Changes

Every two years, as required by the U.S. Constitution, the entire House of Representatives is elected and one-third of the U.S. Senate is also elected.  The first week in the subsequent January after the November elections, the new (and returning) politicians are sworn into office, and a new "session" of Congress begins.  There is a 1st and 2nd session of Congress, for the first and second years of its two-year term.

Every two years, as required by the U.S. Constitution, the entire House of Representatives is elected and one-third of the U.S. Senate is also elected.  The first week in the subsequent January after the November elections, the new (and returning) politicians are sworn into office, and a new "session" of Congress begins.  There is a 1st and 2nd session of Congress, for the first and second years of its two-year term.

The 1st session of the 1st Congress was in 1789, after the elections of 1788.  The 2nd session of the 1st Congress was in 1790.  There were congressional elections in 1790 (but not a presidential election, because that did not happen until 1792).  Beginning in 1792 was the 2nd Congress, beginning in 1794 was the 3rd Congress, and beginning in 2013 is the 113th Congress.<ref>2013 minus 1789 equals 224, which divided by 2 is 112.  Hence there have been 112 Congresses in the history of the United States, and this is the beginning of the 113th Congress in 2013.</ref>  The last bill passed by the 112th Congress was the fiscal cliff legislation it passed in an extraordinary vote on New Year's Day.

The 1st session of the 1st Congress was in 1789, after the elections of 1788.  The 2nd session of the 1st Congress was in 1790.  There were congressional elections in 1790 (but not a presidential election, because that did not happen again until 1792).  Beginning in 1792 was the 2nd Congress, beginning in 1794 was the 3rd Congress, and beginning in 2013 is the 113th Congress.<ref>2013 minus 1789 equals 224, which divided by 2 is 112.  Hence there have been 112 Congresses in the history of the United States, and this is the beginning of the 113th Congress in 2013.</ref>  The last bill passed by the 112th Congress was the fiscal cliff legislation approved during its "lame duck" proceeding on New Year's Day.  It was "lame duck" because many who voted on the bill had already been defeated in the November elections.

No legislative sponsored or introduced in a prior Congress carries over to a new Congress.  Each new Congress starts with a blank slate.  But this 113th Congress has bigger challenges than most: the United States is 16 trillion in debt, and the "debt ceiling" (the maximum amount allowed by law for the United States to borrow) must be raised to an even higher level for the government to continue to operate as it has been.

No legislation sponsored, introduced or even passed by one chamber of Congress carries over to the next Congress.  Each new Congress starts with a blank slate.  But this 113th Congress has bigger challenges than most: the United States is 16 trillion in debt, and the "debt ceiling" (the maximum amount allowed by law for the United States to borrow) must soon be raised to an even higher level for the government to continue to operate as it has been.

Each new Congress makes new committee assignments.  As mentioned above, the most powerful committee in the House of Representatives is considered to be the "Ways and Means Committee," because it makes decisions about spending trillions of dollars.  The most powerful committee in the U.S. Senate is the Judiciary Committee, because it votes on whether to confirm judicial nominees to the federal courts (including the U.S. Supreme Court).  The entire Senate votes on the president's nominations to the federal courts, but it can only vote on those who are approved first by the Judicial Committee.  If the Judiciary Committee rejects a nomination (or delays it), then the U.S. Senate never votes.

Each new Congress makes new committee assignments.  As mentioned above, the most powerful committee in the House of Representatives is considered to be the "Ways and Means Committee," because it makes decisions about spending trillions of dollars.  The most powerful committee in the U.S. Senate is the Judiciary Committee, because it votes on whether to confirm judicial nominees to the federal courts (including the U.S. Supreme Court).  The entire Senate votes on the president's nominations to the federal courts, but it can only vote on those who are approved first by the Judicial Committee.  If the Judiciary Committee rejects a nomination (or delays it), then the full U.S. Senate never votes on the nomination.

It is almost impossible for one member of the House of Representatives, which has a total of 435 congressmen, to be able to block a vote.  But in the U.S. Senate, which has only 100 members, substantial power is given to each individual senator.  "Senatorial prerogative" gives an individual senator the power to block the confirmation of a judicial nominee to a federal court in his State.  An individual senator can also place a hold (block) nominations by the president to other positions.

It is almost impossible for one member of the House of Representatives, which has a total of 435 congressmen, to be able to block a vote.  But in the U.S. Senate, which has only 100 members, substantial power is given to each individual senator.  "Senatorial prerogative" gives an individual senator the power to block the confirmation of a judicial nominee to a federal court in his State.  An individual senator can also place a hold (block) nominations by the president to other positions.