Understanding the Constitution (Sections 1-3)

Section 1: Congress is the part of the government that makes our country's laws. It's made up of two groups: the Senate and the House of Representatives. These groups work together to decide on new rules for our country.

Section 2: The House of Representatives is made up of people called representatives. They are chosen by people from different parts of the country, and they serve for two years. How many representatives each area gets depends on how many people live there. Every few years, we count how many people live in each area to decide how many representatives they should have. To be a representative, you need to be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and live in the state you want to represent.

Section 3: The Senate is the other part of Congress. Each state gets two senators, no matter how big or small the state is. Senators serve for six years. Every two years, about one-third of the senators are chosen again. To be a senator, you need to be at least 30 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and live in the state you represent.