Joy English · Level B2 · Government and historyjoy-english.com

The US House of Representatives and its members

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Read an excerpt from a VOA Learning English report about who can serve in the US House of Representatives and why it was designed that way.

What Is the US House of Representatives?

The House of Representatives is called “the House” for short. And sometimes it is called “the People’s House.”

That term was chosen as a nickname because the men who wrote the U.S. Constitution in 1787 set few restrictions on who could serve there. They wanted the House to be as close as possible to everyday Americans.

One of the writers of the Constitution, James Madison, wrote about the House years later. He noted, “The door of this part of the federal government is open to merit of every description, whether native or adoptive, whether young or old, and without regard to poverty or wealth, or to any particular profession of religious faith.”

In other words, House members can be born in the United States or in any other country. They can be as young as 25 years old, or -- as some members have been -- into their 90s. They do not have to be rich. And they do not have to belong to any religion.

However, in reality, for many years only free white men were permitted to serve as lawmakers. Women and other groups had limited legal rights, to say the least. However, as laws changed over time, members of the House also changed.

The website of the U.S. House of Representatives notes, “The House’s first African-American member was elected in 1870. The first Hispanic member took office in 1877, the first woman member in 1917, the first Asian-American member in 1957, and the first African-American woman member in 1969.”

The country’s Constitution-writers also made the terms for House members short, compared to the president and senators – only two years. One reason is so House members would have to stay in close contact with the people who live in the area they represent. Otherwise, voters would soon have a chance to push them out of office.

Understand the text

Read the text. Choose the correct answer.

Why was the House given the nickname "the People's House"?
- a) Because it is the oldest building in Washington
- b) Because its creators wanted it to be close to everyday Americans
- c) Because every citizen is allowed to visit it
The writers of the Constitution set many restrictions on who could serve in the House.
- a) True
- b) False
According to Madison's words, the door of the House is open to people ...
- a) whatever their age, wealth or religion
- b) only if they were born in the United States
- c) only if they have a respected job
What is the youngest age at which a person can be a House member?
- a) 21
- b) 25
- c) 30
- d) 35
What was the situation in reality for many years?
- a) Anyone could serve in the House.
- b) Only free white men were permitted to serve.
- c) Most House members were born in other countries.
In which year did the first woman member join the House?
- a) 1870
- b) 1877
- c) 1917
- d) 1969
How long is a term for a member of the House?
- a) Two years
- b) Four years
- c) Six years
Why did the Constitution writers make House terms short?
- a) To save money
- b) So that more people could become senators
- c) So that members would stay in close contact with the people they represent

Words and meaning

Choose the best answer, or type a number from the text.

"That term was chosen as a nickname." A nickname is ...
- a) an official title
- b) an informal name
- c) a secret code
Madison wrote "whether native or adoptive". In this context, he means people who ...
- a) were born in the country or became citizens later
- b) are young or old
- c) are rich or poor
"Women and other groups had limited legal rights, to say the least." The writer uses this phrase to show that ...
- a) the situation was not very important
- b) the reality was even worse than these words suggest
- c) the writer is not sure of the facts
The first Asian-American member of the House took office in ___.
"Voters would soon have a chance to push them out of office." This means voters could ...
- a) help them get elected again
- b) send them to work abroad
- c) make them lose their position
In the last paragraph, "the terms for House members" means ...
- a) the periods of time they serve
- b) the words used to describe them
- c) the rules they must follow

Answer key

Understand the text

b) Because its creators wanted it to be close to everyday AmericansThe writers of the Constitution wanted the House to be as close as possible to everyday Americans.
b) FalseThe text says they set few restrictions on who could serve there.
a) whatever their age, wealth or religionMadison wrote that the House is open whether people are young or old, poor or rich, and without regard to religious faith.
b) 25The text says House members can be as young as 25 years old.
b) Only free white men were permitted to serve.In reality, for many years only free white men were permitted to serve as lawmakers.
c) 1917The House website says the first woman member came in 1917.
a) Two yearsThe terms for House members are short: only two years.
c) So that members would stay in close contact with the people they representOne reason is so House members would have to stay in close contact with the people in the area they represent.

Words and meaning

b) an informal nameA nickname is an informal name, like the People's House instead of the House of Representatives.
a) were born in the country or became citizens laterNative means born in the country. Adoptive here describes people who made the country their home later.
b) the reality was even worse than these words suggestTo say the least means that the true situation was more serious than the words describe.
1957The House website lists the first Asian-American member in 1957.
c) make them lose their positionIf voters push someone out of office, that person loses the next election and their position.
a) the periods of time they serveHere, a term is a fixed period in an official position. Earlier in the text, term means a word or expression.