Introduction
The US Congress is made up of both Senators and Representatives, who are collectively known as Congressmen. While they are both legislators, there are differences in their roles and responsibilities.
Number and Election
There are 100 Senators in the Senate, with two members allotted to each state. The number of Representatives in the House of Representatives, on the other hand, is dependent on the state’s population. Currently, there are 435 Representatives in Congress.
Titles
A member of the Senate is called a Senator, while a member of the House of Representatives is simply called a Congressman or Congresswoman. Both Senators and Representatives are collectively referred to as Congressmen.
Differences in Perception
Senators are seen as more mature and wiser than Representatives, although there is no evidence to prove this. The Senate is perceived as more elitist, while the House of Representatives is seen as representing the common man.
Duration of Term
Senators serve a 6-year term, while Representatives serve a 2-year term.
Qualifications and Age Criteria
To become a Senator, one must be over the age of 30 and a citizen of the US for at least 9 years. For a Representative, the minimum age requirement is 25 and the citizenship requirement is 7 years.
Special Powers
Representatives have the power to initiate impeachment proceedings and, in case the Electoral College fails to provide a decision in the election of the President, they have the power to choose the President. Senators, on the other hand, have the power to vote on the confirmation of the President’s judicial nominees.
In summary, the Senate and House of Representatives have different roles and responsibilities within the US Congress. Senators have a longer term and are seen as more authoritative, while Representatives have the power to initiate impeachment proceedings.
Key Takeaways
1. The US Congress is divided into two parts, the Senate and the House of Representatives, with each holding different roles and responsibilities.
2. Senators are elected directly by the people and each state has two senators, totaling 100 senators in Congress. Representatives, on the other hand, are elected based on the population of the state, resulting in a total of 435 representatives in Congress.
3. Senators have a longer term of 6 years compared to representatives who have a term of only 2 years. Additionally, there are differences in qualifications and age criteria for selection, with senators needing to be at least 30 years old and representatives needing to be at least 25 years old.
