Write an essay that: (1) Discusses the role of the legislative branch, in particular, Congress. (2) Describes our bicameral legislature, including the Great Compromise and how members of both chambers of Congress are allocated. (3) Compares and contrasts the powers and duties of the House of Representatives against those of the Senate. When comparing the two houses of Congress, be sure to reference Article I for specific examples of where these similarities and differences originate. Your essay is expected to be at least 4-5 paragraphs long.

(1) Discusses the role of the legislative branch, in particular, Congress.

Congress has the primary role of crafting legislation. That is to say, Congress is the branch of government that creates the law. Another important function of Congress is exercising political control over the executive branch. For example, Congress can impeach the president.

(2) Describes our bicameral legislature, including the Great Compromise and how members of both chambers of Congress are allocated.

The legislature of the U.S. is bicameral because it is composed of two chambers: the Senate, and the House of Representatives.

The Great Compromise was the combination of the New Jersey Proposal and the Virginia Proposal. In this compromise, 2 seats are allocated to each state for the Senate, benefiting the least populated states. And in the House, seats are allocated in proportion to population, benefiting the most populated states.

(3) Compares and contrasts the powers and duties of the House of Representatives against those of the Senate.

Senators have some exclusive powers: declaring war, approving supreme court justices, and consenting to international treaties.

Representatives also have exclusive powers, mainly those related with spending bills.