U.S. Government Structure and Functions

The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, favored larger states by advocating for representation in the legislature based on population. It laid the foundation for the House of Representatives.

The New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson, countered the Virginia Plan, advocating for equal representation for all states. It laid the groundwork for the Senate.

The path a bill takes through a subcommittee involves three stages: hearings, markup, and report. Hearings gather information and witness testimony, markup revises the bill, and the report summarizes the committee's recommendations.

Congressional committee chairs are typically chosen based on factors such as seniority, party affiliation, and expertise in the relevant field. Longer-serving members with relevant experience are likely to be selected.

The House of Representatives currently has 435 members.

A monarchy, a form of government where a sovereign, typically a king or queen, holds the supreme power, is the oldest form of government still in use today.