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1、The Constitution requires that U.S. senators must be at least 30 yeas of age, citizens of the United States for at least nine years, and residents of the states from which they are elected. Members of the House of Representatives must be at least 25, citizens for seven years, and residents of the st
2、ates from which they are elected. The states may set additional requirements for election to Congress, but the Constitution gives each house the power to determine the qualifications of its members. Each state is entitled to two senators. Thus, Rhode Island, the smallest state, with an area of about
3、 3156 square kilometers, has the same senatorial representation as Alaska, the biggest sates, with an area of an area of some 1524640 square kilometers. Wyoming, with an estimated 480000 persons, has representation equal to that of California, with its population of 3227000. The total number of memb
4、ers of the House of Representatives has been determined by Congress. That number is divided among the states according to their populations. Regardless of its population, every state is constitutionally guaranteed at least one member of the House. At present, seven states, Alaska, Delaware, Montana,
5、 North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyominghave only one representative. On the other hand, six states have more than 20 representativesCalifornia alone has 52. The constitution provides for a national census each 10 yeas and a redistribution of House seats according to population shifts. Unde
6、r the original constitutional provision, the number of representatives was to be no more than one for each 30000 citizens. There were 65 members in the first House, and the number was increased to 106 after the first census. Had the 1-to-30000 formula been adhered to permanently, population growth i
7、n the United state would have brought the total number of representatives to about 7000. Instead, the formula has been adjusted over the years, and today the ratio of representatives to people is about 1-to-600000. State legislature divides the states into congressional districts, which must be subs
8、tantially equal in population. Every two years, the voters of each district choose a representative for Congress. Senators are chosen in statewide elections held in even-numbered years. The senatorial term is six years, and every two years one-third of the senate stands for election. Hence, two-thir
9、ds of the senators are always persons with some legislative experience at the national level. It is theoretically possible for the House to be composed entirely of legislative novices. In practice, however, most members are reelected several times, and the House, like the senate, can always count on
10、 a core group of experienced legislators. Since members of the House serve two-year terms, the life of a Congress is considered to be two year. The Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that the Congress will convene in regular session each January 3, unless Congress fixes a differen
11、t date. The Congress remains in session until its embers vote to adjournusually late in the year. The president may call a special session when he thinks it necessary, Sessions are held in the capitol building in Washington, D.C. Each House of Congress has the power to introduce legislation on any s
12、ubject except raising revenue, which must originate in the House of Representatives. The large states may thus appear to have more influence over the public purse than the small states. In practice, however, each house can vote against legislation passed by the other house. The Senate may disapprove
13、 a House revenue billor any bill, for that matteror add amendments that change its nature. In that event, a conference committee made up of members from both houses must work out a compromise acceptable to both sides before the bill becomes law. The Senate also has certain powers especially reserved
14、 to that body, including the authority to confirm presidential appointments of high officials and ambassadors of the federal government, as well as authority to ratify all treaties by two-thirds vote. In either instance, a negative vote in the Senate nullifies executive action. In the case of impeac
15、hment of federal officials, the House has the sole right to bring charges of misconduct that can lead to an impeachment trial. The senate has the sole power to try impeachment case and to find officials guilty or not guilty. A finding of guilt results in the removal of the federal official from publ
16、ic office. The broad powers of the whole Congress are spelled out in Article I of the constitution; -to levy and collect taxes; -to borrow money for the public treasury; -to make rules and regulations governing commerce among the sates and with foreign countries; -to make uniform rules for the naturalization of foreign citizens; -to coin money, state its value, and provide for the punishment of counterfeiters; -to set the standards for
