What Is Congress?

Ages 3-5 Simple Explanation

You know how your class has meetings where everyone talks about rules and decides things together? Congress is kind of like that, but for the whole country! Congress is a big group of people whose job is to come up with new rules called laws that everyone in the United States has to follow.

Congress is split into two groups. One group is called the Senate, and the other is called the House of Representatives. Having two groups helps make sure that lots of different people get a say before a new rule is made. They talk about ideas, listen to each other, and then vote.

The people in Congress are picked by regular people like your parents through voting. Each state sends people to Congress to speak up for what the people in that state want. So if your family lives in Texas, the people from Texas in Congress are supposed to look out for what Texas families need.

Congress works in a really big, beautiful building in Washington, D.C., called the Capitol. It has a huge white dome on top that you might have seen in pictures. Inside, the senators and representatives have big rooms where they meet, talk, and make decisions about how to make the country a better place.

Ages 6-8 More Detail

Congress is the legislative branch of the United States government, which means it's the branch that makes the laws. The Founding Fathers created Congress so that the people of every state would have a voice in how the country is run. Congress meets in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Congress has two parts, called chambers. The Senate has 100 members — exactly two senators from each of the 50 states, no matter how big or small the state is. The House of Representatives has 435 members, and the number each state gets depends on how many people live there. California, the most populated state, has the most representatives, while smaller states like Wyoming have just one.

When someone in Congress has an idea for a new law, they write it down as a bill. That bill gets discussed, debated, and sometimes changed. Then both the Senate and the House have to vote on it. If the majority in both chambers vote yes, the bill goes to the president's desk to be signed into law.

Besides making laws, Congress has other important jobs. It decides how the government spends money — this is called the 'power of the purse.' It also approves treaties with other countries, confirms the president's choices for judges and cabinet members, and can even hold hearings to investigate problems.

Members of Congress are elected by the people in their state or district. Senators serve six-year terms, and representatives serve two-year terms. That means there are elections for Congress every two years, giving voters the chance to keep their representatives or choose new ones. It's one of the ways people hold their government accountable.

Ages 9-12 Full Explanation

Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government and is responsible for writing, debating, and passing the laws that govern the country. Established by Article I of the Constitution — the very first section — Congress was designed to be the branch closest to the people, since its members are directly elected by citizens.

The two chambers of Congress serve different purposes. The Senate, with its 100 members (two per state), was designed to give every state an equal voice regardless of population. Senators serve six-year terms, with about one-third of the Senate up for election every two years. The House of Representatives, with 435 members distributed by state population, was designed to reflect the will of the people more directly. Representatives serve two-year terms, meaning they face voters frequently and are expected to stay closely in tune with their constituents' wishes.

The lawmaking process in Congress involves many steps. A bill can be introduced in either chamber (except for bills about taxes, which must start in the House). It goes to a committee for detailed review, may be revised, and is then debated on the floor. If the majority in one chamber passes it, it goes to the other chamber for the same process. If the two chambers pass different versions, a conference committee works out a compromise. Only after both chambers agree does the bill go to the president for signature or veto.

Congress holds significant powers beyond just making laws. It controls the federal budget, meaning no government money can be spent without congressional approval. The Senate confirms presidential appointments, including Supreme Court justices and cabinet secretaries. Congress can declare war, regulate trade, and conduct investigations into government actions. Perhaps most dramatically, the House can impeach (bring charges against) the president or other officials, and the Senate holds the trial.

Getting elected to Congress increasingly requires raising large amounts of money for campaigns, which has raised concerns about the influence of wealthy donors and interest groups. Debates about campaign finance, gerrymandering (drawing district lines to favor one party), and partisan gridlock (when the two major parties can't agree on anything) are ongoing challenges. Understanding these issues helps explain why government sometimes moves slowly.

Congress directly affects your life in ways you might not notice. The funding your school receives, food safety rules, environmental protections, the minimum wage, internet regulations — Congress has a hand in all of it. Paying attention to who your representatives are and what they're voting on is one of the most practical things a citizen can do. You can even contact your members of Congress to share your opinion on issues you care about, regardless of your age.