how-congress-works-is-structured

House of Representatives Structure

  • 435 members
  • Elected every two years by the people of their respective congressional districts

Leadership

  • Speaker of the House
    • Elected by the members of the House
    • Third in line to the presidency after the Vice President and the President pro tempore of the Senate
    • Responsible for presiding over the House, maintaining order and decorum, and determining the agenda for the House
  • Majority Leader
  • Minority Leader
  • Majority Whip
  • Minority Whip

Committees

  • 20 standing committees
    • Each chaired by a member of the majority party and has a specific jurisdiction
  • Select committees
    • Appointed for a specific purpose and for a limited time
  • Joint committees
    • Made up of members of both the House and Senate
    • Responsible for overseeing issues that affect both chambers

Overall Role

  • Plays a crucial role in the legislative process
  • Structure designed to ensure that the interests of the American people are represented and protected