Short answer
The US House and Senate are Congress’s two federal chambers, not separate governments. The House represents congressional districts, with seats distributed among states by population; the Senate gives every state two senators. House terms last two years, while Senate terms last six years and are staggered. 1 2
On this page
At a glance
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| Attribute | US House of Representatives | US Senate |
|---|---|---|
| Representation | Districts; state totals based on population | Two senators per state |
| Membership | 435 full-voting representatives | 100 senators across 50 states |
| Term | Two years | Six years, staggered |
| Impeachment role | Impeaches | Tries impeachments |
The House source dates the 435-seat statutory arrangement to a 1911 law, effective since 1913. The Senate total follows from two senators for each of the 50 states. 1 2 3
What each thing is
Both are parts of the federal legislative branch. A House representative serves a particular congressional district; a senator represents a state on an equal-state basis. The distinction is therefore about the unit of representation, not simply whether a member works on national issues. 1 2
Key differences
Their constitutional responsibilities also diverge. Revenue-raising bills must begin in the House. The Senate provides advice and consent for treaties and specified presidential appointments; treaties require agreement from two-thirds of senators present. These are federal constitutional assignments, not rules for every American legislature. 3
How to tell them apart
For a federal member, check the constituency and term: a congressional district and two-year term identify House service; a state and six-year term identify Senate service. Names alone are less useful: the House source also calls representatives congressmen or congresswomen, although Congress includes both chambers. 1 2
Where they overlap
Both participate in federal lawmaking. The constitutional bill process requires passage by the House and Senate before presentation to the president. Thus, the House’s role in making laws does not mean it can ordinarily complete that process without the Senate; presidential approval and veto provisions also matter. 1 3
Edge cases
A House-only starting point does not imply House-only control: the Senate may propose or agree to amendments to revenue bills. Likewise, Senate involvement in appointments is not universal; the Constitution permits Congress to place appointment of certain inferior officers elsewhere. 3
Why the distinction exists
The different representation systems reflect the Great Compromise described by the House: population-based representation in one chamber and equal-state representation in the other. A state’s population therefore affects its House delegation but does not change its allocation of two senators. 1 2
Common misconceptions
Impeachment is not the same action as conviction. The House has the exclusive power to impeach; the Senate conducts the trial, where conviction requires two-thirds of members present. Also, a six-year Senate term does not mean all Senate seats turn over together: those terms are staggered. 3 2
Examples
Hypothetically, two states with unequal populations would each have two senators, while their House representation would be apportioned by population. In a second hypothetical case, a federal official impeached by the House would face an impeachment trial in the Senate—not a second House proceeding deciding conviction. 1 2 3