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[[File:Obamcongress.jpg|thumb|400px|The Current United States Congress]]'''Congress (Congress of the United States)''' (a word derived from the Latin "congressum", from "congredior", meaning "to come together") is the term for the legislative body of the [[United States of America]], composed of the [[House of Representatives]] and [[United States Senate|Senate]]. Congress is currently controlled by the [[Democratic Party]], both in the House and the Senate. This may cause problems with its representative function, as the Democratic Party is 20% more liberal than the American electorate. (Polling information from Gallup.) The reelection rate for congressional incumbents is 93% despite persistently low approval ratings, typically near 20%.
==Powers==
The powers of Congress, called the [[Delegated Powers]] are detailed in [[United States Constitution:Article I|Article I]], section eight. Congress is vested with the power to impose and collect taxes, to borrow an coin money, and to regulate foreign and interstate trade. Congress is also responsible to create post offieces and federal courts, maintain the army and navy, and admit new states into the union. Additionally, Congress can propose amendments to the [[Constitution]]. The [[Necessary and Proper Clause]] grants Congress all other powers necessary to carry out its duties.<ref>U.S. Government and Politics</ref>
==Origin==
The Congress of the United States was created in the [[Unites States Constitution:Article I|first article]] of the [[Constitution]].<ref>http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlei.html#section1</ref> Most historians agree that the bicameral system within Congress is derived from the English Parliament.
==Houses==
Congress is divided into two houses, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] and the [[House of Representatives]]. The Senate gives equal weight for each state, with each state electing 2 senators who serve 6 year terms. The House is proportioned based upon population, with each House member serving a 2 year term. The House and Senate must agree for [[legislation]] to be enacted. The [[President]] can [[veto]] that legislation which can then be overridden by a 2/3rds majority of both Houses of Congress.
The basis of these two components come from [[James Madison]]'s [[Virginia Plan]] and [[William Patterson]]'s [[New Jersey Plan]]. During the [[Philadelphia Convention]] in 1787, Madison's [[Virginia]] Plan called for two houses both of which would be represent each state based on its population. Smaller states took issue with this, as the provision was highly favorable to Virginia. Thus, William Patterson proposed the [[New Jersey]] Plan - which called for one house that represented each stated with a single vote. Eventually the [[Connecticut]] delegates proposed the [[Connecticut Compromise]] - which called for two houses, the upper of which would represent each state equally, and the lower of which would represent each state according to population.<ref>Boyer, 187</ref>
==Prominent Congressman==
*[[Larry McDonald]], a passenger on [[Korean Airlines Flight 007]] shot down by the Soviets on Sept. 1, 1983, the only congressman reported killed by the Soviets during the [[Cold War]]
==Quotations==
{{cquote|There is no distinctly American criminal class, except Congress}}
--Mark Twain
==References==
Boyer, Paul, Clifford Clark, Jr., Nancy Woloch, Neal Salisbury, and Harvard Sitkoff. The Enduring Vision. 5th. New York: Charles Hartford,
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:United States of America]]
[[Category:United States Government]]
[[Category:United States Senate]]
[[Category:United States House of Representatives]]
[[category:DC]]