The Powers of Congress and the Differences between the House and the Senate

Congress is considered the legislative arm of the government. Its primary function is to create laws. It comprises of two houses, the House of Representative (lower) and the Senate (upper). This means that the power of Congress is both evolutionary and constitutional. Other functions of Congress include powers over matters involving budget and finances through the authority to offer common defense and overall welfare of America, to pay debts, and to lay and collect excises, imposts, duties, and taxes. Additionally, Congress has the power to form the federal courts and its jurisdiction, create rules of naturalization and immigration, raise a navy and army, and declare war (Devins, 2018). 

The difference between the Senate and House of Representatives include the following: 435 members make the House of Representatives while 100 members make the Senate. The House of Representatives serves for two years while the Senate serve for six-year terms. While there are two Senators in each State, the population determines the total of the members of the House of Representatives in each state. The Senate has two power that the House of Representatives lack. These include, it can approve and make treaties and can endorse or revoke the presidential appointments of the Supreme Court judges and ambassadors. On the other hand, the House of Representatives can only impeach a government official, who in turn can be convicted by the Senate. The overall perception is that the Senate is more powerful compared to the House of Representatives. To enter Congress for Representatives, one must have the following qualifications. The individual must be an American citizen with the duration of citizenship being 7 years, the age of the individual must be 25 years and above, the individual must be a state resident of the place he/she was elected. On the other hand, the qualifications for a Senate to enter the Congress includes the individual must be a state resident of the place he/she was elected, the individual must be an American citizen with the duration of citizenship being 9 years, and the age of the individual must be 30 years and above (Devins, 2018). 

Reference 

Devins, N. (2018). Congress, the Courts, and Party Polarization: Why Congress Rarely Checks the President and Why the Courts Should Not Take Congress's Place.  Chap. L. Rev. ,  21 , 55.