Senators serve four-year terms and represent a relatively large number of constituents, whereas house members serve two-year terms and represent a smaller number of constituents. House members are therefore able to remain more closely in tune to the needs and concerns of their constituents.
Why are the House and Senate so different?
To balance the interests of both the small and large states, the Framers of the Constitution divided the power of Congress between the two houses. Every state has an equal voice in the Senate, while representation in the House of Representatives is based on the size of each state's population.
What is the difference between the House and Senate?
Senators represent their entire states, but members of the House represent individual districts. The number of districts in each state is determined by a state's population. … Today, Congress consists of 100 senators (two from each state) and 435 voting members of the House of Representatives.
How do the jobs of Texas House and Texas Senate members compare?
What is the difference between house and senate representation in Texas?
Legislators in the house represent smaller districts with fewer constituents and have shorter terms than senators
. … The Texas Legislature meets in 140-day sessions every odd-numbered year (i.e., each year following an election).
Does a bill go to the House first?
First, a representative sponsors a bill. … Finally, a conference committee made of House and Senate members works out any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The resulting bill returns to the House and Senate for final approval.
What can the Senate do that the House Cannot?
The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President's appointments that require consent, and to provide advice and consent to ratify treaties. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule: the House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade.
Are filibusters allowed in the House?
At the time, both the Senate and the House of Representatives allowed filibusters as a way to prevent a vote from taking place. Subsequent revisions to House rules limited filibuster privileges in that chamber, but the Senate continued to allow the tactic.
What happens if the House and Senate versions of a bill are different?
If the House and Senate pass the same bill then it is sent to the President. If the House and Senate pass different bills they are sent to Conference Committee. Most major legislation goes to a Conference Committee.
How many terms can a senator serve?
Senators are elected to six-year terms, and every two years the members of one class—approximately one-third of the senators—face election or reelection.
How many senators do we have in Texas?
The Texas Senate is composed of 31 members who represent 31 separate geographical districts in the state. For more facts about the Senate of the 87th Legislature see our Facts & Figures page.
Who is Texas senators now 2020?
Texas was admitted to the United States on December 29, 1845, and elects its U.S. senators to Class 1 and Class 2. The state's current senators are Republicans John Cornyn (serving since 2002) and Ted Cruz (serving since 2013).
What are the stages of passing a bill?
- Step 1: The bill is drafted. …
- Step 2: The bill is introduced. …
- Step 3: The bill goes to committee. …
- Step 4: Subcommittee review of the bill. …
- Step 5: Committee mark up of the bill. …
- Step 6: Voting by the full chamber on the bill. …
- Step 7: Referral of the bill to the other chamber. …
- Step 8: The bill goes to the president.
What are the three readings of a bill?
“ If action is taken, the bill must pass through First Reading, Committee, Second Reading and Third Reading. The bill can “die” at any step of the way, just as it can in the house of origin.
What kind of bills have to start in the House of Representatives?
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
What three powers does the Senate have?
The Senate takes
action on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations, and treaties by voting
. Senators vote in a variety of ways, including roll call votes, voice votes, and unanimous consent.
