State legislatures and voter-approved ballot initiatives can redraw congressional district maps and thereby change the partisan allocation of U.S. House seats.
November 21, 2025
high
redistricting
Both legislative redistricting and ballot measures have been used to increase or decrease the number of seats favoring a particular party.
Censure motions in the U.S. House of Representatives can be referred to the House Ethics Committee, which can investigate alleged misconduct by members.
November 20, 2025
high
procedural
Describes a standing House procedure for handling censure proposals and allegations against members.
Censure has traditionally been the most severe formal rebuke that the U.S. House of Representatives can impose on a member short of expulsion.
November 20, 2025
high
temporal
Describes the relative severity of censure within House disciplinary measures
Under current House rules, a simple majority vote in the U.S. House of Representatives is sufficient to adopt a censure resolution against a member, and any member can force a censure resolution to a floor vote.
November 20, 2025
high
temporal
Procedural rule governing how censure resolutions are brought and adopted in the House
A two-thirds majority vote in the U.S. House of Representatives is required to expel a member of Congress.
November 20, 2025
high
temporal
Threshold for the House to remove a member from office
The U.S. House of Representatives requires a simple majority vote to censure a member, and any member can force a censure resolution to a floor vote.
November 20, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the voting threshold and initiation process for censure in the U.S. House.
The threshold to expel a member of the U.S. House of Representatives is a two-thirds majority vote.
November 20, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the voting requirement for expulsion of a House member.
Censure is a formal disciplinary rebuke in the U.S. House of Representatives that has historically been regarded as the most severe rebuke short of expulsion.
November 20, 2025
high
descriptive
Characterizes the formal role and historical status of censure as a House disciplinary measure.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, expulsion of a member requires a two-thirds vote while censure requires only a simple majority vote.
November 20, 2025
high
temporal
Describes the voting thresholds for two formal disciplinary actions available to the House.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, a privileged motion allows a member to bypass party leadership and force a floor vote on a matter.
November 19, 2025
high
procedural
Describes a standing floor procedure available to House members.
Censure is a formal disciplinary measure in the U.S. House of Representatives used to publicly rebuke a member for conduct deemed to reflect discredit upon the House.
November 19, 2025
high
descriptive
Censure serves as an official rebuke and is part of the House's disciplinary tools.
The United States Virgin Islands is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by a non-voting delegate.
November 19, 2025
high
temporal
Explains the type of congressional representation held by the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The U.S. House of Representatives can adopt resolutions to censure members and to remove members from committee assignments.
November 19, 2025
high
temporal
Describes formal disciplinary and committee-assignment powers available to the House.
The U.S. House of Representatives has formal disciplinary options for its members, including reprimand, to address member conduct.
November 19, 2025
high
institutional
Describes standing institutional mechanisms within the U.S. House for addressing member behavior.
The House Ethics Committee is an institutional body tasked with investigating and addressing ethical violations and misconduct by members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 19, 2025
high
institutional
Explains the role of the House Ethics Committee in congressional oversight of member behavior.
Political dynamics within party caucuses and among party leaders can influence whether the U.S. House takes up or adopts disciplinary measures against individual members.
November 19, 2025
high
political
General observation about how partisan and internal party considerations may affect congressional disciplinary decisions.
Under U.S. House of Representatives rules, a privileged resolution requires chamber leaders to schedule consideration and a chamber-wide vote within two legislative days.
November 19, 2025
high
procedural
Describes a standing procedural rule governing the timing for consideration of privileged resolutions in the U.S. House.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, members can use a discharge petition to force consideration of a bill on the floor if they gather signatures from a simple majority of members (218 signatures).
November 18, 2025
high
procedural
House rule allowing members to bypass regular leadership-controlled scheduling by collecting a majority of signatures.
The U.S. House of Representatives has 435 voting members, so a simple majority for most floor actions is 218 votes.
November 18, 2025
high
procedural
Basic composition and majority threshold of the U.S. House of Representatives.
A discharge petition is a procedural device in the U.S. House of Representatives that can be used to bring a bill to the floor for consideration if it secures signatures from a majority of House members (218 of 435).
November 18, 2025
high
procedural
Discharge petitions are a formal mechanism to bypass usual House leadership control over which bills reach the floor.
Under U.S. House of Representatives practice in 2025, any single House member can introduce a censure resolution against another member.
November 18, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the threshold for initiating a censure resolution in the House as of 2025.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, a discharge petition allows members to initiate a floor vote on a measure despite leadership opposition if the petition secures support from a majority of House members.
November 18, 2025
high
procedural
Defines the discharge petition process and its majority threshold in the House.
A discharge petition is a procedural mechanism in the U.S. House of Representatives that can be used to force a floor vote on a bill.
November 17, 2025
high
procedural
Describes a House rule used to bring a bill to the floor without leadership approval.
A majority in the 435-member U.S. House of Representatives is 218 votes, which is the threshold required for a successful discharge petition.
November 17, 2025
high
structural
Defines the numerical threshold for a majority and for successful use of a discharge petition in the current-size House.
A motion to table in the U.S. House of Representatives is used to dispose of or effectively quash a measure that has been brought to the floor.
November 17, 2025
high
procedural
Parliamentary procedure in the U.S. House.
The U.S. House of Representatives can vote to order the public release of unclassified government-held files.
November 16, 2025
high
temporal
Procedure available to the House for making unclassified executive-branch documents public.
Marjorie Taylor Greene is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Georgia.
November 15, 2025
high
descriptive
Current elected-office status of the named individual
Under U.S. House Rule IX, a 'privileged resolution' offered from the floor as a question of the privileges of the House by a member other than the majority or minority leader has immediate precedence and can force the full House to vote on the matter within two congressional work days.
November 13, 2025
high
temporal
Describes a procedural mechanism in the U.S. House of Representatives for forcing floor action.
Under U.S. House practice, a discharge petition typically must remain pending for seven legislative days before it becomes eligible for a floor vote, and once eligible House leadership must schedule a vote within two legislative days.
November 13, 2025
high
procedural
This waiting period is intended to give time for consideration and potential settlement before forcing floor action.
House members elected in special elections typically take the oath of office on days when the House is conducting legislative business.
November 12, 2025
high
procedural
Customarily, newly elected members are sworn in when the chamber is in session and handling legislative matters.
If a minority party in the U.S. House of Representatives has fewer than 218 members, the minority must obtain signatures from members of the other party to reach the 218-signature threshold required for a successful discharge petition.
November 12, 2025
high
procedural
Strategic implication of the House discharge petition rule when the minority does not control a majority of seats.
As of 2025-11-12, Mike Johnson is the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a Republican representing Louisiana.
November 12, 2025
high
descriptive
Identifies current officeholder and party/constituency.
For a bill to become law in the United States, both the House of Representatives and the Senate must pass the same legislation and the president must sign it (or a presidential veto must be overridden).
November 10, 2025
high
temporal
The bicameral approval and presidential signature are standard steps in the U.S. federal legislative process.
Incumbency provides an electoral advantage in U.S. House of Representatives races, making incumbent-held districts generally harder for challengers to flip.
November 10, 2025
high
general
Describes a durable electoral dynamic referenced in coverage of House races.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, invoking 'suspension of the rules' can bypass certain procedural steps but raises the required passage threshold to two-thirds of the chamber.
November 10, 2025
high
procedural
Describes a standard legislative procedure available in the U.S. House.
The House Rules Committee typically functions as a gatekeeper by considering legislation and setting terms for floor consideration before a chamber-wide vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 10, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the normal role of the House Rules Committee in the legislative process.
A proposed federal law must be passed by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and then be signed by the President to become law, unless Congress overrides a presidential veto.
November 10, 2025
high
temporal
The U.S. legislative process requires bicameral passage and executive approval or a veto override for a bill to become law.
Nancy Pelosi is the only woman to have served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 06, 2025
high
temporal
Historical leadership milestone in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) studies and produces analyses of the financial impact of legislation introduced in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 06, 2025
high
general
Institutional role of the CBO in the U.S. legislative process.
Campaign descriptions in 2025 characterized Proposition 50 as potentially resulting in as many as five additional Democratic-held seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Projected partisan impact attributed to Proposition 50 during the 2025 California ballot campaign.
Redistricting of congressional district boundaries can influence which political party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
General principle about the political effect of congressional redistricting referenced in coverage of the 2025 California ballot measure.
Special elections or ballot measures related to congressional redistricting can affect which political party gains control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Changes to district boundaries or the outcomes of redistricting-related contests can shift partisan balance in Congress.
Abigail Spanberger previously served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Biographical background on a political officeholder's prior legislative service.
Mikie Sherrill is a U.S. Navy veteran who served four terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing a northern New Jersey district.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Biographical background describing prior military service and congressional tenure.
As of October 29, 2025, Republicans hold nine of California's 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
Congressional partisan composition for California.
An amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires approval by a two-thirds vote of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and ratification by three-fourths of the U.S. states.
October 28, 2025
high
temporal
Outlines the formal congressional and state ratification requirements for constitutional amendments.
U.S. House committees, such as the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, can request information and briefings from private organizations and officials as part of congressional oversight investigations.
October 25, 2025
high
institutional
Describes the exercise of congressional oversight authority over private-sector actors.
Hakeem Jeffries is the House Minority Leader and serves as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York.
October 24, 2025
high
general
Describes an elected official's leadership role and party affiliation.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, the ability of a committee to issue subpoenas and compel testimony is generally governed by which party holds the House majority, and committee ranking members from the minority party generally cannot unilaterally compel testimony from private individuals.
October 23, 2025
high
temporal
Describes how subpoena authority in House committees depends on majority control and limits the minority party's ability to compel testimony.
State-controlled congressional redistricting can change the partisan composition of a state's U.S. House delegation by reshaping district boundaries.
October 22, 2025
high
structural
Redistricting determines how voters are grouped into congressional districts and can influence which party is advantaged in House elections.
Historically in U.S. midterm elections, the political party holding the presidency commonly loses seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 22, 2025
high
historical
Midterm losses by the president's party are a recurring pattern in U.S. electoral history and shape strategic calculations for both parties.
U.S. House of Representatives members who campaign for statewide office frequently miss chamber votes because they spend time in their state to campaign.
October 21, 2025
high
behavioral
Explains a common trade-off between congressional duties and statewide campaign activity.
Hakeem Jeffries is the House Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 21, 2025
high
temporal
Political leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Hakeem Jeffries was serving as the House Minority Leader as of October 21, 2025.
October 21, 2025
high
temporal
Leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mid-decade redistricting is the practice of redrawing congressional district boundaries between decennial censuses, and state legislatures can use it to alter the partisan composition of U.S. House seats.
October 21, 2025
high
process
Redistricting practice used outside the usual post-census cycle
The U.S. House of Representatives can hold pro forma sessions to technically maintain that the House is in session during periods when much of the federal government is otherwise closed, such as a government shutdown.
October 21, 2025
high
procedural
Pro forma sessions are brief meetings used to satisfy constitutional or procedural requirements while normal legislative business is paused.
Lawmakers have in some instances been sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives during pro forma sessions.
October 21, 2025
high
procedural
Swearing-in ceremonies or the administration of oaths have been performed during brief pro forma sessions in prior practice.
A Representative-elect must be sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives before performing the legislative functions or constituent services that accompany membership in Congress.
October 21, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the prerequisite that a Representative-elect take the oath of office to exercise member duties.
U.S. House Speakers have at times delayed administering the oath of office to Representatives-elect when the House is not in legislative session, creating intervals before those members are formally sworn in.
October 21, 2025
high
procedural
Describes a practiced precedent in House operations where the Speaker may postpone swearing-in until the chamber returns to session.
Special elections are used to fill vacant seats in the U.S. House of Representatives following the death or departure of a sitting member.
October 21, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the electoral mechanism for replacing a Representative who can no longer serve.
A person elected to the U.S. House of Representatives becomes a member only after taking the oath of office prescribed by law.
October 21, 2025
high
temporal
Constitutional/statutory requirement that members be sworn before performing duties of office.
Thomas Massie is a U.S. Representative from Kentucky who has served seven terms in the House of Representatives.
October 20, 2025
high
biographical
Incumbent congressional tenure.
The U.S. House of Representatives has the authority to expel a member through a formal vote, and such expulsions are rare and often described as historic when they occur.
October 19, 2025
high
temporal
Describes a congressional disciplinary power and the rarity of its use.
Hakeem Jeffries was serving as the U.S. House Minority Leader and is a member of the Democratic Party representing New York.
October 16, 2025
high
temporal
Congressional leadership and party affiliation
Hakeem Jeffries is the U.S. House Minority Leader and represents a congressional district that includes part of Brooklyn.
October 16, 2025
high
role
Describes Jeffries' congressional leadership position and the area he represents.
As of October 15, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives included 63 African-American, 51 Hispanic, and 21 Asian or Pacific-Islander representatives or delegates.
October 15, 2025
high
statistical
Contemporary composition of racial and ethnic representation in the House.
A 2025 report by Black Voters Matter Fund and Fair Fight Action estimated that overturning Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act could allow Republican-controlled states to redraw at least 19 additional U.S. House districts in ways that favor Republicans.
October 15, 2025
high
statistical
The estimate quantifies potential partisan seat changes tied to the removal of Section 2 redistricting requirements.
Mike Johnson is the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and is a Republican from Louisiana.
October 13, 2025
high
temporal
Biographical and office-holding information about a U.S. congressional leader.
Lawmakers who win special elections to the U.S. House of Representatives generally take the oath of office on days when the House is conducting legislative business.
October 10, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the customary timing for swearing in House members elected in special elections.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives who are sworn in after winning special elections are customarily welcomed with applause and often give a short speech while family and friends observe.
October 10, 2025
high
procedural
Describes customary elements of the House swearing-in ceremony for newly elected members.
The U.S. state of Utah is divided into four congressional districts for representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 08, 2025
high
baseline
Number of U.S. House districts apportioned to Utah
There is an established tradition and a formal process for administering the oath of office to members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 08, 2025
high
procedural
Refers to the procedural norms for swearing in elected members of the House.
The U.S. House of Representatives must be in session to swear in a newly elected member.
October 08, 2025
high
procedural
Swearing-in of members is a formal, in-session House procedure required for newly elected representatives to assume their duties.
Pro forma sessions of the U.S. House of Representatives are brief meetings during which no substantive legislative business is conducted and typically include only a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
October 08, 2025
high
procedural
Pro forma sessions are used to convene the House briefly without allowing for floor business such as votes or swearing-in ceremonies.
Federal government shutdowns can result in parts of Congress not being in regular session, which can limit congressional actions such as swearing in members and holding votes on appropriations.
October 08, 2025
high
procedural
When the federal government is shut down, congressional scheduling and the ability to conduct certain types of business can be constrained.
A congressional conference committee is the formal mechanism by which the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate reconcile differences between their versions of a bill.
October 08, 2025
high
procedural
Standard legislative process for resolving House-Senate disagreements on legislation.
An individual appropriations bill that has already been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives can be brought to the U.S. Senate floor for consideration.
October 08, 2025
high
procedural
Procedure for Senate consideration of House-passed appropriations measures.
A discharge petition in the U.S. House of Representatives requires 218 signatures to force a floor vote on a measure.
October 07, 2025
high
procedural
House procedural rule for bringing measures to the floor without leadership support.
The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives controls the House's schedule and can extend or call recesses.
October 07, 2025
high
procedural
The Speaker sets the legislative calendar and determines when the chamber is in or out of session.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives can be sworn into office while the House is in recess.
October 07, 2025
high
procedural
Swearing-in of newly elected or appointed representatives can occur even when the chamber is not holding legislative sessions.
Special elections are used to fill vacant U.S. House of Representatives seats when a member resigns or dies.
October 07, 2025
high
procedural
General rule governing how vacancies in the U.S. House are filled.
Daniel (Dan) Goldman is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York.
October 06, 2025
high
position
Elected federal legislative representation by state and party affiliation.
California is allocated 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
State-level allocation of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
As of 2025, the Democratic Party held 43 of California's 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Baseline partisan distribution of California's congressional delegation in 2025.
Redistricting outcomes can change the partisan balance of U.S. House seats and thereby influence which political party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Impact of redistricting on national partisan control of the House.
Mike Johnson was serving as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives as of 2025-10-05.
October 05, 2025
high
temporal
Presiding officer and administrative head of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The House Republican Study Committee had 189 members in 2025.
October 03, 2025
high
temporal
The Republican Study Committee is an ideological caucus of House Republicans; its membership count can change over time.
Historically, the political party that holds the U.S. presidency tends to lose seats in the U.S. House of Representatives during midterm elections.
September 11, 2025
high
temporal
This is a recurring electoral pattern observed across multiple U.S. midterm election cycles.
State legislatures controlled by a political party can redraw congressional district maps (redistricting) in ways that influence the partisan composition of U.S. House seats.
September 11, 2025
high
temporal
Redistricting by state legislatures is a durable political process used to alter district boundaries and can affect which party is favored in House districts.
As of November 6, 2024, North Carolina's U.S. House delegation consisted of 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats out of 14 seats.
November 06, 2024
high
temporal
Party composition of North Carolina's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Suburban areas surrounding New York City were cited as influential to Republican performance in U.S. House elections in 2022 and 2024.
November 05, 2024
medium
temporal
Observation about electoral geography and its impact on Republican House results in the 2022 and 2024 election cycles.
In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, 13 congressional districts voted for Donald Trump for president while electing a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 05, 2024
high
temporal
National-level split-ticket outcomes observed in the 2024 presidential and House elections.
State legislatures use redistricting to redraw congressional district boundaries with the intent of changing partisan representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 21, 2024
high
political_trend
Redistricting is a common tool used by state governments to influence the partisan composition of congressional delegations.
Any single member of the U.S. House of Representatives can introduce a censure resolution targeting another member.
June 04, 2024
high
procedural
Describes who is authorized to initiate a censure resolution under current House rules.
Under current U.S. House rules, a censure of a member is determined by a simple majority vote of the chamber.
June 04, 2024
high
procedural
Describes the existing voting threshold required to adopt a censure resolution in the House.
A bipartisan proposal discussed in 2024 would raise the threshold to censure a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from a simple majority to 60% of the chamber.
June 04, 2024
high
policy_proposal
Describes a specific rule-change proposal intended to make censure votes harder to carry.
Hakeem Jeffries has served as the top-ranking House Democrat since 2022.
January 01, 2022
high
temporal
Fact about House Democratic leadership tenure.
Marjorie Taylor Greene was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2020 election, representing Georgia's 14th congressional district.
November 03, 2020
high
temporal
Background on congressional service and district representation.
Mikie Sherrill was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 election, has served in the House since 2019, and was the first woman to represent New Jersey's 11th Congressional District.
January 03, 2019
high
temporal
Electoral history and historical representation of a congressional district.
Abigail Spanberger was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm election.
November 06, 2018
high
temporal
Spanberger began her congressional service following the 2018 midterm elections.
The 2018 U.S. midterm elections resulted in the Democratic Party flipping control of the U.S. House of Representatives and gaining 40 seats.
November 06, 2018
high
temporal
The 2018 midterm cycle is commonly described as a significant Democratic gain in the House.
Democratic candidates won control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections.
November 06, 2018
high
temporal
Outcome of the 2018 U.S. midterm elections.
Mikie Sherrill is a former U.S. Navy pilot and a former federal prosecutor and attorney who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018.
November 06, 2018
high
biographical
Biographical background for a U.S. political officeholder.
In the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, the Democratic Party gained 40 seats in the House of Representatives.
November 06, 2018
high
historical
Outcome of the 2018 United States midterm elections.
Jared Golden is a U.S. Marine veteran who served combat tours in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018.
January 01, 2018
high
biographical
Biographical and electoral background for a U.S. Representative.
Elise Stefanik was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 at age 30.
2014
high
temporal
Biographical electoral milestone for a U.S. member of Congress.
Eric Swalwell has been a U.S. Representative for California's 14th Congressional District since 2013.
January 03, 2013
high
temporal
Tenure in federal elected office
Eric Swalwell has represented California's 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013.
January 01, 2013
high
temporal
Biographical/office-holding information about a federal representative.
Most members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have an annual base salary of $174,000, a figure that was last changed in 2009.
January 01, 2009
high
temporal
Baseline congressional compensation for rank-and-file members
Nancy Pelosi served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023.
January 01, 2007
high
temporal
Recorded terms as Speaker of the U.S. House.
Nancy Pelosi was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
January 01, 2007
high
biographical
Historic first in U.S. congressional leadership.
Nancy Pelosi became the first woman elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007.
January 01, 2007
high
temporal
Historic milestone in U.S. congressional leadership.
North Carolina's 1st congressional district has elected African American representatives to the U.S. House continuously since 1992.
January 01, 1992
high
historical
Historical pattern of racial representation in that specific congressional district.
Nancy Pelosi was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1987 and represented a San Francisco-area congressional district.
January 01, 1987
high
temporal
Start of Pelosi's tenure as a member of Congress representing San Francisco-area constituents.
Dick Durbin served in the U.S. House of Representatives beginning in early 1983.
January 01, 1983
high
temporal
Tenure start year for Dick Durbin's service in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 1965, there were six African-American, four Hispanic, and two Asian or Pacific Islander members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
August 06, 1965
high
statistical
Baseline representation in the House around the time the Voting Rights Act was enacted.
Only seven bills originating via successful House discharge petitions have been enacted into law since 1935.
January 01, 1935
high
historical statistic
Historical count of successful discharge-petition-originated measures that became law since 1935.
State governments have the authority to redraw U.S. congressional district maps, and redrawn maps can change the partisan composition of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
structural
Redistricting determines district boundaries and can alter which party is favored in given districts.
Partisan control of state legislatures and governorships is commonly used as a mechanism to pursue redistricting strategies intended to increase a party's representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
process
Political parties in power at the state level can influence map-drawing to affect federal representation.
Wesley Hunt is one of the first Black Republicans to represent the state of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
biographical
Biographical detail about a U.S. politician relevant to representation and diversity in Congress.
Eugene (Yevgeny) Vindman is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia and is the twin brother of Alexander Vindman.
high
biographical
Describes familial relationship and elected office held.
Abigail Spanberger is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia.
high
biographical
Biographical background of a political candidate.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, a member-elect cannot perform official duties or represent their district in Congress until they have been officially sworn into office.
high
procedural
Describes the constitutional/House practice that members must take the oath before exercising congressional duties.
The U.S. House of Representatives holds pro-forma sessions during which procedural actions, such as administering the oath to a member-elect, can take place.
high
procedural
Pro-forma sessions are brief meetings of the House intended to fulfill constitutional or procedural requirements while the House is otherwise not conducting regular legislative business.
In U.S. federal practice, special elections are used to fill vacant U.S. House of Representatives seats when a sitting representative resigns or dies.
high
temporal
General procedural rule for filling vacancies in the U.S. House.
When the U.S. House of Representatives designates a 'district work period', members generally remain in their congressional districts and the House schedules no floor votes or committee hearings during that time.
high
temporal
Routine House scheduling practice that allocates time for constituent outreach and district activities.
Federal judges are legally authorized to administer the oath of office to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, providing a lawful alternative to the Speaker administering the oath.
high
legal
Used as an alternative mechanism for swearing in members of Congress.
A letter requesting documents is a voluntary, non‑binding request if the requestor lacks unilateral subpoena authority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
procedural
Describes the legal/oversight effect of lacking unilateral subpoena power in congressional inquiries.
Shutdowns are attributed to the year in which they started according to U.S. House of Representatives reporting conventions.
high
attribution
Conventional year attribution used in historical shutdown listings.
Historically, winners of U.S. House special elections are typically sworn in as members of the House within hours or days after their victory.
high
temporal
Describes the usual timing for seating representatives who win special elections to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The U.S. House of Representatives may conduct pro forma sessions every few days instead of holding full legislative sessions.
high
temporal
Pro forma sessions are short, formal meetings the House can use to satisfy constitutional or procedural requirements while not conducting regular legislative business.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. House of Representatives must periodically hold brief pro forma sessions every few days to maintain continuity of the chamber even when formal legislative business is not conducted.
high
procedural
Constitutional practice governing continuity of congressional operations.
The Origination Clause of the U.S. Constitution requires revenue-raising bills to originate in the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
legal
Constitutional rule governing where tax and revenue legislation must be introduced.
The party occupying the U.S. presidency commonly loses seats in the U.S. House of Representatives during midterm elections.
high
historical_pattern
Describes a recurring historical pattern in U.S. federal elections.
Mikie Sherrill is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and is affiliated with the Democratic Party.
high
biographical
Political affiliation and current federal office
Vacancies in the U.S. House of Representatives are filled through special elections called by state authorities.
high
process
General procedure for filling vacated U.S. House seats
The political party occupying the White House has historically tended to lose seats in the U.S. House of Representatives during midterm elections.
high
political-trend
This is a recurring historical trend in U.S. federal elections affecting the governing party's congressional representation.
The House Rules Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives advances legislation to the full House while setting terms for its consideration, including possible amendment votes and timing for debate.
high
procedural
Describes the procedural role of the House Rules Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, a 'rule vote' is a procedural test that, if passed, permits debate on the underlying legislation.
high
procedural
Definition of a parliamentary procedure used in the U.S. House
The House Rules Committee is a standing committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that reviews legislation and can advance bills to the full House for consideration.
high
procedural
Role and function of the House Rules Committee in the legislative process
The U.S. House of Representatives commonly organizes its Washington, D.C. legislative schedule around a four-day in-person workweek, uses committee hearings to advance legislation, and typically schedules many floor votes during daytime hours.
high
temporal
Congressional scheduling conventions include multi-day committee work and daytime floor votes, though exact patterns can vary by term and leadership decisions.
Under U.S. House rules, after a discharge petition obtains the required signatures a waiting period of seven legislative days begins before any member may move to bring the petitioned measure to the floor, and House leadership then has two legislative days to schedule a vote.
high
procedural
Timing rules that govern how and when a successful discharge petition can be moved and put to a vote.
A U.S. House of Representatives discharge petition requires 218 members' signatures to succeed and, if successful, can force a bill to the House floor over the objection of chamber leadership.
high
procedural
Describes a House mechanism for bypassing chamber leadership to bring legislation to a floor vote.
A rule vote in the U.S. House of Representatives is a procedural vote where lawmakers decide whether to allow a piece of legislation to be debated before a final vote on passage.
high
procedural
Explains a standard House legislative procedure that determines whether proposed legislation proceeds to full debate and final passage.
Rule votes in the U.S. House of Representatives generally fall along partisan lines and do not by themselves indicate whether a bill will be bipartisan.
high
observational
Describes typical voting behavior and the interpretive limits of rule votes.
Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez represents one of the most Republican-leaning congressional districts among Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
district_partisanship
Describes the partisan leaning of the congressional district held by Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez relative to other House Democrats.
Katherine Clark serves as the House Minority Whip and is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts.
high
political_role
Identifies the congressional leadership position held by Katherine Clark.
A privileged resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives is a procedural tool that can be used to force consideration of a motion to formally rebuke or censure a member.
high
procedural
House procedural mechanism referenced in the article as being used to scold a colleague.
Special elections can be held to fill vacancies in the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
procedural
Mechanism for replacing members who leave office before a term ends.
A U.S. House of Representatives discharge petition is a procedural mechanism that, when signed by a majority of House members (218 when the House has 435 members), allows members to bypass House leadership and force a floor vote.
high
procedural
Describes a durable legislative procedure in the U.S. House for forcing consideration of a bill over leadership objection.
The House Freedom Caucus is a conservative caucus within the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
temporal
Organizational description of a congressional caucus referenced in coverage of legislative and judicial matters.
State legislatures enact congressional district maps that establish the boundaries used to elect members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
temporal
Describes the legislative process that determines House district boundaries.
Members of the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence receive broader access to classified information than the average member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
high
institutional
Describes the relative security clearance and information access associated with House Intelligence Committee membership.
A privileged motion in the U.S. House of Representatives allows a member to call up certain measures directly for consideration on the floor and can be used to force a vote without approval from party leadership.
high
procedural
Describes a standing parliamentary mechanism used in the U.S. House to bring certain matters to immediate consideration.
Censure is a formal disciplinary resolution used by the U.S. House of Representatives to publicly condemn a member's conduct.
high
institutional
Censure is one of the non-criminal disciplinary actions the House can adopt against a member.
The U.S. House of Representatives can remove a member from a committee by adopting a resolution that directs the member's removal from that committee.
high
institutional
Committee assignments and removals are subject to House votes and resolutions.
The U.S. House of Representatives includes nonvoting delegates representing U.S. territories, for example the delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
high
structural
Representation of U.S. territories in the federal legislature.
The U.S. House of Representatives can consider resolutions to censure members, and those resolutions can include provisions to remove members from committee assignments.
medium
procedural
Forms of congressional disciplinary action and committee assignment authority.
U.S. territories such as the U.S. Virgin Islands are represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by non-voting delegates.
high
descriptive
Institutional arrangement for congressional representation of U.S. territories.
The U.S. House of Representatives can censure a member and remove that member from committee assignments through a floor vote.
high
procedural
Describes a durable House disciplinary power and its consequence.
Members of one party in the U.S. House have used or threatened censure and committee-removal measures as retaliatory tactics against disciplinary efforts by the opposing party.
medium
behavioral
Describes a recurring partisan tactic observed in congressional disciplinary disputes.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, a resolution introduced as privileged requires House leadership to schedule a floor vote within two legislative days.
high
procedural
Timing rule for privileged resolutions under House procedure.
House rules changes can only be adopted at the start of a new U.S. Congress, and suspending House rules during an ongoing Congress generally requires approval by a two-thirds majority vote.
high
procedural
Describes the timing and vote threshold for changing or suspending rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In a full 435-member U.S. House of Representatives, a majority requires 218 signatures to succeed on a discharge petition.
high
procedural
Numeric threshold for a majority in a full House.
Changes to House rules can only be adopted at the start of a new Congress, and suspending House rules during a Congress requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House.
high
procedural
Constraints on when and how the House may alter its rules or suspend them midterm.
Since 1935, seven discharge petitions have been successfully converted into law.
high
statistical
Historical count of discharge petitions that resulted in enacted laws since 1935.