S Congress.

It is sometimes called the People's House.

That is because the U.

S Constitution sets few restrictions on who conserve there.

House members can be as young as 25 years old.

The oldest was 91.

They could be rich or poor and belong to any religion.

Most members were born in the United States, but more than 300 have been immigrants.

Elections for the House are held every two years, so lawmakers must stay in contact with voters.

Members of the House represent the people who live in part of their state, called a district.

When Congress first met in 17 89 the House had 65 representatives.

Today, it has 435 voting members.

The number rose because the population and size of the U.

S has sharply increased.

Members of Congress hold hearings, develop policies and vote on laws.

They investigate suspected wrongdoing by people in office and can bring charges against them.