What is a significant characteristic of the House of Representatives?

The significant characteristic of the House of Representatives is that representation is based on state population. This means that states with larger populations have more representatives than states with smaller populations. This structure is designed to ensure that the interests of more populous states are adequately represented in the legislative process. The number of representatives for each state is recalibrated every ten years following the census, which helps to reflect changes in population and maintain proportional representation.

In contrast, lifetime appointments are a feature of the Supreme Court, not the House. The House is considered the "lower house" of Congress, while the Senate is often referred to as the "upper house." Additionally, members of the House are not appointed by the president; instead, they are elected directly by the voters in their respective congressional districts. This democratic process emphasizes the representative nature of the House, contrasting with lifetime judicial appointments and executive appointments.