In referring to an individual lawmaker's capacity of serving in the
United States Congress, a
bicameral federal legislature, the term
member of congress is used less often than other terms in the
United States. This is because in the United States, the word
Congress is used as a descriptive term for the collective body of legislators from both of its houses: the
Senate and the
House of Representatives. While a member of the Senate is typically referred to as
Senator (followed by "
name from
state"), a member of the House of Representatives is typically referred to as
Congressman or
Congresswoman (followed by "
name from
''state's nth district"); or, removing any ambiguity,
Representative ("name
from state's nth'' district"). Although senators are members of Congress, they are not normally referred to or addressed as "congressman" or "congresswoman". Members of Congress in both houses are elected by
direct popular vote. Senators are elected via a statewide vote and Representatives by votes in each
congressional district. Congressional districts are
apportioned to the
states, once every ten years, based on
population figures from the most recent
nationwide census. Each of the 435 members of the House of Representatives is elected to serve a two-year term representing the people of that person's district. Each state, regardless of its size, has at least one representative. Each of the 100 members of the Senate is elected to serve a six-year
term representing the people of that person's state. Each state, regardless of its size, has two senators. Senatorial terms are
staggered, so every two years approximately one-third of the Senate is up for election. Each staggered group of one-third of the senators is called a 'class'. No state has both its senators in the same class.
History of the United States Congress The United States Congress was created in
Article I of the
Constitution, which laid out the limitations and powers of Congress. Article I grants Congress
legislative power, lists the
enumerated powers and allows Congress to make laws that are
necessary and proper to carry out the enumerated powers. It specifies the election and composition of the House of Representatives, and the election and composition of the Senate, and the qualifications necessary to serve in each chamber. The
Seventeenth Amendment changed how senators were elected. Originally, senators were elected by
state legislatures. The Seventeenth Amendment changed this to senators being elected directly by popular vote. Controversy surrounds the question of whether the federal government or any other governmental entity has the right to regulate how many times representatives and senators can hold office. ==See also==