For more than two centuries, the U.S. House of Representatives has carefully crafted rules and procedures to help it function as the legislative body that the Founders envisioned—“the People’s House.” Some practices are rooted in the U.S. Constitution; others are traditions adopted to meet the changing needs of the nation and the institution. Learn about the House’s role, powers, and development by exploring essays, Congress-by-Congress summaries, and profiles about the House’s unique culture.
Learn about the framers’ vision for the newly created governing body and subsequent major developments through essays exploring the institutional powers and duties of the House of Representatives.
Discover the unique makeup of each individual Congress through summaries and statistical information which provide the backdrop to historical events.
Search historic events, proceedings, and legislation on a particular date in House history. Browse the calendar or use a keyword search to find a specific topic or individual.
The U.S. House of Representatives has been a popularly-elected body with its membership reconstituted every two years throughout its history. Mid-Congress vacancies in the House are filled by special elections. This section provides data on historical election outcomes and vacancies.
The House of Representatives is the only body directly elected by the American people since its inception in 1789. Constitutionally, Members of the House stand for re-election every two years. This section provides data about a Member's service in the House.
Providing a list of significant institutional and legislative milestones important to House practice and procedure, as well as U.S. history itself.
The Constitution directs that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient” (Article II, Section 3). Explore the history of the Annual Message.
Article I, Section 2, of the Constitution provides each state at least one U.S. Representative, while the size of a state’s delegation to the House depends on its total population. Learn more about the apportionment of the House of Representatives.
Established in Article II, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College is the formal body which elects the President and Vice President of the United States. Learn about the procedure and a few historic facts about this process.
Since 1852, when Henry Clay became the first person to receive a funeral ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, the space has been used to pay tribute to the nation's most distinguished citizens. View a list of the most recent tributes.
Since 1789, Congress has been endowed with one of the government’s most important responsibilities: that of raising and spending public money. Learn more about how the People’s House has wielded what is often called the “power of the purse.”
The Marquis de Lafayette, the French general and Revolutionary War hero, delivered an address to the House of Representatives on December 10, 1824. Since 1824, more than 150 foreign leaders or dignitaries have addressed the House in the form of a Joint Session, Joint Meeting, or House Reception.
Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Each medal honors a particular individual, institution, or event. View a chart of those who have received this prestigious award.
Under the current House Rule IV, the House Chamber may only be used for legislative functions, conference meetings, and caucus meetings unless the House agrees to take part in a ceremony. Earlier in House history, however, the chamber also served as a place to memorialize Representatives who died in office.