User:LizArchive/United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is the lower house of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper house. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.

The House is composed of representatives who sit in congressional districts allocated to each U.S. state on a basis of population as measured by the U.S. Census, with each district having one representative, provided that each state is entitled to at least one. There are 35 Representatives from the 6 states. As of the 1980 Census, the largest delegation is that of Albany, with 8 representatives. Cheyenne has only one representative.

The House is charged with the passage of federal legislation, known as bills, which, after concurrence by the Senate, are sent to the president for consideration. The House also has exclusive powers: it initiates all revenue bills, impeaches federal officers, and elects the president if no candidate receives a majority of votes in the Electoral College. The House meets in the south wing of the United States Capitol.

The presiding officer is the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the members thereof (and is therefore traditionally the leader of the controlling party). The Speaker and other floor leaders are chosen by the party that has more voting members.