Which house of Congress is directly elected by the people?

The House of Representatives is directly elected by the people, reflecting the foundational principle of popular sovereignty in the United States. This means that representatives in the House are chosen through elections held in their respective districts, allowing constituents to directly influence who represents them. The framers of the Constitution intended for this body to be closer to the electorate, as House members serve shorter terms of two years, which encourages them to remain accountable to the voters.

In contrast, senators were originally chosen by state legislatures until the 17th Amendment, ratified in 1913, established direct election of senators as well. While members of the Supreme Court are appointed rather than elected, the Executive Office, including the President, is chosen through an electoral process, but not directly by popular vote for each individual in the same way as House members. Thus, the House of Representatives is unique in being the legislative body initially designed to be most directly accountable to the public.