TheUnited States Congress is thebicameral legislature of the United States of America's federal government. It consists of two houses, theSenate and theHouse of Representatives, with members chosen through directelection.

Overview

General overview

Congress meets in the U.S. Capitol inWashington, D.C.

Senate

See also:United States Senate

The Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress. Each U.S. state is represented by two senators, regardless of population. This ensures equal representation of each state in the Senate. U.S. senators serve staggered six-year terms.

According to theU.S. Constitution, senators must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 30 years old
• Be a U.S. citizen for at least nine years
• Be a resident of the state he or she represents

House of Representatives

See also:United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as "the House," is the lower house of the U.S. Congress. Each state receives representation in the House in proportion to its population but is entitled to at least one representative. The total number of voting representatives is currently fixed at 435. There are also five delegates and one resident commissioner, who do not have full voting rights. House representatives serve two-year terms.^[1]

According to theU.S. Constitution, representatives must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 25 years old
• Be a U.S. citizen for at least seven years
• Be a resident of the state he or she represents

Word meaning

The termcongress not only refers to the collective legislative body, but also to a specific two-year period. For example, the congress for the years 2025-2026 is also called the119th Congress.^[2][3]

U.S. Constitution

The formation and powers of Congress are laid out in ten sections ofArticle I of the United States Constitution:

• Section 1: Gives all legislative powers to Congress
• Section 2: Defines the basic formation of the House of Representatives and the qualifications for its members
• Section 3: Defines the basic formation of the Senate and the qualifications for its members
• Section 4: Defines how elections are held
• Section 5: Defines how legislative meetings should be conducted
• Section 6: Gives compensation for services to members, provides certain freedoms from arrest during sessions, limits membership in other civil offices
• Section 7: Defines how bills originate and become law
• Section 8: Lists specific powers granted to Congress
• Section 9: Provides limits to certain powers
• Section 10: Limits certain powers of the states

Vetoes

Presidents have the power to veto legislation passed by Congress. Click the following links to read more about presidential vetoes dating back to 2009:

• Donald Trump (R): Vetoed legislation, 2025-2029
• Joe Biden (D): Vetoed legislation, 2021-2025
• Donald Trump (R): Vetoed legislation, 2017-2021
• Barack Obama (D): Vetoed legislation, 2009-2017

Current leadership and partisan balance

See also:119th United States Congress

Leadership

Partisan balance

Elections

To view all upcoming congressional elections,click here.

2026

See also:United States Congress elections, 2026

Elections to theU.S. Congress will take place on November 3, 2026. All435 districts in theU.S. House of Representatives and33 seats in theU.S. Senate are up for election.Five of the Senate's sixnon-voting members are also up for election.

2024

See also:United States Congress elections, 2024

A total of 468 seats in the U.S. Congress (33Senate seats and all 435House seats) were up for regular election on Nov. 5, 2024. All six of the House’snon-voting members were also up for regular election.

Heading into the elections, Democrats and independents who caucused with them had a51-49 majority. Democrats held 19 of the 33 seats up for election, Republicans held 10, and independents held four. Republicans had a220-212 majority with three vacancies in the House.

In the Senate elections, Democrats won one independent-held seat, and Republicans won three Democratic-held seats and one independent-held seat. In the House elections, Democrats won 10 Republican-held seats, and Republicans won nine Democratic-held seats.

As a result of the elections, Republicans gained a53-45 majority with two independents in the Senate. Republicans maintained a majority in the House, winning220 districts to Democrats’215 districts.

Three incumbent Democratic senators lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 5, 2024. In the House, 11 incumbent representatives—four Democrats and seven Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns. Additionally, four incumbent representatives—two Democrats and two Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns during the primary elections.

Special elections were also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the118th Congress.

2022

See also:United States Congress elections, 2022

A total of 469 seats in the U.S. Congress (34Senate seats and all 435House seats) were up for regular election on Nov. 8, 2022. Five of the House’s sixnon-voting members were also up for regular election.

Heading into the elections, Democrats and independents who caucused with them had a50-50 majority in the Senate. The Democratic majority was due to the results of the 2020 presidential election, which empowered Vice PresidentKamala Harris (D) to cast a tie-breaking vote. Democrats held 14 of the 34 seats up for election and Republicans held 20. Democrats had a220-212 majority with three vacancies in the House.

In the Senate elections, Democrats won one Republican-held seat. In the House elections, Democrats won five Republican-held seats, and Republicans won 15 Democratic-held seats.

As a result of the elections, Democrats retained a48-49 majority with three independents in the Senate. Republicans gained a majority in the House, winning222 districts to Democrats’213 districts.

No incumbent senators lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 8, 2022. In the House, nine incumbent representatives—six Democrats and three Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 8, 2022. Additionally, 14 incumbent representatives—six Democrats and eight Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns during the primary elections.

Special elections were also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the117th Congress.

2020

See also:United States Congress elections, 2020

A total of 468 seats in the U.S. Congress (33Senate seats and all 435House seats) were up for regular election on Nov. 3, 2020. All six of the House’snon-voting members were also up for regular election.

Heading into the elections, Republicans had a53-45 majority in the Senate. Democrats held 12 of the 33 seats up for election and Republicans held 21. Democrats had a232-197 majority with five vacancies in the House. One member was a Libertarian.

In the Senate elections, Democrats won four Republican-held seats, and Republicans won one Democratic-held seat. In the House elections, Democrats won three Republican-held seats. Republicans won 14 Democratic-held seats and one Libertarian-held seat.

As a result of the elections, Democrats and independents who caucused with them gained a50-50 majority in the Senate. The Democratic majority was due to the results of the 2020 presidential election, which empowered Vice PresidentKamala Harris (D) to cast a tie-breaking vote. Democrats maintained a majority in the House, winning222 districts to Republicans’213 districts.

Five incumbent senators—one Democrat and four Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 3, 2020. In the House, 13 incumbent representatives—all Democrats—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 3, 2020. Additionally, eight incumbent representatives—three Democrats and five Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns during the primary elections.

Aspecial election was also held to fill a vacancy that occurred in the116th Congress.

2018

See also:United States Congress elections, 2018

A total of 468 seats in the U.S. Congress (33Senate seats and all 435House seats) were up for regular election on Nov. 6, 2018. Five of the House’s sixnon-voting members were also up for regular election.

Heading into the elections, Republicans had a51-47 majority in the Senate with two independents who caucused with Democrats. Democrats held 26 of the 33 seats up for election, Republicans held nine, and independents held two. Democrats had a233-198 majority in the House with four vacancies.

In the Senate elections, Democrats won two Republican-held seats, and Republicans won four Democratic-held seats. In the House elections, Democrats won 43 Republican-held seats, and Republicans won three Democratic-held seats.

As a result of the elections, Republicans retained a53-45 majority in the Senate. Democrats gained a majority in the House, winning235 districts to Republicans’200 districts.

Five incumbent senators—four Democrats and one Republican—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 6, 2018. In the House, 30 incumbent representatives—all Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 6, 2018. Additionally, four incumbent representatives—two Democrats and two Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns during the primary elections.

Special elections were also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the115th Congress.

2016

See also:United States Congress elections, 2016

A total of 469 seats in the U.S. Congress (34Senate seats and all 435House seats) were up for regular election on Nov. 8, 2016. All six of the House’snon-voting members were also up for regular election.

Heading into the elections, Republicans had a54-44 majority with two independents who caucused with Democrats. Democrats held 10 of the 34 seats up for election, and Republicans held 24. Republicans had a246-192 majority in the House with three vacancies.

In the Senate elections, Democrats won two Republican-held seats. In the House elections, Democrats won nine Republican-held seats, and Republicans won three Democratic-held seats.

As a result of the elections, Republicans retained a52-46 majority with two independents in the Senate. Both independents caucused with the Democratic Party. Republicans maintained a majority in the House, winning241 districts to Democrats’194 districts.

Two incumbent senators—both Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 8, 2016. In the House, eight incumbent representatives—two Democrats and six Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 8, 2016. Additionally, five incumbent representatives—two Democrats and three Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns during the primary elections.

Special elections were also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the114th Congress.

2014

See also:United States Congress elections, 2014

A total of 468 seats in the U.S. Congress (33Senate seats and all 435House seats) were up for regular election on Nov. 4, 2014. Five of the House’s sixnon-voting members were also up for regular election.

Heading into the elections, Democrats had a53-45 majority with two independents who caucused with Democrats. Democrats held 20 of the 33 seats up for election, and Republicans held 13. Republicans had a246-186 majority in the U.S. House with three vacancies.

In the Senate elections, Republicans won seven Democratic-held seats. In the House elections, Democrats won three Republican-held seats, and Republicans won 18 Democratic-held seats.

As a result of the elections, Republicans gained a54-44 majority with two independents in the Senate. Both independents caucused with the Democratic Party. Republicans maintained a majority in the U.S. House, winning247 districts to Democrats’188 districts.

Five incumbent senators—all Democrats—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 4, 2014. In the House, five incumbent representatives—one Democrat and four Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 4, 2014. Additionally, 14 incumbent representatives—12 Democrats and two Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns during the primary elections.

Special elections were also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the113th Congress.

2012

A total of 468 seats in the U.S. Congress (33Senate seats and all 435House seats) were up for regular election on Nov. 6, 2012. All six of the House’snon-voting members were also up for regular election.

Heading into the elections, Democrats had a51-47 majority with two independents who caucused with Democrats. Democrats held 21 of 33 seats up for election, Republicans held 10, and independents held two. Republicans had a232-199 majority in the U.S. House with four vacancies.

In the Senate elections, Democrats won two Republican-held seats, and an independent won a Republican-held seat. In the House elections, Democrats won 16 Republican-held seats, and Republicans won six Democratic-held seats.

As a result of the elections, Democrats maintained a53-45 majority with two independents in the Senate. Both independents caucused with the Democratic Party. Republicans maintained a majority in the U.S. House, winning234 districts to Democrats’201 districts.

Two incumbent senators—both Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 6, 2012. In the House, 27 incumbent representatives—10 Democrats and 17 Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns on Nov. 6, 2012. Additionally, 13 incumbent representatives—seven Democrats and six Republicans—lost their re-election campaigns during the primary elections.

Special elections were also held to fill vacancies that occurred in the112th Congress.

Congressional committees

U.S. House

U.S. Senate

Joint committees

Calendar days in session

The following table lists the number of days that the U.S. Congress was in session from 2001 to 2025.^[11][12]

The table gives the numbers in terms ofcalendar days rather thanlegislative days. A legislative day "begins after an adjournment and ends with an adjournment" and so can last longer than 24 hours.^[13]

See also

• United States Senate
• United States House of Representatives
• 119th Congress
• United States Congress elections, 2024
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2024
• United States Senate elections, 2024
• United States Congress elections, 2026
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2026
• United States Senate elections, 2026

External links

Suggest a link

• U.S. Senate website
• U.S. House of Representatives website
• Congressional archive of legislation

Footnotes