On November 5, 2024, the United States will choose its next president, as well as the new composition of Congress: the entire House of Representatives (435 seats) and a third of the Senate. With attention focused on the contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, the congressional elections move to another level, but it is a determining contest for the governability of the next Administration, among others.
A few days before the United States presidential elections, on November 5, the importance of the legislative elections, which will also take place that day, is being overshadowed by the presidential elections.
On the Road to the White House (the podcast) We analyze the importance of this legislative body which acts as a control body to the other branches of American power. In the race for the House and a third of the Senate, polls indicate that the narrow difference between Republicans and Democrats will also be reflected in the composition of Congress.
What functions does the House of Representatives have in the United States?
The United States House of Representatives has numerous functionsyesincluding the creation and debate of laws, budget control, supervision of the Executive Branch and representation of citizens.
In the country, Congress is divided between the Senate (Upper House) and the House of Representatives (Lower House). The essential role of the latter is the introduction and debate of bills that affect the national level.
For example, all bills related to taxes and budget must originate in this House. This is a constitutional power that allows directly influence fiscal and economic policy of the country.
Besides, The House has the power to impeach federal government officials, including the president and vice president, if they are accused of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” as the Constitution. However, the final vote on an impeachment trial falls to the Senate.
How is the House of Representatives composed?
The United States House of Representatives has 435 members elected every two years, distributed among the states according to their population, and each representative represents a specific district. If you want to know the importance of demography and electoral censuses in this episode you can detail it 🎧 👇
Besides, there are delegates without the right to vote from US territories, such as Puerto Rico and Guam.
The Chamber is led by its president, who is in charge of coordinating the sessions and legislative work. The organization includes specialized committees that analyze and manage bills in various areas, allowing for exhaustive study of bills before putting them to a general vote.
A brief review of the history of the House of Representatives:
The United States House of Representatives was born in 1789, along with the Senate, as part of Congress in the Constitution of 1787.
Its creation was part of the “Great Compromise” between large and small states during the Constitutional Convention. This agreement established that representation in the House would be proportional to population, allowing larger states to have more representatives.
The first meeting of the House of Representatives took place in New York with 65 members. Since then, the number of representatives has increased based on the country’s population growth, reaching 435 members in 1913, a limit that is still maintained, but that may continue to vary over time, according to the census.
Throughout its history, the House has played a critical role in key decisions, from debates over slavery to the passage of civil rights.
Subscribe to Road to the White House, available at Spotify, DeezerTune In, ApplePodcast and our web portal. An original podcast from France 24 in Spanish.
Presentation: Julián Ramírez Castro and Rodrigo Sedano
Script and research: Marta Moya and Julián Ramírez Castro
Editorial direction: Ángela Gutiérrez and Fabián Cristancho
Editing, editing and post-production: Rodrigo Rodríguez de Loro podcast
Music: Audionetwork and RFI Instrumental
Graphic development: FMM graphic studio and Francia Cuesta
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