1. The House vs The Senate

2. “It is not enough that your legislature should be numerous; it should also be divided…One division should watch over and control the other, supply its wants, correct its blunders, and cross its designs, should they be criminal or eroneous.” Benjamin Franklin

3. House vs Senate House – 435 members; 2 year terms Senate – 100 members; 6 year terms Reason – House closer to people, Senate more deliberative

4. House vs Senate House – Low turnover Senate – Moderate turnover Reason – Incumbents win 90% of time in House; Senate races are state-wide and more competitive

5. House vs Senate House – Speaker bill referral hard to challenge Senate – referral decisions easily challenged Reason – House members limited by strict rules, members of Senate more independent operators

6. House vs Senate House – Scheduling/rules controlled by majority party Senate – Scheduling/rules agreed to by majority & minority leaders Reason – House – majority party tightly controls leadership; Senate – more cooperation btwn parties

7. House vs Senate House – Debate limited to 1 hour Senate – Unlimited debate Reason – Impractical to have unlimited debate in House with 435 members; With 100 members, the Senate has more time

8. House vs Senate House – Members policy specialists Senate – Members policy generalists Reason – House – in order to get reelected, members must be experts in policies that directly effect their districts; Senators represent diverse interests of the entire state

9. House vs Senate House – Emphasizes tax and revenue policy Senate – Emphasizes foreign policy Reason – All tax and revenue bills must originate in the House; Senate – “advice and consent” of ambassadors, ratify treaties

10. House vs Senate House – More formal and impersonal Senate – More informal and personal Reason – House bigger – needs strict rules to be efficient; Senate smaller – more collegial