The United States Congress was set up originally in 1787 when the Constitutional Convention adopted the United States Constitution.  The Congress consisted of 20 senators and 59 representatives.  They met in Federal Hall, in New York, to discuss business.  When it was set up, all legislative powers were given to Congress, a government body, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.  As of today, everything has worked liked the framers wanted it to.  They had wanted a legislative branch, with two bodies of equal power.  Everything has stayed the same, except for the number of senators and representatives, and a couple of changed amendments.  We have increased the number of senators to 100 (two from every state) and representatives to 435, but the jobs they do today are very similar to the ones they did in 1787.

        Today, Congress has the job of making the laws.  They pass laws that have to do with transportation safety, education, health, our basic needs, and our rights as a United States citizens.  Congress writes up the bills and then sends them on for other branches of government to decide upon.  Congress affects our daily lives by improving the quality of our life styles and improving and our nation to make it one.  What are the differences between the Senate and the House of Representatives?  They both are bodies of Congress, but they play different parts.

     The main job of the House of Representatives is in regard to taxes.  The main job of the Senate is foreign policy.  In the early 1900s, both the social and economical growth was helping the two bodies.  However, at one point in time, the two bodies were jealous of each other, but in the later 2oth century, they both regained their congressional power.  There are some differences in the duties that Congress members must fulfill, in today's time, and when Congress was first set up.  Jobs of Congress today include making laws, passing and approving treaties, and discussing and voting upon important topics of what is going on in our daily lives, and how they can improve it.  However, 200 years ago, their main duty was to meet and discuss laws that they could enforce since they were then a free nation.

        In Congress, there is a checks and balance system.  This provides certain federal branches with powers that they can use without abusing them, so they can accomplish what needs to be done.  It gives them power with letting them run the entire country.

        The Congress today still functions as the framers wanted it to, when it was set up in 1787.  Congress has the job of making laws, just like it did in the late 1700s.  Finally, the two bodies of Congress have different jobs, but they work together, to make our country whole!
 
 

Resources

http://congress.indiana.edu/

http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/legislative/mega.html

http://www.congresslink.org/congress.html

http://www.denver.k12.co.us/schools/middle/hamilton/constitution

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html