What is the House of Representatives?

The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, made up of 435 voting members, with each state's allocation determined by population. Created by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, the House was designed to be the branch of the federal government closest to the people, with members elected directly from districts within each state every two years. The qualifications for the office are age 25, seven years of citizenship, and residency in the represented state. They serve two-year terms, the shortest of any federal elected office. All 435 House seats are up for election in every even-numbered year.

The number of representatives a state sends to the House is recalculated after each ten-year census. States with growing populations, such as Texas and Florida, have gained seats in recent decades. States with shrinking populations relative to others, such as New York and Pennsylvania, have lost seats. Every state is guaranteed at least one representative, regardless of how small its population. After each census, state legislatures or independent commissions redraw congressional district lines within each state, a process called redistricting.

The House has powers that the Senate does not share. All revenue-raising bills must originate in the House, a rule borrowed from the British House of Commons that places taxation power in the chamber closest to the voters. The House has the sole power to bring impeachment charges against federal officials, including the President.

The House is led by the Speaker of the House, elected by the entire chamber on its opening day. The Speaker controls the floor schedule, appoints members of select committees, and serves as second in line to the presidency, after the Vice President. Other leaders include the Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Majority and Minority Whips, who manage party strategy and discipline.

Bills introduced in the House are sent to standing committees for review, then to the Rules Committee, which sets the terms of floor debate. The House has stricter rules and tighter time limits than the Senate, allowing it to move legislation faster.