Structure of Legislative Branch

• Congress• Bicameral- Has ____

legislative houses– House of

_____________- Each state has number of reps based on population (435)

– Senate- Each state has ______ senators(100)

two

Representatives

two

Legislative Branch Powers• Approve the _______• Declare ______• Make _______• Approve presidential

____________• Coin ________• Control _________• _______ armed forces• Levying _________

budget

war

laws

appointments

money

commerce

Maintain

taxes

House and Senate Comparison

*At least 25 years of age *U.S. citizen for at least 7 years*Live in the state they represent

435 2 years None

*At least 30 years of age*U.S. citizen for at least 9 years*Resident of the state they represent

100 6 years None

House

Senate

QualificationsNumber of Members Term Term Limits

Leaders of Congress

• House of Representatives– ________ of the House

• Selected from the Political Party that has the majority of members

• In charge of almost all the activities of the House

Speaker

Leaders of Congress

• Senate– Vice President

• Official ____________ of the Senate

– President Pro ________• Handles the day to day

leadership tasks • Usually the senior member

of the majority party

President

Tempore

U.S. Census• Every _____ years the

__________ of the U.S. is determined by census

• Allowed by the U.S. Constitution, Art. 1, Sec. 2

• The population numbers are used to determine the number of ______________ each state receives

ten

population

representatives

About 2010 CensusWhatCount

The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.

WhoEveryone

All residents of the United States must be counted. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and non-citizens.

WhenEvery 10 years

Every 10 years, and the next census occurs in 2010. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010. The questions ask you to provide information that is accurate for your

household as of April 1, 2010. The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit state population totals to the U.S. President by December 31,

2010.The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then.

WhereEverywhere in the U.S.

The census counts everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.

People should be counted where they live and sleep most of the year.Why

The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2) mandates a headcount of everyone residing in the United States. The population totals determine each state’s Congressional representation. The numbers also affect funding in your

community and help inform decision makers about how your community is changing. More info…How

The Census Bureau will mail or deliver questionnaires to your house in March 2010. We will mail a second form to households that do not respond to the initial questionnaire.

Households that still do not respond will be called or visited by a Census worker. (Census workers can be identified by a census badge and bag.)

Reapportionment• After each census the

distribution of representatives is ______________ based on the __________ in population in each state

• The total __________ of representatives remains the same (435)

• The number of representatives a state has is dependent on how its _________________ compares to the other states

recalculatedchange

number

population

The Legislative Process(How Bill becomes a law)

House of Representatives SenateBill is written Bill is written

Legislative Powers• __________Powers– Powers expressly

__________ in Art. I (collect taxes, maintain army, make money)

• ___________ Powers (Elastic Clause)– Powers _________ to

carry out expressed powers (i.e. Military Academies, Mints)

– Powers needed for the general __________ of the country (Environmental Laws)

Expressed

listed

Implied

necessary

welfare

Role of Interest Groups in the legislative process

• Representing __________ viewpoints

• Make political ________________

• Identify and publicize ____________

• ___________ government officials

• ___________ legislation– Laws to serve their interest

different

contributions

issues

Lobbying

Propose

Legislative Checks over other branches

• Ratify _________– Done by the Senate

• Approve __________– Done by the Senate

• Appropriate (pay) _____________– Must be introduced by

House• ___________ a veto• _________ a

President and federal judges

treaties

appointments

money

Override

Impeach

Limiting the power of the Legislative Branch (Checks and Balances)

• Executive (President)– Vetoes acts of Congress– Calls Congress into

special sessions

• Judicial (Supreme Court)– May declare laws

unconstitutional