For Kids

What is the U.S. Congress?

• Congress has two parts, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Members of the House are usually called Congresspersons or Representatives.
• Congress is responsible for making laws.
• There are 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and 100 members of the U.S. Senate, which makes 535 members of Congress total.
• States that have a small population, like Delaware, have only one member of Congress
• States with more people have more Congressmen and women. California has 55.
• Members of Congress are elected by the voters every two years.
• Members of Congress represent areas of the United States called "districts".  People who live in Congressional districts are called "constituents".

For more information about the U.S. House of Representatives, visit the Office of the Clerk's website.

What does Congressman Van Hollen do?

• Votes on laws.
• Works with his staff to come up with ideas for new laws.
• Attends Committee meetings that deal with the Budget and reducing the nation's debt & deficit.
• Attends meetings with constituents and groups that have ideas for new laws and changes to current laws.
• Helps constituents with issues they may have with federal agencies, like getting a passport to travel overseas or with receiving their mail.
• Visits schools, businesses and community organizations to learn about what they do and how he can help them.
• Holds town meetings so the people he represents can tell him what is important to them.
• Meets with people in his three district locations in Rockville, Mount Airy and Thurmont.