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How are US House of Representatives and US Senate similar?

The United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate make up Congress, which is the lawmaking body of the United States. This is the first similarity—both Houses can pass legislation, although bills involving taxation begin in the House of Representatives. Both Houses use committees and committee chairs to expediently handle business. Both lawmaking bodies have bylaws. Senators and representatives are elected by the people they represent in their home districts, although the direct election of senators was not a reality until 1913. Both Representatives and Senators often use their positions as stepping stones to get to other coveted governmental posts, such as Cabinet positions, the presidency, or gubernatorial positions. The Senate and House are also the best way for a regular citizen to reach out and affect government—when someone wants to see a bill passed, that citizen should write his/ her congressperson.  

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