The Constitution divided the legislative Branch into two Houses to please the smaller states (that wanted equal representation in government) and larger states (that wanted representation in government according to population). The two Houses of Congress work together to create, review, and pass bills.



• House of Representatives​
• -Total Members: 435 (The larger the population, the more Representatives per state)
• -Terms: Two Years
• -Leaders: Speaker of the House (Currently Republican John Boehner)
• -Qualifications: Must be at least twenty-five years old, have been a citizen of the United States for the past 7 years, and (at the time of election) be an inhabitant of the state they represent. 
• Senate​
• -Total Members: 100 (2 Senators per state)
• -Terms: Six Years; 1/3 of the Senate elected every 2 years
• -Leaders: President of the Senate (U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden), Majority Leader (Democrat Harry Reid)
• -Qualifications: Must be 30 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for 9 years, and a resident of the state where they were elected.
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• Salary and Benefits
• -Salary: $174,000 annually
• -Benefits: Pay the same payroll taxes as all other workers for Medicare and Social Security,  pay all applicable state, local and federal taxes. Can participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and pay the same premiums/co-pays applicable to their plan as all other federal employees do. No "full salary" retirement, no matter their length of service. Congressional pensions are financed through a combination of employee and employer contributions
• Congressional Committees (The Check&Balance of the Branches)
• -Committees hold hearings to investigate problems/possible wrongdoings and to oversee the Executive Branch.