What are the two houses of Congress?

The two houses of Congress, as established by the U.S. Constitution, are the Senate and the House of Representatives. This structure was intended to create a system of checks and balances, ensuring that both houses could work together to create legislation while also holding each other accountable.

The Senate is made up of two senators from each state, regardless of the state’s population, which helps to ensure equal representation among the states. Senators serve longer terms of six years, allowing them to focus on more long-term issues and providing a greater level of stability to the legislative process.

On the other hand, the House of Representatives is composed of members who are apportioned based on the population of each state. This structure ensures that the voices of more populous states are reflected more heavily in the legislature, as members serve shorter terms of two years, which keeps them more closely tied to the immediate concerns of their constituents.

This bicameral system allows for a diversity of viewpoints and interests, fulfilling the founders’ vision of a representative democracy where various aspects of society can be reflected in the legislative process.