Creator Bio
U.S. Congress
est. 1789
Established in 1789 by the U.S. Constitution, the Congress of the United States forms the legislative part of the tripartite federal government. It is bicameral, with the lower House of Representatives and the upper Senate. The former consists of 435 representatives elected for two-year terms by population-equal districts across each state (as well as six non-voting members), while the latter consists of one hundred members, two from each state, serving staggered six-year terms.
Content by U.S. Congress
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How the Fourteenth Amendment Redefined American Equality
One among the Reconstruction Amendments, the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed birthright citizenship, due process, and equal protection for all citizens.
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Jews and the Naturalization Act of 1790: Who Belonged?
The Naturalization Act of 1790 defined U.S. citizenship as “free white,” exposing tensions over identity and national belonging for early American Jews.
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The 1964 Civil Rights Act and Title VI’s Jewish Dilemma
Passed amid civil rights reforms, Title VI banned racial bias in federally funded institutions but excluded religion—leaving Jews in legal limbo.
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When Congress Debated Whether “Jew” Meant Faith or Race
Before Congress in 1909, Simon Wolf argued against labeling immigrants by religion or race, insisting that Jews be recognized simply by the nation from which they came.