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The United States Congress

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Today, the United States Congress has two main purposes in our government; to create the laws of the land and to represent the American people. But, the main reason for creating a congress in the beginning was because of a growing outcry against British rule over the colonies. In 1774, delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress. “The announced purpose of the congress was to deliberate and determine on wise and proper measures . . . for the restoration of union and harmony between Great Britain and America” (Volkomer, Walter E.. 2012). They sent a list of grievances to King George III, calling for repeal of the Intolerable Acts - a series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament. …show more content…

There are 100 Senators in the Senate and 435 Representatives in the House. Both chambers of Congress meet in the Capitol building in Washington D.C. (Volkomer, Walter E.. 2012) Members of the House of Representatives serve two year terms and are referred to as congressman or congresswoman. During their two year term, they serve the people of a specific congressional district or area. Their main duties are to introduce bills and resolutions, serve on committees, and offer amendments. It’s also important to note that the Constitution states that any bill that raises revenue must originate in the House of Representatives. Members of the Senate serve six year terms and are usually looked upon more as a representative of their state rather than individuals. One thing the Senate has is the ability to block legislation coming through by way of a filibuster. Generally speaking, though, the House and the Senate operate mostly in the same capacity. The House is known to be a little faster-paced and the Senate is known to be a little slower and more deliberate. As stated earlier, the main role of Congress is to create laws. The procedure for creating laws in America is fairly simple on the surface, but there are a lot of layers that some people find confusing to follow. First a Senator or Representative needs to have an idea for a new law. They then need to produce a rough draft of the idea and sponsor it. This action turns the

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