The two houses in the legislative branch of the United States government are the House of Representatives and the Senate. Together, they form the U.S. Congress, which is a bicameral legislature established by Article I of the Constitution
- The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, with representation based on the population of each state. Members serve two-year terms and must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for seven years, and a resident of the state they represent
- The Senate consists of 100 members, with each state having two senators regardless of population. Senators serve six-year terms and must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for nine years, and a resident of the state they represent
This two-house system was created by the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention to balance the interests of both large and small states
. In summary, the legislative branch is composed of:
- House of Representatives (population-based representation)
- Senate (equal representation for each state)
Both houses must pass legislation for it to become law
