Congress is the part of the U.S. government that writes the nation’s laws, controls federal spending, and watches over the president and federal agencies to keep their power in check.

Quick Scoop: What Congress Actually Does

  • Makes federal laws that apply across the United States.
  • Controls the federal budget: taxes, spending, and borrowing.
  • Approves or rejects presidential appointments (like judges and top officials) and many treaties (Senate role).
  • Oversees the executive branch with hearings and investigations.
  • Can declare war and is deeply involved in national defense policy.
  • Represents the people (House) and the states (Senate) in national decision‑making.

Congress in One Picture

Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government, created by Article I of the Constitution. It is bicameral , meaning it has two separate chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

  • House of Representatives : Based on population, meant to be closer to everyday public opinion, with shorter terms.
  • Senate : Two senators per state, meant to be more stable and deliberative, with longer terms.

Together they turn ideas into binding national rules, or they block those ideas from becoming law.

The Core Job: Making Laws

Most people’s first answer to “what does Congress do?” is “they pass laws” — and that’s right, but there’s a whole process behind it.

Basic lawmaking steps:

  1. A member introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
  1. Committees review it : specialized groups hold hearings, debate details, and often rewrite the bill.
  1. Floor debate and vote : the full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes.
  1. Both chambers must agree : if the House and Senate pass different versions, they negotiate a compromise, often in a conference committee.
  1. President’s desk : the bill goes to the president, who can sign it into law or veto it.
  1. Veto override : Congress can override a veto with a two‑thirds vote in both chambers.

Everyday example: rules on health insurance, student loans, gun regulation, and internet privacy all trace back to federal statutes passed by Congress.

Other Big Powers: Money, War, and Oversight

Power of the purse

Congress controls federal money, which gives it huge influence over what the government actually does.

  • Sets the annual budget for federal agencies and programs.
  • Levy taxes and tariffs to fund the government.
  • Authorizes borrowing when spending exceeds revenue.
  • Uses targeted spending (sometimes called earmarks) to direct money to specific projects.

No money can be spent by the federal government unless Congress has authorized it in law.

War and national security

Even though the president is commander in chief, only Congress can formally declare war. Congress also:

  • Authorizes and funds the military.
  • Sets rules for the armed forces and national defense policy.

Oversight and investigations

Congress also acts like a watchdog over the other branches.

  • Holds hearings where agency officials and outside experts testify.
  • Runs investigations into waste, fraud, or abuse, often via special committees.
  • Can issue subpoenas , demand documents, and call witnesses under oath.

If someone knowingly interferes with these investigations, they can be held in contempt of Congress.

Constitutional and “Extra” Roles

Beyond everyday legislation, Congress has several special constitutional powers.

  • Amend the Constitution : Proposes amendments with a two‑thirds vote in both chambers; amendments then go to the states for ratification.
  • Appointments and treaties (Senate) : Confirms federal judges, cabinet secretaries, and other top officials; approves or rejects many international treaties.
  • Impeachment :
    • House votes on articles of impeachment (formal charges).
* Senate holds a trial and votes on removal from office.
  • Admitting new states and managing some issues between states.

It also has specific powers like coining money, regulating interstate and foreign commerce, and setting national standards such as weights and measures.

What Congress Members Do All Day

A lot of the real work happens long before any public floor vote.

Typical activities for members and their staff:

  • Drafting bills and amendments based on party priorities, constituent requests, and interest‑group input.
  • Committee work : attending hearings, questioning witnesses, and negotiating bill language.
  • Meeting with constituents from their district or state, hearing concerns, and helping with federal‑agency problems.
  • Staying informed : briefings on national security, the economy, health care, and more.
  • Communication and politics : giving speeches, doing media interviews, managing social media, and planning reelection campaigns.

A staffer’s life involves writing speeches, drafting legislation, preparing questions for hearings, and fielding a steady stream of emails and meetings.

House vs. Senate at a Glance

Here’s a clear side‑by‑side view.

[5][9][1] [9][1][5] [3][1] [1][5] [5][9][1] [7][9][5] [10][1][5] [10][9][5]
Feature House of Representatives Senate
Representation By population; larger states get more seats.Equal representation; 2 senators per state.
General role Closer to public opinion, faster‑moving.More deliberative, longer‑term perspective.
Key powers Initiates revenue (tax) bills, can impeach federal officials.Confirms appointments, ratifies treaties, holds impeachment trials.
Structure Larger membership, stricter debate rules, stronger leadership control.Smaller body, more individual freedom to debate and delay.

Why It Matters Right Now

Even today, almost every major national issue—budget fights, health care changes, immigration policy, tech regulation, and foreign aid—runs through Congress. When you see headlines about government shutdowns, debt‑ceiling standoffs, or big reform bills, you’re watching Congress exercise its power of the purse and its lawmaking authority in real time.

In plain terms: if the federal government is doing something (or refusing to), there is almost always a story in Congress behind it.

TL;DR: Congress writes the laws, funds the government, approves top officials, can declare war, and keeps the president and federal agencies under scrutiny, all while representing the people and the states in Washington.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.