How the House of Representatives Works: What Every American Should Know

The U.S. Constitution lays out how our government works. Article I creates the legislative branch — the part of government that makes laws. It sets up two groups: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Original Text

Section 1:
All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section 2:
The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

A Simpler Version

Recent studies show most Americans read at about a sixth grade level. So here’s the same information in simpler words:

Congress makes the laws. It has two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

People in each state vote every two years to pick their Representatives. To be a Representative, you have to be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for seven years, and live in the state you want to represent.

How many Representatives a state gets depends on how many people live there. States with more people get more Representatives. The government counts the population every 10 years to decide this.

If a Representative leaves before their time is up, the governor of that state must hold a special election to find someone new.

The House of Representatives chooses its own leaders, like the Speaker. The House also has the only power to start impeachment. Impeachment means charging a government official with serious wrongdoing.

What Does It Mean?

The House of Representatives is one half of Congress, the group that makes the laws for the whole country.

Every two years, people vote to choose who will speak for them in the House. This keeps Representatives connected to the people’s wishes.

There are rules about who can be a Representative. You have to be at least 25 years old, have lived in the U.S. for seven years, and live in the state you want to represent. This helps make sure Representatives know the country and the people they serve.

The number of Representatives each state gets depends on its population. States with more people get more Representatives. This is why the Constitution requires a census, or count of the population, every 10 years. The census helps decide how many Representatives each state will have.

If a Representative leaves office early, the state’s governor must call a special election. This way, the people still get to choose who represents them.

The House picks its own leaders, including the Speaker of the House. The Speaker is very important because they help run the House and decide which laws get talked about.

Finally, the House has the only power to impeach federal officials. Impeachment is like an official charge that a government official has done something wrong. If the House votes to impeach, the Senate holds a trial to decide if the official should be removed from office.

The House of Representatives is a key part of our government. It makes sure the people have a voice in the laws that affect their lives.

What is Civics?: Civics is the study of how the government works and what it means to be a good citizen. It teaches us about our rights and responsibilities, like voting, following laws, and helping our communities. Civics also helps us understand the rules that keep our country running, like the Constitution, and how leaders are chosen to make decisions. Sadly, our schools have failed in the area of teaching the last several generations about civics. In response, The Georgia Sun will regularly educate readers on civics because informed residents and voters who know and understand their rights are the backbone of a truly free society.