United States Congress

The United States Congress, or simply Congress, is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the United States House of Representatives, and an upper body, the United States Senate. It meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives are chosen through direct election, though vacancies in the Senate may be filled by a governor's appointment. Congress has 535 voting members: 100 senators and 435 representatives. The U.S. vice president, as President of the Senate, has a vote in the Senate only when casting a tie-breaking vote. The House of Representatives has six non-voting members.

Some of the key events about United States Congress

1789
Established the federal government structure and passed the Bill of Rights
1798
Passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, restricting free speech and press freedoms
1820
Enacted the Missouri Compromise, perpetuating slavery in new states
1830
Passed the Indian Removal Act, forcibly relocating Native American tribes
1850
Enacted the Fugitive Slave Act, requiring the return of escaped slaves to their owners
1862
Passed the Homestead Act, providing free land to settlers in the American West
1865
Ratified the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in the United States
1917
Passed the Espionage Act, limiting free speech during wartime
1920
Ratified the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote
1935
Passed the Social Security Act, creating a system of old-age pensions
1942
Authorized the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II
1950
Passed the McCarran Internal Security Act, requiring communist organizations to register with the government
1964
Passed the Civil Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
1964
Passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War
1965
Enacted Medicare and Medicaid, providing health coverage for elderly and low-income Americans
1969
Passed legislation to fund the Apollo program, leading to the first moon landing
1990
Passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities
1996
Enacted the Defense of Marriage Act, defining marriage as between one man and one woman
2001
Passed the USA PATRIOT Act, expanding government surveillance powers
2010
Passed the Affordable Care Act, expanding access to health insurance for millions of Americans

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.