What is a House?
A house is a single-unit residential building that ranges in complexity from the rudimentary hut to a complex structure made of wood, masonry, or concrete, outfitted with plumbing and electrical systems. It is generally surrounded by land and may have a front or back yard. Houses may be joined together to form larger structures such as townhouses or row houses. A house can be occupied by one family or multiple families, or by a group of unrelated individuals in the case of rooming houses or apartment buildings.
A house can also refer to a political institution, such as the United States House of Representatives or the European Parliament. It can also be used as a metaphor for a particular situation: The project took off like a house on fire, or the party went off like a bag of hammers. It can also refer to a company or organization that publishes books, lends money, or designs clothes: The publisher has a good house in fiction, but its business is weakening; the bank has a strong balance sheet, but its loans are bad news for many people.
The house is the main building in which a person lives. It is often referred to colloquially as home. The term can also be applied to any place that a person considers to be his or her home, even if it is not a permanent dwelling. In this sense it can include apartments, tents, or cars. It can also refer to a particular room in which a person lives, such as an office or bedroom.
Historically, houses have been built of wood or brick. Brick was preferred because it is very durable and fire resistant. It is also relatively inexpensive compared to other materials. A brick house is typically laid in a “bonded” brick pattern, in which the bricks are set with mortar rather than being layed loose. This technique allows the mortar to hold the bricks in place without allowing them to shift or break apart.
In modern times, the house has become a symbol of wealth and status, as well as a refuge from the stresses of work and life in general. The trend toward bigger and more expensive houses has been fueled by the desire for a “dream” home that provides privacy from the public eye and space to entertain guests.
In the United States, the House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Congress and one of the two branches of the federal government. Members of the House are elected to 2-year terms, based on the results of the decennial census. The House is governed by majority rule, meaning that a bill can be passed with the support of a majority of members. The Speaker of the House and Majority and Minority Leaders are all elected from within the House. Other leadership positions include the Republican Conference and Democratic Caucus. In addition, the Speaker and majority and minority leaders select committee chairs.