The National Congress

The United States is a representative democracy. Citizens elect representatives to do the day-to-day work of making laws, collecting taxes, enforcing laws, and deciding court cases. Congress is the part of the U.S. government that makes laws.

The Constitution says Congress will be bicameral, or have two houses-a Senate and a House of Representatives.

The Constitutional Convention debated whether the State or the people should have more power. To make both sides happy, one house-the Senate- became a place where each State had two representatives and had equal power. In the second house-the House of Representatives- the States with more people sent more representatives. A bicameral Congress was helpful too because one house could double-check the other house's work.

Congress's term, or length of service, lasts for two years. Each term begins on January 3 during every odd numbered year. The 105th Congress began January 3, 1997 and ends January 3, 1999.

Congress hold one session, or meeting period, every year. Each term has two sessions. Congress can adjourn, or end, a session whenever it finishes its business. Today, Congress meets nearly all year-round with several recesses, or breaks. The President can call Congress into special session, to take action on a very important or urgent issue. Because Congress meets year-round the President has not called one for 50 years.