopted, this resolution establishes the framework for considering spending bills. The House Appropriations Committee, through its 12 subcommittees, then holds hearings to examine budget requests and needs of federal programs.

These subcommittees produce appropriations bills to fund various aspects of the federal government, adhering to the spending limits set in the budget resolution. The full House considers these bills, usually starting in May or June. This process reflects the founders’ intent to keep the power to impose taxes and allocate spending close to the people’s representatives.

After a bill passes the House, it is sent to the Senate for consideration. The Senate follows a similar process, including committee review, possible amendments, and a floor vote. If the Senate passes a different version of the bill, it must return to the House for reconciliation, often through a conference committee composed of members from both chambers to resolve differences.

ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT

Article I, Section 2, Clause 5 of the Constitution states, “The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.”

The House of Representatives plays a crucial role in the impeachment process. It has the sole power to initiate and bring formal charges against federal officials, including the president, vice president, and other civil officers of the United States.

The impeachment process in the House typically unfolds in three phases. First, the process is initiated, often by introducing an impeachment resolution or the passage of a resolution authorizing an inquiry. Second, the House Judiciary Committee conducts an investigation, holds hearings, and prepares articles of impeachment if warranted. Finally, the full House considers these articles. If a simple majority of the House members present and vote to approve any of the articles, the official is formally impeached.

It’s important to note that impeachment does not remove an official from office; it’s merely a formal accusation. The impeached official remains in their position pending the outcome of a Senate trial. See The Policy Circle’s Senate Brief to learn more about impeachment trials.

The House of Representatives operates on a majority rule system. After each election, the political party that wins the most seats is designated as the majority, while the other becomes the minority. This dynamic directs the House’s operations and policy process.

Passing legislation is relatively efficient. Decisions are made when a majority of members vote in favor. Consequently, the minority party has less influence in setting the agenda or passing its proposals. This stands in contrast to the Senate, where individual senators – regardless of party affiliation – can generally force a vote or impede a bill’s progress.

Third parties rarely have enough members to elect their own leadership. Independents typically align with one of the larger party organizations to secure committee assignments, further reinforcing the two-party dynamic in the House’s operational structure.

The majority party wields considerable power, including holding key positions. The most significant House leadership positions are the Speaker of the House, Majority and Minority Leaders, and Majority and Minority Whips.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

The Speaker of the House, a position mandated by the Constitution, is the presiding officer and political leader of the House of Representatives. Elected by House members and traditionally from the majority party, the Speaker wields considerable power and influence. After the vice president, the Speaker is second in line to succeed the president.

Their duties include administering the Oath of Office to House members, managing debates, overseeing votes, referring bills to committees, and setting the legislative agenda. The Speaker also serves as the administrative head of the House, appoints committee members and chairs, and represents their own constituents as a member of Congress. The role has evolved over time, becoming increasingly influential in shaping national policy and party agendas.

MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS

Majority and Minority Leaders represent their respective parties on the House floor, elected by their own party members. The Majority Leader, second to the Speaker, schedules legislative business and plans agendas. They develop party policy, coordinate committee activity, and assist with program decisions. The Minority Leader serves as the minority party’s spokesperson, chairs their committee assignment panel, and protects minority rights.

Both leaders play crucial roles in negotiating with the opposite party, fundraising, maintaining party discipline, and acting as their party’s public face. They liaise between members and the executive branch and guide favored legislation. The Majority Leader has some appointment powers, while the Minority Leader develops strategies to potentially retake majority control. These roles are central to party representation and legislative management in the House.

MAJORITY AND MINORITY WHIPS

In congressional politics, “Whip” originates from the “whipper-in,” who keeps the hounds from straying during a fox hunt. This reflects the role of Majority and Minority Whips in keeping party members in line. Elected by their respective party caucuses, Whips are crucial links between party leadership and members. The Majority Whip is typically the third-ranking majority member, while the Minority Whip is usually the second-ranking minority member.

Whips lead extensive networks of deputy and assistant whips to carry out their responsibilities. These include maintaining communication between leadership and members, managing their party’s legislative program on the floor, and marshaling support for party positions. They count votes on key legislation, persuade wavering members to support the party line and issue regular notices and advisories about the legislative agenda to keep members informed. Through these efforts, Whips are vital to coordinate party strategy and ensure unity in the House.

See here for current House Leadership positions.

Legislation begins with an idea. It may come from a Congressman, a staffer, a constituent, a thought leader, or an expert. The classic School House Rock video walks through the legislative process at a high level (3 min).

The legislative process in the House of Representatives is a complex and dynamic system that requires persistence, strategic communication, and an understanding of parliamentary procedures. While not every bill becomes law, the process itself is crucial to the functioning of American democracy. Understanding how legislation moves through the House provides valuable insight into how ideas become laws, the role of committees, the importance of party leadership, and the various hurdles a bill must overcome.

This knowledge is essential for anyone seeking to influence policy, whether at the federal, state, or local level. Examining the House’s legislative process can help us better appreciate the intricacies of lawmaking and the skills required to navigate this complex system effectively.

DRAFTING LEGISLATION

The congressional representative’s staff drafts the bill, working with House parliamentarians — lawyers and clerks who provide nonpartisan guidance—and other congressional staff on Capitol Hill. The parliamentarians have specific expertise; they work closely with staff in a nonpartisan manner to draft the specific language of the bill. The staff works to build sponsors and cosponsors before the bill is introduced.

Drafting a bill in the House involves collaboration between a congressional representative’s staff and House parliamentarians — nonpartisan experts in legislative rules and procedures. These parliamentarians, typically lawyers and clerks, provide crucial guidance on the bill’s specific language. Once drafted, the representative’s staff focuses on building support by securing sponsors and cosponsors before the bill is officially introduced.

The drafting process is thorough and complex, involving extensive research to review existing laws, potential impacts, and constitutional considerations. Bills must be prepared in proper technical form, adhering to specific formatting and language conventions. A fiscal review is typically conducted, with a “Fiscal Note” attached to outline potential financial impacts.

Before introduction, bills undergo a constitutional review and must be accompanied by a Constitutional Authority Statement, citing the specific powers granted to Congress that allow for the proposed legislation.

Once drafted, the bill is assigned a unique number (e.g., H.R. for House bills). Sometimes, similar versions of a bill are introduced in both chambers simultaneously as “companion” bills. These steps ensure that all legislation is constitutionally sound and properly identified within the legislative process.

INTRODUCING A BILL

Any Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner can introduce a bill when the House is in session. This is done by physically placing the bill in the “hopper,” a wooden box on the House Clerk’s desk in the Capitol building. Once introduced, the Clerk formally assigns the bill a unique number. Bills originating in the House are designated “H.R.” for the House of Representatives.

After numbering, the bill’s title is read on the House floor and entered into the Congressional Record. The Speaker’s office then assigns the bill to the appropriate committee(s) of jurisdiction.

THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM

Committees are permanent panels governed by House rules, responsible for considering bills and overseeing their areas of jurisdiction. Each committee has a distinct focus and is led by a chair and a ranking member from the minority party. Committee assignments significantly impact a representative’s work and are made by political parties after each Congressional election.

Most are regular standing committees that continue from one Congress to the next. There are also select committees, special committees formed for a short period of time for a specific purpose, such as an investigation, and several joint committees with the Senate.

See a full list of all House Committees here.

Crash Course U.S. Government & Politics explains what Congressional committees do (8 min).

When a bill is assigned, the full committee determines which subcommittee will handle its initial review. The subcommittee then gathers input from relevant departments and agencies and holds public hearings. The subcommittee then conducts a markup session, where the legislation is debated in detail. Members vote to determine whether to recommend the bill to the full committee. You can watch some of these events here.

If recommended, the bill will be returned to the full committee. Members review the subcommittee’s report and may propose amendments. The committee can approve the bill, table it, or take no action.

The final step in the committee process involves the Committee Chairman’s office and party leadership. They control which approved bills move from the committee to the House floor. Successful bills are placed on the calendar, making them eligible for floor consideration. However, the majority party leadership decides which bills will be debated on the House floor and in what order based on their priorities and negotiations.

COMMITTEE ON RULES

Once leadership has decided that a specific piece of legislation will receive floor time, the House Majority Leader alerts the committee of jurisdiction that the bill will be considered on the House Floor, which kicks off the Rules Committee process.

The Committee on Rules, also known as the Rules Committee or The Speaker’s Committee, is one of the oldest standing committees in the House. Before 1910, the Speaker chaired the Rules Committee. Today, it is the mechanism by which the Speaker maintains control of the House Floor. The Rules Committee is sometimes also referred to as “the traffic cop of the House,” as it determines how much time will be allowed for debate on each piece of legislation considered on the House floor and which, if any, amendments will be allowed to be considered during the debate.

Most bills are considered under a procedure known as suspension of the rules, which limits debate to 40 minutes and does not allow members to offer amendments on the floor. Otherwise, the bill is considered under terms tailored for each particular one by the Rules Committee that go into effect once the House adopts them via resolution.

After the Rules Committee reports the rule for considering the bill and the House votes to adopt it, the House can proceed to the floor debate.

FLOOR DEBATE

After the rule is adopted, the House typically considers the bill in a procedural format known as the Committee of the Whole. This format makes proceedings more efficient because of the lower quorum requirement (only 100 members instead of 218) and more flexible rules, facilitating quicker debate and decision-making. Following the debate on amendments and the main legislation within this committee, the Committee of the Whole submits its findings to the full House, which then proceeds to vote on the bill. A simple majority of 218 votes is required for a bill to pass the House.

Once passed, the bill is sent to the Senate, awaiting scheduling for further consideration. The Policy Circle’s Senate Brief explains how the process continues.

The House of Representatives embodies the principles of representative democracy, reflecting the nation’s demographic distribution and ensuring that the government remains responsive to the changing needs of its citizens. By understanding the House’s role and connection to civic engagement, we can appreciate the intricate mechanisms of lawmaking and the importance of active participation in shaping the nation’s future. Ultimately, the House of Representatives is a testament to civic engagement’s enduring power in maintaining a vibrant democracy.

Building on this foundation, the House’s structure—characterized by frequent elections and localized representation—is crucial in maintaining this connection to the people. This setup fosters a dynamic environment where civic engagement is encouraged and essential, empowering citizens to participate actively in the political process and influence policies. By allowing citizens to hold representatives accountable, the House strengthens democracy and reinforces its position as the legislative body most directly connected to the will of the people.

Measure and Identify: Who are the influencers in your state, county, or community? Learn about their priorities and consider how to contact them

• Do you know who your Congressional Representative is? What about your state elected officials?
• Track your representatives’ votes with GovTrack.

Reach Out: You are a catalyst. Finding a common cause is a great opportunity to develop relationships with people outside of your immediate network. All it takes is a small team of two or three people to set a path for real improvement. The Policy Circle is your platform to convene with experts you want to hear from.

• Find allies in your community or nearby towns and elsewhere in the state.
• Foster collaborative relationships with colleagues, neighbors, friends, and local organizations to mobilize an effort to bring attention to your issue to your local Congressional office. Also, contact community leaders to educate them and request their engagement on the issue.

Plan: Set some milestones based on your state’s legislative calendar.

• You can find the legislative calendar for the House of Representatives here.
• Don’t hesitate to contact The Policy Circle team, [email protected], for connections to the broader network, advice, insights on how to build rapport with policymakers, and establish yourself as a civic leader.

Execute: Give it your best shot. You can:

• Apply for The Policy Circle’s CLER Program to join a community of like-minded women learning better skills to be effective business and civic leaders in their communities.
• Research: Make sure you know the facts about the issue you are raising. Government agencies, think tanks, and media outlets can all be good resources. Remember to research all sides of the issue to make sure you understand various angles. You can also talk with people who are affected by the issue with which you are concerned; anecdotal information combined with measured data can be powerful.
• Write: Although we may be more inclined to email in the digital age, writing an old-fashioned letter to your local elected representatives or to members of Congress is still one of the most effective ways to influence lawmakers.
  • See these tips for step-by-step instructions to write letters to elected officials, including how to address your representative, reference specific legislation, and properly send your correspondence.
• Organize: Organize people to call in, follow-up on written material, and reach out to other community members to educate them on the issue. Demonstrating wide support can be very effective in influencing a legislator to support your position.