When the 13 American colonies decided to form a proper constitution, the single largest question which confronted them was how their legislature would be organized.

This question was really the crux of the entire constitutional convention, and if it couldn’t be resolved, it was likely there would be no constitution.

Once it was resolved, Congress evolved with its own set of rules and traditions. Many of the key elements of the United States Congress are, in fact, not required by the constitution at all.