Legislative Branch Standards SSCG 9 The student will
Legislative Branch
Standards: �SSCG 9: The student will explain the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate, with emphasis on terms of office, powers, organization, leadership, and representation of each house.
1. Congress �Every two years all of the members of the House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senators are elected. �This two year period between elections is called a “Congress. ”
2. Sessions �Two sessions per term/Congress �Begin in January �Joint Session: House of Representatives and the Senate meet together. �Special Session: The President may call a special joint session of Congress even if they have adjourned (ended) for the year.
3. Parties (Democrats and Republicans) �The political party that has the most members in each house is known as the majority party. �The political party that has fewer members is called the minority party.
4. Bicameral Two Houses Senate and the House of Representatives �Two house system allows each house to ‘check’ the actions of the other and helps prevent Congress from passing laws in a hurry.
5. House of Representatives Membership �The number of Representatives each state can elect is based on the size of that state’s population. �Each state has at least 1 Representative. � 435 total Representatives. �Every 10 years, after the census is taken, Congress determines how the seats in the House are to be apportioned, or distributed.
Tom Graves: Republican 14 th Congressional District in Georgia. tomgraves. house. gov
6. Requirements to be a Representative �Representatives must be: a) At least 25 years old b) A U. S. citizen for at least 7 years c) A legal resident of the state they represent � � Serve 2 terms Elections are held in November of each evennumbered year.
7. Leader Speaker of the House �Elected from the majority party. �Presiding officer of the house. �No representative may speak until called on, or recognized, by the Speaker. �Second in line of Presidential Succession.
John Boehner: (R) Ohio Speaker of the House
8. Special Powers of the House of Representatives Powers that only the House of Representatives has: a) Begin impeachment proceedings b) Initiate bills to raise money (appropriation bills) c) Select president when no candidate receives sufficient electoral votes
9. Senate Membership �Each state is represented equally. � 2 members per state. � 100 senators total. �Members are called senators.
Johnny Isakson (R) and David Purdue (R): Georgia Senators
10. Requirements to be a Senators must be: a) At least 30 years old. b) A U. S. Citizen for at least 9 years. c) A legal resident of the state they represent. � � Serve 6 year terms One third (1/3) of the Senate’s membership comes up for election every two years in November.
11. Leaders Vice President � According to the Constitution presides over the Senate. � Only votes to break a tie. President Pro Tempore � Fills in for the Vice President when necessary. Third in line of presidential succession. Customarily the most senior senator in the majority party
Joe Biden: (D) Vice President Orrin Hatch: (R)President Pro Tempore
12. Special Powers of the Senate Powers that only the Senate has: �Hold impeachment trials. �Select the vice president when no candidate has sufficient votes. �Approve treaties. �Approve high officials. (Cabinet Members, Supreme Court Justices, and Ambassadors).
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