State Historical Society of Iowa

Aerial View of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., April 30, 2007

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Highsmith, Carol M., "Aerial View, United States Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.," 30 April 2007

Description

The United States Capitol, often called the Capitol building, is the home of the U.S. Congress and the seat of the legislative branch of the federal government. Congress has two parts: the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Each state has two senators and at least one representative. The more residents a state has, the more representatives it is allowed. There are 100 senators and 435 representatives. The laws Congress makes directly affect Americans.

Source Dependent Questions

  • Refer back to How Does a Bill Become a Law. Describe what happens at the U.S. Capitol.
  • Why would it be important for states with larger populations to have more representatives?
  • In what branch of government is the U.S. Congress? Why is this branch of government important?

Citation Information

Highsmith, Carol M., "Aerial View, United States Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.," 30 April 2007. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

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