CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, the legislative branch of the Federal Government, deriving its powers from the Constitution. It consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The powers of Congress are enumerated in Article 1, section 8, of the Constitu tion, and all powers not granted to Con gress, or prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people; but the power of Congress is absolute within the scope of its authority. The Senate is composed of two members from each State, regardless of size or popula tion; the members of the House are ap portioned on the basis of population. Thus, while in the House the influence of the people is felt directly, according to their numbers, the Senate provides the means of defending the smaller States from the possible encroachments of the larger; and to assure the safety of the smaller States, the Constitution, Article 5, provides that "no State without its consent shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate." Bills that have
passed both Houses are sent to the Presi dent, who may either sign or veto them, or do neither, in which case the bill be comes a law after 10 days unless Con gress has previously adjourned. The veto of the President is the only check upon the power of Congress to legislate within the scope of its authority. Legis lation exceeding the constitutional power of Congress will be declared unconstitu tional by the Supreme Court, if that body is appealed to by either party to any controversy arising in an attempt to enforce such laws. Each House is, by the Constitution, "the judge of the elec tions, returns and qualifications of its own members." In 1910 the 48 States were represented by 96 Senators and the ratio of Repre sentatives was fixed at 1 to every 212,407 population. The 17th Amendment to the Constitution provided for a direct vote for Senators by the people.