What is the difference between House of Representatives and Senate?
The house of representative and senate are the two main legislative bodies of the United States Congress. The two legislative bodies play a vital role in congress.
The main difference between the senate and house of representative is that senate has a six-year term length whereas the house of Representatives has a two-year term length.
Comparison Table between the House of Representative and Senate
| Basic Terms | House of Representative | Senate |
| Alternative Name | Lower House Chamber | Upper House Chamber |
| Number of Representative | 435 | 100 |
| Term Length | 2 years | 6 years |
| Reelection of Representative | All are up for reelection after the expiry of 2 years | A third of them are up for reelection after every two years |
| Representation | Number of representatives based on the total population | Only two senators per state regardless of the population |
| Procedure and Rules | More formal | Less formal |
| History | Based on Virginia plan | Based on the New Jersey plan |
| Political groups | Democrats have 235
Republicans have 199 The vacant seat is 1 |
Republicans have 53
Democrats have 45 Independent seat 2 |
| Majority leader (2020) | Steny Hoyer (D) | Mitch McConnell (R) |
| Minority Leader (2020) | Kevin McCarthy (R) | Chuck Schumer (D) |
What Is the House of Representatives?
The house of the representative is the lower house of the bicameral legislature of the United States Congress.
The house has about 435 voting seats and it tends to respond to the needs of people faster. The term length of the representative is two years before seeking reelection.
The laws of the United States congress dealing with revenue tend to start from the house. The seats apportioned to the house are based on the population.
The house is also responsible for filing an impeachment process to an official through voting. If the majority wins then the impeachment is taken to the Senate for approval.
What Is the Senate?
The Senate is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the United States Congress. The responses tend to be quite slow due to the long term law effect.
The voting members of the senate are 100 and they normally have 6 years term length. Each state of the United State has two senators regardless of their population.
The Senate is responsible for approving foreign treaties, cabinet officials, and nomination of judicial officers.
Also, the senators investigate the impeachment process brought before them from the house of Representatives.
To become a senator in the United States Congress, an individual needs to be 30 years at the time of election and have lived in the country for 9 years.
Main Difference between House of Representatives and Senate In Point Form
- The house of the representative is also known as the lower chamber while the senate is known as the upper chamber
- The voting members of the senate are 100 while those of the house of the representative is 435
- The term length of the house is 2 years before reelection while that of the Senate is 6 years.
- The respond of the house is faster while that of the senate is quite slow
- The qualification of the house needs an individual to be 25 years at the time of election and have lived in the country for 7 years whereas that of the senate is 30 at the time of election and have lived in the country for 9 years
- The role of the house is to initiate revenue base legislation while the senate is to approve foreign treaties, cabinet and judicial nominations
- The house facilitates the impeachment of an official whereas the senate enhances approval of the impeachment.
- The history of the house originated from the Virginia plan while that of the senate originated from the New Jersey plan.
Similarities between House and Senate
- Both the chambers have no term limits
- Both have first past the post voting system
- Both are the main legislature bodies of the congress
- Both chambers have enumerated powers
- Both are voted by the citizens
- Both need to not be American citizens by birth
- The passing of the bill requires the consent of the two houses
You May Also Like:
Frequently Asked Questions (Lower Chamber Vs Upper Chamber)
- Who Has More Power the House or the Senate?
When it comes to the legislation process, the house and senate tend to be partners. Legislation needs to be enacted after being accepted by both the house and the senate. However, each chamber has different enumerated power based on the constitution.
- What Can the House of Representatives Do that the Senate Cannot?
Initiating revenue-based bills and decide which officials need to be put on trial. The Senate is responsible for approving foreign treaties and judicial nomination.
- Can the House Override the Senate?
No. But the president can either sign the bill to become a law or veto the bill. However, the house and senate can vote to override the president veto bill. The bill becomes the law without the president’s signature.
- Who Can Override the Senate?
The nuclear option is a parliamentary procedure that allows the United States Senate to override a standing rule of the Senate through voting. The 60-vote rule to close debate, by a simple majority of 51 votes, rather than the two-thirds supermajority normally required to amend the rules.
Comparison Video
Summary
The core difference between house of representatives and senate is that the house has a qualification of 25 years at the time of election and the individual need to have lived in the country for 7 years while the senate has to be 30 years at the time of election and have lived in the country for 9 years.
More Sources and References
- United States Congress. Wikipedia
- House and Senate Lesson. Khan Academy