The United States House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress. It is responsible for passing federal legislation and oversight of government agencies. As with any political body, there are numerous synonyms for the United States House of Representatives. Some of these include the House of Representatives, the House, the Lower House, and the People's House. The term "Lower House" refers to the fact that the House of Representatives is the lower of the two houses of Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. The terms "House" and "People's House" reflect the democratic nature of the institution, as members are elected by the people to represent their interests in Congress.