United States House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives
Name	United States House of Representatives
Legislature	118th United States Congress
House type	Lower house
Body	United States Congress
Term limits	None
New session	January 3, 2023
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Mike Johnson
Party1	(R)
Election1	October 25, 2023
Leader2 type	Majority Leader
Leader2	Steve Scalise
Party2	(R)
Election2	January 3, 2023
Leader3 type	Minority Leader
Leader3	Hakeem Jeffries
Party3	(D)
Election3	January 3, 2023
Members	435 voting members, 6 non-voting members
Political groups1	Majority (219), Republican (219), Minority (213), Democratic (213), Vacant (3), Vacant (3)
Term length	2 years
Voting system	Plurality voting
Last election1	November 8, 2022
Next election1	November 5, 2024
Meeting place	House Chamber, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Website	www.house.gov

United States House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate comprising the upper chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. Its membership is based on the population of each state, with total membership fixed by law at 435 representatives, each serving two-year terms. The Speaker, elected by the members, presides over its sessions and is second in the United States presidential line of succession.

History

The House was established by Article One of the Constitution following the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Its first meeting convened in Federal Hall in New York City in March 1789. Key historical conflicts, such as the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850, were debated within its chamber, and it was the site of pivotal votes leading to the American Civil War. The Pendleton Act and the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment are among the many significant legislative actions originating there. The Cannon House Office Building and later structures were added to accommodate its growing size and influence.

Membership, qualifications, and apportionment

Members must be at least twenty-five years old, a citizen for seven years, and an inhabitant of the state they represent. The Apportionment Act of 1929 permanently set the number of voting representatives at 435, distributed among the states by population after each decennial census conducted by the United States Census Bureau. States like California and Texas have the largest delegations, while states such as Wyoming and Vermont have the minimum one representative. The District of Columbia and territories like Puerto Rico elect non-voting delegates.

Powers and duties

The House holds several exclusive constitutional powers, including the origination of all bills for raising revenue and the power to impeach federal officers, which it exercised against presidents Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (twice). It also elects the President of the United States in the event no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, as occurred in the 1800 and 1824 elections. Its oversight duties are exercised through committees like the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Committees

The work of the House is largely shaped by its committee system, where legislation is drafted, hearings are held, and oversight is conducted. The most powerful are the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Rules. Select committees, such as the Select Committee on China, are formed for specific issues. The House Intelligence Committee handles classified matters related to national security.

Legislative process

All legislation must pass both the House and the United States Senate in identical form before being presented to the President of the United States. A bill is typically introduced by a member, referred to a committee, and may be advanced to the Committee of the Whole for amendment consideration. Passage requires a simple majority vote. The House Parliamentarian advises on procedural rules, primarily those outlined in Jefferson's Manual and the House's own precedents. Conference committees with the Senate reconcile differences between chamber versions.

Current party leadership and composition

The 118th United States Congress began in January 2023. The Republican Party holds a narrow majority, with Mike Johnson of Louisiana serving as Speaker. The Majority Leader is Steve Scalise, and the Majority Whip is Tom Emmer. The Democratic Party minority is led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Minority Whip Katherine Clark. The partisan divide is reflected in the composition of powerful committees like the House Judiciary Committee.

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