POLS 155 Lecture 9: Congress
Document Summary
The united states congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the united states consisting of two chambers: the senate and the house of representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election, though vacancies in the senate may be filled by a gubernatorial appointment. Members are usually affiliated to the republican party or to the democratic party, and only rarely to a third party or as independents. Congress has 535 voting members: 435 representatives and 100 senators. Representatives has six non-voting members in addition to its 435 voting members. These members can, however, sit on congressional committees and introduce legislation. These members represent washington, d. c. , puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana. The members of the house of representatives serve two-year terms representing the people of a single constituency, known as a district.
