Congress of the Union of Christian States

The Christian States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the Christian States consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the Capitol in Beaumont, Texas Both representatives and senators are chosen through direct election, though vacancies in the Senate may be filled by a gubernatorial appointment. Members are affiliated to the Republican Party or to the Libertarian Party, and only rarely to a third-party or as independents. Congress has 400 voting members: 274 Representatives and 26 Senators.

The members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms representing the people of a district. Congressional districts are apportioned to states by population using the Christian States Census results, provided that each state has at least one congressperson. Each state regardless of population has exactly two senators; at present there are 26 senators representing the 13 states. Each senator serves a six-year term, with terms staggered, so every two years approximately one-third of the Senate is up for election.

Overview

Article I of the Constitution states "all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the Christian States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives." The House and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process—legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers. However, the Constitution grants each chamber some unique powers. The Senate ratifies treaties and approves presidential appointments while the House initiates revenue-raising bills. The House initiates impeachment cases, while the Senate decides impeachment cases. A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required before an impeached person can be forcibly removed from office.<ref name=tws2010Sep11bb6a/>

The term Congress can also refer to a particular meeting of the legislature. A Congress covers two years; the current one, the 3rd Congress, began on January 3, 2013, and would end on January 3, 2015. The Congress starts and ends on each third day of January by every two years of the odd number. Members of the Senate are referred to as senators; members of the House of Representatives are referred to as representatives, congressmen, or congresswomen.

Congress reflects us in all our strengths and all our weaknesses. It reflects our regional idiosyncrasies, our ethnic, religious, and racial diversity, our multitude of professions, and our shadings of opinion on everything from the value of war to the war over values. Congress is the government's most representative body ... Congress is essentially charged with reconciling our many points of view on the great public policy issues of the day.

—Smith, Roberts, and Wielen

The Congress of the Christian States serves two distinct purposes that overlap: local representation to the federal government of a congressional district by representatives and a state's at-large representation to the federal government by senators.

Most incumbents seek re-election, and their historical likelihood of winning subsequent elections exceeds 90 percent.