Who Represents You: National Level
What is Congress?
Congress is one of the three co-equal branches of government with the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war. Congress also confirms Presidential appointments. Congress is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is comprised of 100 Senators who are elected for six year terms. The House of Representatives has 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population as determined by the census). In order to pass legislation, the House and the Senate must both pass the same bill and may override a President's veto with at least a two-thirds majority.
US Senate
The U.S. Senate, composed of 100 Senators, has two representatives from each state. In addition to legislative powers, the Senate has the sole power to confirm Presidential appointments that require consent as well as to ratify treaties. To be elected, Senators must be 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and residents of the state they represent.
Edward Markey (D) — Markey served in the U.S. House from 1976 until 2013 and has served in the U.S. Senate since 2013, where he considers himself a leading progressive voice. He is an original co-sponsor of Sen. Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All bill and co-authored the Green New Deal resolution with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Markey believes Medicare for All and the Green New Deal should be the Senate’s top two priorities for the next six years.
Elizabeth Warren (D) — Warren has served in the U.S. Senate since 2013 after previously working as a Special Advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Warren is considered a leading progressive voice who fights for structural change, specifically relating to anti-trust action. Her plans include addressing the nation’s housing crisis by building more homes and cutting rents, as well as imposing an ultra-millionaire tax for those worth over $50 million.
US House of Representatives
The House of Representatives has 435 elected members in addition to five non-voting members that represent the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other territories in the U.S. Those elected to the House typically represent a specific district from their state. In addition to legislative power, other powers exclusive to the House include the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and settle an electoral college tie. Members of the House must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and a resident of the state they represent.
Ayanna Pressley (D) (7th Congressional District, Somerville) — Pressley was elected to this position in 2018, making her the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from Massachusetts. She is part of the ‘squad,’ an informal name for a group of four progressive women of color elected into the House in the 2018 midterm elections. Pressley’s focus has included developing a single-payer-style healthcare system, defunding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, supporting survivors of sexual assault and harassment, and reimagining the criminal legal system.
Katherine Clark (D) (5th Congressional District, Medford) — Clark was first elected to this position in a special election in December of 2013. In fall of 2018, she was elected to serve as the Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, making her the sixth highest ranking Democrat in the 116th Congress. Clark is driven by her commitment to helping children and families succeed and is a vocal advocate for ending wage discrimination, protecting women’s health care, and access to affordable high-quality child care.