The legislative powers granted by the US Constitution are vested in the Congress. The Congress consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives is composed of members who are chosen every second year by the people of the several States. According to the US Constitution, no person shall be a member of the House of Representative who has not attained the age of twenty five years, and been at least seven years a citizen of the US. Further, the person shall not be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen as the representative.
The House of Representatives chooses their Speaker and other officers. It also enjoys power of Impeachment.
The Senate of the United States is composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature for six years; and each Senator has one vote.
In order to qualify as a Senator, a person must have attained the age of thirty years, and at least been nine years a citizen of the U S. Further, he too shall not be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen as the Senator.
The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate, but he has no voting rights unless the Senate is equally divided.
The Senate chooses other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he is entrusted with the office of the President of the United States.
The Senate has the power to try all Impeachments. In an event when the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice acts as the presiding officer. It is further provided that no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the Members present and voting.
