United States. Congress

The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Created under the Constitution in 1789, it writes federal laws, controls spending, and shares major constitutional powers such as declaring war and overseeing the executive branch.

Congress grew out of earlier national assemblies under the Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation, but the Constitution gave it a stronger and more clearly defined role. The Senate represents the states, while the House represents the people by population, creating the balance at the heart of the American system.

Over time, Congress has shaped nearly every part of national life through legislation, investigations, and public debate. It remains one of the country’s most important and contested institutions, where history, procedure, and politics meet every day.