What is The Legislative or Parliamentary Structure of The United States?
Congress : The Legislative Structure of The United States
The United States does not use the term "Parliament" to describe its national legislative body. Instead, it is known as Congress. This Legislature or Congress is the focal point of the country's legislative and governance system.
The structure of Congress is bicameral/two -chambered, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.This bicameral system is an important part of the U.S. constitutional structure, which maintains a balance in lawmaking.
The Two Parts/Two Chambers of Congress are :
1. The Senate:
It is the upper house of Congress. The Senate has 100 members, and two senators are elected from each state. Their term of office is 6 years, and one-third of the senators stand for re-election every two years.
The Senate exercises certain powers and responsibilities, such as approving various high-ranking officials nominated by the President and ratifying/signing treaties (such as international treaties).
In addition, the Senate plays the role of judge in impeachment proceedings.
2. The House of Representatives:
It is the lower house of Congress. The number of members of the House of Representatives is 435, which is apportioned based on the population of each state. The tenure of each member is two years.
After two years the member has to contest for re-election. The number of members in this council is fixed in proportion to the population of the state, which may be smaller or larger according to the population.
New laws are made through laws or bills passed in the House of Representatives and budget bills are also first proposed in this House.
These two chambers together form the Congress, similar to the concept of parliament in other countries.
Importance of Two -Chambered Congress:
The two -chambered system ensures equal representation of small and large states in Congress. It makes the legislative process more comprehensive and balanced.
This structure of Congress reflects the basic rules of American democracy, where laws are made with consideration of the opinions and needs of different constituencies.
Note Before : Elections are held every four years in the United States. This year election will be held on November 05, 2024.