house/Senate

CONGRESS : HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE

The Legislature is bicameral , having two chambers , referred to as the lower and upper house , or as the House of Representatives and the Senate . All legislative power is vested in the Congress , as part of the checks and balances among the major branches of the government , the executive and the judiciary . Congress writes the laws , the President implements it and the Courts arbitrate when the law is broken , or there is question on its constitutionality

Congress has the power of the purse , meaning the authority

over financial and budgetary concerns , appropriating government funds and expenditures , and authority to borrow money on credit of the country and coin money . Congress also has the exclusive power to declare war , make military rules and maintain the army , and admit new states . Congress also has the power to issue copyrights and patents , establish courts under the Supreme Court , and the power to oversee and investigate the executive branch - called congressional oversight , carried out by special committees made up of members from both houses

The House of Representatives provides representation based on proportion by population , while the Senate provides equal representation by the states , hence there are two senators per state regardless of population Although the House and Senate are equals - in that a legislation cannot be passed into law without the consent of both , each has unique powers The House of Representatives write up the appropriations , budget , and other revenue-raising bills . The House also has the power...