Final answer:
The House of Representatives, with more members serving shorter terms, represents the population and responds quickly to constituent needs, while the Senate, with fewer members serving longer terms, provides stability and deliberation, acting as a check on the House. The duality ensures a balance of power and thorough legislative consideration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States Congress consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The main difference between the House and Senate is the size and the term lengths of their members. The House has more members than the Senate (435 vs 100), with representatives serving two-year terms, while senators serve six-year terms. The House is designed to represent the population, with each state's representation based on its population size, which contributes to a rich diversity of perspectives and a highly responsive body to the immediate demands of its constituents.
On the other hand, the Senate, with its fewer members and longer terms, acts as a check to the more populous House, focusing on broader state interests and providing stability with deliberation over pressing issues. The importance of having two groups is to ensure a balance of power and a thorough consideration of legislation, reflecting both the immediate and long-term interests of the American public. Moreover, the Senate uniquely holds certain powers such as 'advice and consent' on treaties and presidential appointments, while the House has the exclusive authority to initiate spending bills and impeach officials.