Malcolm Rivera
The Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1788, established the framework for the federal government, dividing it into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch, also known as Congress, was set up by Article I of the Constitution, which outlines its powers and responsibilities. Congress consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives, with each state having two senators and the House of Representatives based on the population of each state. This structure was designed to balance the interests of both large and small states and is a key part of the system of checks and balances in the government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of branches | 3 (legislative, executive, and judicial) |
| Legislative Branch | Congress |
| Houses | 2 (the Senate and the House of Representatives) |
| Members of the House of Representatives | 435 |
| Non-voting members | 6 |
| Members of the Senate | 2 from each state |
| Age of the Representative | 25 years or above |
| Citizenship of the Representative | 7 years as a citizen of the United States |
| Age of the Senator | 30 years or above |
| Citizenship of the Senator | 9 years as a citizen of the United States |
| Meeting frequency | At least once a year |
| Meeting day | First Monday in December |
| Powers | Enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, investigative powers, impeach federal officials, approve treaties, and oversee the executive branch |
| Responsibilities | Raise and support armies, regulate commerce, pass laws, make an annual budget, levy taxes and tariffs, authorise borrowing, mandate spending, define and punish piracies and felonies, provide for calling forth the militia, exercise exclusive legislation |
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What You'll Learn
- The legislative branch is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives
- The Constitution grants Congress the authority to pass laws and declare war
- Congress can confirm or reject many presidential appointments
- The Constitution outlines the qualifications and terms of office for members of Congress
- The legislative branch is one of three branches of government, ensuring no individual or group has too much power
The legislative branch is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives
The legislative branch, also known as Congress, is established by Article I of the US Constitution. It consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. This bicameral structure was a compromise made by the Founding Fathers during the Constitutional Convention to balance the interests of both large and small states.
The Senate provides equal representation for each state, with each state having two senators, regardless of its population. On the other hand, the House of Representatives is based on the population of each state. The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population. There are also six non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other US territories.
The legislative branch has the power to make laws, declare war, regulate commerce, raise and support armies, impeach federal officials, approve treaties, and oversee the executive branch. It is responsible for enacting legislation and has substantial investigative powers. Additionally, it plays a key role in the system of checks and balances within the government, ensuring that no single branch becomes too powerful.
The Constitution outlines the qualifications and terms of office for members of Congress. Senators must be at least thirty years old, have been citizens of the United States for at least nine years, and be inhabitants of the state for which they are chosen. Representatives must be at least twenty-five years old, have been citizens for at least seven years, and be inhabitants of the state they represent. Senators serve six-year terms, while members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms.
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The Constitution grants Congress the authority to pass laws and declare war
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This separation of powers ensures that no individual or group has too much authority.
The Legislative Branch, established by Article I of the Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to pass laws and declare war, as well as the right to confirm or reject presidential appointments and substantial investigative powers.
Congress is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing ones. Executive Branch agencies can issue regulations, but these must be authorised by laws enacted by Congress. The President may veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress can override this veto with a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution specifically mentions the power of Congress to "declare war," giving the legislature the authority to initiate hostilities. This "'Declare War' Clause" is generally understood to grant Congress exclusive power over both formally and informally declaring war. This limits the President's ability to use military force without congressional approval, although the extent of this limitation remains contested.
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every two years by the people of the states. Representatives must be at least 25 years old and citizens of the United States for at least seven years. The Senate, on the other hand, has different requirements for its members, who must be at least 30 years old and citizens of the United States for at least nine years. The Vice President of the United States serves as President of the Senate but does not have a vote unless there is a tie.
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Congress can confirm or reject many presidential appointments
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This ensures that no individual or group will have too much power. The legislative branch is made up of Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
There are also many federal government positions that require Senate confirmation. A 2012 study estimated that approximately 1,200-1,400 positions fall into this category. Examples include members of the Railroad Retirement Board, Trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, and Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Other positions include assistant secretaries and directors of various departments and agencies.
While the Senate usually confirms the President's nominees, it is not obligated to do so. In the past 100 years, the Senate has rejected only three presidential nominees for the Supreme Court, but it has rejected or failed to act on numerous nominees for other positions. The President is not required to commission a confirmed appointee and has discretion in this regard.
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The Constitution outlines the qualifications and terms of office for members of Congress
The Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1788, established the framework for the federal government. It created three separate branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch, also known as Congress, is responsible for making laws.
The Senate ensures equal representation for states, with each state having two senators, regardless of its population. On the other hand, the House of Representatives is based on the population of each state. This structure was created to balance the interests of both large and small states.
To be eligible for a position in the Senate, an individual must be at least thirty years old, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and be an inhabitant of the state for which they are chosen. Senators serve six-year terms, with one-third of the seats being chosen every two years.
Representatives, on the other hand, must be at least twenty-five years old, have been citizens of the United States for seven years, and be inhabitants of the state in which they are chosen. They are chosen every two years by the people of the several states, with electors in each state having the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.
Both chambers of Congress have extensive investigative powers and can compel the production of evidence or testimony. The House of Representatives has a structured debate process, with limited speaking time and amendments. In contrast, the Senate has unlimited debate, allowing senators to speak to issues other than the bill under consideration, and any amendment can be introduced. Senators can use this to filibuster a bill, delaying a vote. However, a supermajority of 60 senators can break a filibuster and force a vote.
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The legislative branch is one of three branches of government, ensuring no individual or group has too much power
The legislative branch, also known as Congress, is one of three branches of government outlined in the US Constitution, ratified in 1788. The other two branches are the executive and judicial branches. The legislative branch is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which together form the US Congress.
The Constitution established the legislative branch in Article I, which enumerates the powers of Congress and the specific areas in which it may legislate. Congress is responsible for making laws and has the power to pass legislation, declare war, regulate commerce, and oversee the executive branch. It also has the power to impeach federal officials, approve treaties, and raise and support armies.
The structure of Congress, with its two houses, was designed to balance the interests of both large and small states. Each state has two senators, ensuring equal representation, while the number of representatives is based on the state's population. This structure is key to the system of checks and balances in the government, ensuring that no individual or group has too much power.
The legislative branch has significant powers ascribed by the Constitution. It is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing ones. While the President may veto bills passed by Congress, Congress can override this veto with a two-thirds majority in both houses. This power dynamic between the legislative and executive branches further reinforces the system of checks and balances.
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Frequently asked questions
The legislative branch, also known as Congress, is one of the three branches of the US federal government. It consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The legislative branch has the power to pass laws, declare war, regulate commerce, raise and support armies, impeach federal officials, approve treaties, and oversee the executive branch. It also has investigative powers and can confirm or reject presidential appointments.
The structure of Congress was designed to balance the interests of both large and small states. The Senate provides equal representation for each state, while the House of Representatives represents populations proportional to each state. Senators serve longer terms for stability, while members of the House serve shorter terms to be more responsive to the public's changing views.
