Which term describes the House of Representatives?

The House of Representatives is correctly referred to as the "lower house" of the United States Congress. This designation comes from the bicameral structure of Congress, which consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House is termed the lower house primarily due to its larger membership and shorter term lengths for its members compared to the Senate. Members of the House serve two-year terms and are directly elected by the people, emphasizing its role as the chamber more closely aligned with public opinion.

In contrast, the Senate, which is the upper house, has a smaller number of members (two from each state, totaling 100) and longer six-year terms, which affords Senators a greater degree of stability and independence. Other terms such as "executive branch" and "judicial branch" refer to different branches of government altogether, which do not apply to the legislative functions of the House. Thus, referring to the House of Representatives as the lower house accurately reflects its position and role within the legislative branch of the United States government.