Article I The Legislative Branch The Legislative Branch

Article I The Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch • JOB: to make the nation’s laws. • Works in the nation’s capitol building.

The Legislative Branch • Called the “Congress. ” • It is made up of two houses: The Senate (or Upper House) and the House of Representatives (or Lower House). • TERMS OF OFFICE 1) Senate = 6 -years 2) Representatives = 2 -years

The Legislative Branch • SENATORS 1) AGE: 30 2) CITIZENSHIP: must be a U. S. citizen for at least 9 -years. 3) RESIDENCY: must live in the state where elected. • REPRESENTATIVES 1) AGE: 25 2) CITIZENSHIP: must be a U. S. citizen for at least 7 -years. 3) RESIDENCY: must live in the district where elected.

The Legislative Branch • Membership in the House of Representatives is based on the population of the individual states. • Currently, there is a membership of 435 in the House of Representatives. • Membership in the Senate is based on equality among the states (2 for each state). • Since there are 50 states, the membership is 100.

The Legislative Branch

Senate Leader = Vice-president of the U. S. A. The second in charge is called the PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE President Pro Tempore Joe Biden Patrick Leahy

Representative Leader = Speaker of the House John Boehner

The Legislative Branch • Most legislators (Congressmen) belong to one of the two major political parties in the USA… • Democrats, or • Republicans • In the House of Representatives the party with the most members chooses a leader called the Speaker of the House.

The Legislative Branch • Every state has two senators. • The membership of the Senate is based on EQUALITY among the states. • Senators serve for six years. DICK DURBIN Is the Senior Senator from Illinois. Mark Kirk is the junior Senator from Illinois.

The Legislative Branch • Membership in the House of Representatives is based on the population of each state. • Representatives serve for 2 years. • States are given one representative for every 700, 000 people. • Illinois has 18 U. S. Representatives. • There are 435 Representatives in the U. S. House of Representatives. Representative Bill Foster District 11 Representative Dan Lipinski – District 3

Congressional Districts of Illinois Chicago Area

The Legislative Branch • An IMPEACHMENT is a formal accusation of criminal activity against an elected official. • Only the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES may begin an impeachment by accusing the official. • The SENATE serves as the jury during the trial. • The CHIEF JUSTICE of the U. S. Supreme Court serves as the Judge.

The Legislative Branch • BOTH HOUSES of CONGRESS MUST… …meet in the same city; …meet at the same time. • Neither house can stop meeting without the consent of the other House.

The Legislative Branch • An IDEA for a law is called a BILL. • Bills may begin in either House, but must be approved by BOTH Houses in order to become a Law.

The Legislative Branch • Bills – Anyone can propose an idea for a bill, but only a member of Congress can actually present it to be voted on.

The Legislative Branch • Bills that involve money MUST begin in the House of Representatives. • This is the only type of bill with a requirement.

The Legislative Branch • Members of Congress cannot be arrested … 1) …during meetings of Congress; or 2) …while going to or from meetings of Congress. • Members of Congress cannot be punished for anything said during one of their meetings.

The Legislative Branch • KINDS OF POWERS given by the U. S. Constitution: 1) ENUMERATED POWERS – listed in the Constitution as belonging to the Federal government. 2) RESERVED POWERS – those belonging to the states. 3) CONCURRENT POWERS – powers shared by the Federal and state governments.

The Legislative Branch Impeachments: • Trials to determine if people like the President or Supreme Court Justices are guilty and should be removed are impeachment trials. • The House votes on if there should be a trial. • The Senate hears evidence and decides guilt, acting as the Jury.

The Legislative Branch • ENUMERATED POWERS: belonging only to the Federal government. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Make money Declare war Provide a military Establish a post office ELASTIC CLAUSE: to make all laws necessary & proper to carry out its responsibilities.