What senators do vs. what representatives do
The Senate and the House of Representatives share the legislative power of the federal government, but they are not mirror images of each other. The Constitution gave each chamber distinct powers and distinct characters — different in their makeup, their rules, and their responsibilities.
Powers unique to the Senate
The Senate holds three powers the House does not. First, it confirms presidential nominations — cabinet officers, federal judges, ambassadors, and the justices of the Supreme Court. The Senate's "advice and consent" has shaped the federal bench for two centuries. Second, it ratifies treaties with foreign nations, requiring a two-thirds majority. Third, it serves as the jury in impeachment trials. When the House impeaches a president or official, the Senate holds the trial and delivers the verdict.
Powers unique to the House
The House holds two distinct powers. All revenue bills — taxes, appropriations — must originate in the House. This was a deliberate inheritance from English parliamentary tradition: the power of the purse belongs to the chamber closest to the people. The House also holds the sole power of impeachment — the power to formally charge a federal official with "high crimes and misdemeanors." Impeachment by the House is accusation, not conviction. Conviction requires the Senate.
Different in temperament by design
The differences in power reflect differences in design. The House, with its two-year terms and population-based representation, is meant to be energetic and responsive. The Senate, with its six-year terms and equal state representation, is meant to be deliberative and stabilizing. Madison described the Senate as a "cooling saucer" into which the hot tea of House legislation could be poured. The two chambers were meant to balance each other — the people's energy tempered by institutional wisdom.