What Is a Congressional Representative?

Members of Congress work at the United States Capitol.

The United States Constitution gives voters the power to decide who will represent their interests in the House of Representatives. Representatives serve two-year terms. This allows voters an opportunity to review the work of their representatives on a regular basis.

Function

Passing laws is a key responsibility of representatives. Members of Congress meet in smaller groups called committees to discuss proposed legislation. A bill is the most common type of legislation. Each committee recommends bills to the full House of Representatives. The representatives debate each bill and then vote on it. If the bill passes the House, it does not become law unless the Senate and the President agree with the House vote.

Qualifications

Members of the House of Representatives must meet certain requirements: They must hold U.S. citizenship for at least seven years prior to serving in Congress and must live in the state where they run for office. The minimum age for a representative is 25.

Types

There are 435 representatives in the House from the 50 states. The number of representatives for each state is set after the census every 10 years. Each state receives at least one representative in the House; states with larger populations gain additional representatives. While only representatives from the 50 states have full voting powers, six nonvoting members representing the interests of U.S. territories and the District of Columbia may participate in committees and perform other Congressional duties.

References

• United States House of Representatives: Tying It All Together: Learn About the Legislative Process
• Library of Congress: How Our Laws Are Made
• visitthecapitol.gov: The U.S. House of Representatives
• Office of the Clerk: House History