Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government, set up by Article I of the Constitution. It writes federal law, controls federal spending and oversees the executive branch.
This primer covers how it is built and how its work shows up in the public record that Purple Voice tracks.
Both must pass the same text before a bill can go to the President.
| House of Representatives | Senate | |
|---|---|---|
| Voting members | 435 | 100 |
| Seats per state | By population, reset after each census | Two |
| Term | Two years | Six years, about a third up every two years |
| Elected by | A congressional district | The whole state |
| Presiding officer | The Speaker | The Vice President, who can break a tie |
| Powers of its own | Starts revenue bills; impeaches | Confirms nominees; ratifies treaties; tries impeachments |
Six non-voting delegates represent the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and four other territories in the House. They serve on committees but cannot cast final floor votes.
The House elects a Speaker, who controls which bills reach the floor. In the Senate the majority leader schedules floor business. Each party in each chamber also has a floor leader and a whip, who counts votes and keeps members in line.
Where most bills stop.
Bills are referred to committees by subject. Committees hold hearings, amend bills in markup, and decide whether a bill moves forward. Most bills never leave committee. Each member’s committee assignments are on their profile.
Each Congress is numbered and runs for two years, split into two annual sessions. The 119th Congress runs from January 2025 to January 2027. Bills that have not passed when a Congress ends must be introduced again.
Many questions are settled by voice vote or unanimous consent, which leave no record of individual positions. A roll-call vote records each member by name as yea, nay, present or not voting. Purple Voice tracks every roll-call vote and links each one to the official House Clerk or Senate record. See recent votes.
Candidates for Congress report what they raise and spend to the Federal Election Commission. Those filings are public. Purple Voice shows the totals on Follow the Money and on member profiles.
Follow a bill from introduction to signature, or look up a term.