Final answer:
The two groups that make up the U.S. Congress are the Senate and the House of Representatives, as established by Article I, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. Together they form the legislative branch, which is responsible for making laws. Each group plays a vital role in the lawmaking process, with the Senate providing equal state representation and the House reflecting the population size of each state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Two Groups that Make Up Congress
The legislative branch of the United States government is headed by Congress, which is a bicameral institution. This means it is comprised of two separate chambers. As stipulated in Article I, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, the two groups that make up Congress are the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each state is represented by two senators in the Senate, regardless of its population size, providing equal representation to each state. On the other hand, the House of Representatives is based on population, with more populous states having more representatives.
The main function of the legislative branch is to create laws, a power exclusively granted to Congress. For a bill—or proposed law—to become official, it must be approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Once both chambers pass a bill, it is sent to the President for approval or veto.