The Organization of Congress

This topic went into detail about the organization, structure, membership, leadership, and committees of the legislative branch. Congress is comprised of two houses and 535 members. The House of Representatives has 435 members, who are distributed among the states based on their populations. The more people in a state, the more seats in the House. The fewer people in a state, the fewer seats in the House. In the Senate, there are 100 members - two from each state, which allows for equal representation regardless of the state's population.

Each house has its own leadership. The Speaker is in charge of the House and the Vice-President presides as the President of the Senate. When the Vice-President is unable to preside or assumes the role of President, the President pro tempore serves as the President of the Senate. Both houses have Majority and Minority Leaders. These individuals are focused on organizing the party within their respective houses.

In order for the Congress to operate efficiently, legislative responsibilities are delegated to committees. These committees are led by a chair and often divided further into subcommittees. There are House committees, Senate committees, and joint committees that include membership from both houses. Whether these committees are permanent standing committees or temporary select committees, they focus on specific aspects of current legislation and are generally organized by subject matter. Committees are necessary because of the large volume of complex work that Congress must do each year.