Chapter 25 – Serving in Congress & the Ohio General Assembly
25.1 The Difference Between Congress & the Ohio General Assembly
Congress and the Ohio General Assembly are both legislative bodies, but they operate at different levels of government with distinct responsibilities and locations.
Congress is the federal legislature of the United States, composed of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is based in Washington, D.C., where its members work in the U.S. Capitol Building to create laws that apply to the entire nation.
On the other hand, the Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of Ohio. It also consists of two chambers: the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives. The General Assembly is based in Columbus, Ohio, where its members work in the Ohio Statehouse to focus on state-specific issues, such as education policy, state taxes, and local infrastructure.
While Congress enacts laws that impact all 50 states, the Ohio General Assembly enacts laws that only affect the residents and affairs of Ohio.