The United States House of Representatives: Timeline of Milestone Events
Since its creation in 1789, the U.S. House of Representatives has occupied a central place in American government. The Constitution delegates responsibilities to the House that make it a unique feature in the architecture of the federal government. These duties include the power to impeach federal officers, to select the President in the event of an indecisive Electoral College count, to conduct investigations, and to originate all revenue bills. In addition, the constitutional requirement that all Representatives must be elected every two years makes the House especially responsive to popular will. Many of its internal developments–the increase in its membership and relocation to new meeting places—have mirrored the growth of the nation. This interactive timeline features some of the significant institutional and legislative milestones important to both House practice and procedure, as well as U.S. history itself.
