article

FILE-President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol March 7, 2024 in Washington, DC (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The race for control of Congress is unfolding with seats in the House and Senate likely to determine whether Republicans or Democrats have the majority in November.

A total of 468 congressional seats will be up for election on November 5, 2024.

Heading into this year’s elections, Republicans hold the majority in the House, while Democrats and independents united with Democrats hold the majority in the U.S. Senate.

What will happen if Republicans gain power in the House and Senate?

If Republicans take control of the House and Senate, party leaders would work to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — former President Donald Trump’s key law that he passed during his first term – before it expires at the end of 2025, according to the Hill, a political news site.

RELATED: Widespread problems with US postal system could disrupt voting, election officials warn

Republicans could also try to repeal or limit some or all of the clean energy incentives contained in the Inflation Reduction Act passed by President Joe Biden.

The party could push for funding for a new border security initiative that could include completing Trump’s iconic border wall and possibly defunding parts of the government.

What will happen if Democrats gain power in the House and Senate?

With control of the House and Senate, Democrats will work to restore legal protections for abortion access that were stripped away by the Supreme Court in 2022.

The party will work to bypass the Senate filibuster to pass voting rights legislation if it retains control of the Senate and wins back the House in November, Hill reported.

RELATED: Here’s when we’ll know election results in key states

Another priority for Democrats if they gain power in Congress is to limit the impact of the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. United States. FEC, which allowed corporations and outside groups to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections.

Democrats support the Disclose Act, which would require companies spending money on elections, including super PACs and advocacy groups classified under Section 501(c)4 of the tax code, to disclose donors who gave $10,000 or more during an election cycle, the Hill noted.

What happens if power remains divided?

If power remains split between Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate after the 2024 elections, it could become more complicated to get things done in Congress because some policy changes require congressional action in government.

Although the House and Senate are equal in their operation, only the House can propose laws related to taxes and revenue. And only the Senate can write laws relating to presidential appointments and treaties. According to USA.gov, the House processes legislation through a majority vote, while the Senate does so through deliberation and debate before voting.

A split in the House and Senate could also affect the ability to pass key legislation and would make it difficult for lawmakers from both parties to agree on tax measures.

Furthermore, if power remains divided in CongressThis will make it difficult for this year’s president-elect, whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, to advance their legislative agenda and appoint cabinet members and staff to key government positions.

What places are up for grabs?

In the House, 435 seats will be up for election. Ballotpedia noted that the chamber’s six non-voting members are also up for election.

According to Ballotpedia, 33 Senate seats are up for regular elections in 2024: 10 seats held by Republicans, 19 by Democrats and four by independents who team up with Democrats.

Two special elections are scheduled for November 5, 2024. Ballotpedia explains that a special election is being held to fill the final two years of the six-year term that Ben Sasse (right) was elected to in 2020.

The other special election is to fill the remainder of the six-year term Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) was elected to in 2018. Feinstein died on September 29, 2023. The Senate seat held by Feinstein is also up for election. on November 5, 2024.