Final answer:
The U.S. Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, each with different powers and term lengths. The Senate ratifies treaties and approves appointments with six-year terms, while the House initiates revenue bills and has impeachment authority with two-year terms. Both chambers must collaborate to enact laws, embodying a system of checks and balances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States Congress is a bicameral institution consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with distinct powers and characteristics for each chamber. The Senate is known for its unique powers such as the ability to ratify treaties and approve presidential appointments. These powers serve as a check against 'excessive democracy' and ensure a balance in the legislative process. With six-year terms, senators are somewhat insulated from immediate public opinion, allowing them to potentially take a longer view on issues.
The House of Representatives, on the other hand, is tasked with initiating all revenue bills and has the sole authority to impeach officials and, if necessary, choose the President in an Electoral College deadlock. House members serve two-year terms, making them more sensitive to the immediate needs and opinions of their constituents compared to the Senate. The procedural rules of the House are also more structured and influenced by customs and traditions that can sometimes waive strict rules to facilitate legislative action.
Both chambers must work together to enact laws, requiring approval from both houses for a bill to pass. The final approval of legislation, treaties, and appointments requires different processes in both chambers, illustrating the system of checks and balances as defined by the Constitution, influenced by the ideas of Baron Montesquieu.