Final answer:
The two houses of Congress are the House of Representatives and the Senate, both serving as part of the United States bicameral legislature, to ensure representation of both the public and the states in the federal government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two houses of Congress are the House of Representatives and the Senate. The United States Congress is a bicameral legislature, which means it has two separate chambers or houses. The House of Representatives is designed to represent the people directly, with the number of representatives for each state being apportioned by population. Meanwhile, the Senate serves to represent each state’s interests equally, with two senators from each state irrespective of its size or population.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the House of Representatives is intended to be closer to the citizens, with members elected every two years. Conversely, senators serve longer terms, originally intended to be selected by state legislatures, though this has since changed to direct election by the voters, and they serve six-year terms. Overall, this bicameral structure ensures both the population and the states have representation within the legislative process.