The Congress

435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 senators. Together, they make up the Congress of the United States -- the branch of the U.S. government that makes the country's laws. In this volume, young historians will read about how the Constitution gives different jobs to each chamber of Congress, the extent and limits of their powers, and the roles each performs in the making of federal laws. Readers will also learn about the important officials in Congress, the legislative process, and some important laws Congress has passed. Special sections explain concepts such as pork-barrel spending, lame-duck sessions, and filibusters. Detailed tables cover the floor leaders of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the distribution of political parties represented in Congress, and the Speakers of the House over the nation's history. Of particular interest is a discussion dealing with the way in which Congress checks and balances the power of the U.S. president.