DiscussionVested with the legislative power by the Constitution, only Congress has the power to initiate the creating and amending of statutory law. Madison’s prelude to the discussion on Congress was his essay laying out the theory of political competition among factions. Bicameralism, then, mixes two alternative forms of republican representation, channeling the political power of the citizenry through two different elected bodies. Requiring legislation to pass through two different bodies of representatives in Congress established a double majority requirement for enactment. Perspectives on the House and RepresentationIn the double majority formulation, passage of legislation by the Senate is understood as achieving consent of a majority of the States.

Source: CNN January 12, 2023 16:25 UTC