In this article you will learn about The US House of Representatives in Political Science.
The US House of Representatives : The Lower House of US Congress
The House of Representatives is the lower, popular and directly elected house of the U.S. Congress. It represents the people of the United States and is directly responsible to them. It is also described as the ‘national representative house which directly reflects the national public opinion.”
Qualifications of Membership : The qualifications for a member of the House of Representatives –
- He/she should be a citizen of the USA.
- He/she must be at least 25 years of age.
- He/she must have been a resident of the country for at least seven years.
- He/she must be the resident of the district which he represents.
- He/she must fulfil all those qualifications which the Congress may prescribe from time to time.
The House of Representatives has the supreme right to prevent any duly elected representatives to take his seat in the House in case it is decided by the majority of the representatives that he is a person of immoral background.
Method of Election : The members of the House of Representative are directly elected by the people. Universal Adult suffrage, single member constituencies and relative majority vote victory systems are the features of the election system.
Eligibility for exercising Franchise in the Elections to the House : After the 26th Amendment, all citizens both male and female who have attained the age of 18 years are entitled to vote. Before this Amendment, the qualifying voting age was 21 years.
The House of Representatives has several important powers and functions, which include:
Passing laws : The House of Representatives is responsible for drafting and passing laws. Before a bill can become a law, it must be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Impeachment : The House of Representatives has the power to impeach federal officials, including the President of the United States. Impeachment is the process by which an official is charged with wrongdoing and faces a trial in the Senate.
Budget : The House of Representatives is responsible for creating the federal budget. The budget determines how federal money is spent and is an important tool for setting national priorities.
Leadership of the House of Representatives :
The House of Representatives is led by the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the members of the House. The Speaker is responsible for presiding over the House, setting the legislative agenda, and representing the House in dealings with the executive branch and foreign governments.
In addition to the Speaker, the House of Representatives has several other important leaders, including the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the Whips. The Majority Leader is responsible for managing the legislative agenda of the House, while the Minority Leader is responsible for representing the interests of the minority party. The Whips are responsible for counting votes and making sure that party members are present for important votes.
This article on The US House of Representatives in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.