Omar Bennett
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. 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. Congress is responsible for making laws, declaring war, regulating commerce, and controlling taxing and spending policies. It also has the power to confirm or reject presidential appointments and possesses substantial investigative powers. Article I of the Constitution outlines the powers and limits of Congress, including the establishment of an annual budget, levying taxes, and enacting laws necessary for executing the powers given to the government under the Constitution. The legislative branch works in conjunction with the executive branch, headed by the President, who can veto legislation, and the judicial branch, which includes the Supreme Court, to maintain a system of checks and balances in the government.
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution establishes the legislative branch, Congress
The legislative branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. Representatives must be at least 25 years old and have been citizens of the United States for at least seven years. The Senate, on the other hand, has stricter requirements for its members. Senators must be at least 30 years old and have been citizens of the United States for at least nine years. The seats of Senators are vacated at different intervals, with one-third of the Senate being chosen every second year.
Congress is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing ones. It has the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, confirm or reject many presidential appointments, and exercise investigative powers. Congress also has the power to raise and support armies, define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union. Additionally, Congress is responsible for establishing the annual budget for the government, levying taxes and tariffs, and authorizing borrowing if necessary.
Congress serves as a check and balance on the executive branch, as it can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It also has the power to remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances.
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Congress is comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate
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 control. The legislative branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, together known as Congress.
Congress is granted the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, as well as the right to confirm or reject many presidential appointments. It also has substantial investigative powers. The House of Representatives is composed 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, Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. Representatives are chosen every second year by the people of the states, and must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the US for at least seven years, and be an inhabitant of the state in which they are chosen.
The Senate, meanwhile, has 100 members, two from each state. Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen of the US for at least nine years, and be an inhabitant of the state for which they are chosen. The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate, but they do not have a vote unless the votes are equally divided.
Both houses of Congress must pass a bill before it goes to the President for consideration. The President may veto the bill, but Congress can override this with a two-thirds vote in both houses. Congress can also remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances.
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Congress has the power to make laws
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This ensures that no individual or group will have too much power. The legislative branch, also known as the United States Congress, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Congress is the only part of the government that has the power to make new laws or change existing ones. This power is granted by the Constitution, which enumerates the powers of Congress and the specific areas in which it may legislate. Congress can also override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Congress is responsible for enacting laws deemed "necessary and proper" for the execution of the powers given to any part of the government under the Constitution. This includes the establishment of an annual budget for the government, levying taxes and tariffs to provide funding for essential government services, and authorizing borrowing if necessary.
In addition to its legislative powers, Congress also has substantial investigative powers. It can conduct oversight of the executive branch, including holding hearings and generating reports to ensure transparency and accountability in the government.
The legislative branch, through its power to make laws, plays a crucial role in shaping the country's policies and ensuring that the government functions effectively and serves the interests of the people.
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Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority
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 wields too much authority.
The legislative branch, as established by Article I of the Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. This branch holds significant powers, including the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, as well as the right to confirm or reject many presidential appointments.
Congress, as one of the three coequal branches, plays a crucial role in the law-making process. A bill must pass through both houses of Congress before reaching the President for consideration. If a bill is passed by both chambers, it is then presented to the President for approval. The President may exercise their veto power and reject the bill, returning it unsigned to the House of Congress within ten days (excluding Sundays).
However, Congress is not without recourse. It can override the presidential veto by mustering a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This power to override underscores the system of checks and balances inherent in the US government. When Congress overrides a veto, the bill becomes law without the President's signature. Historically, Congress has overridden approximately 7% of presidential vetoes.
In addition to its law-making function, Congress also holds the power to levy taxes and tariffs to fund essential government services. It can authorize borrowing if sufficient funds cannot be raised. Moreover, Congress possesses extensive investigative powers, enabling it to compel the production of evidence or testimony as it deems necessary.
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Congress can remove the president from office
The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This ensures that no individual or group has too much power. The legislative branch is made up of Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and special agencies and offices that provide support services to Congress.
Congress is the only body that can "get the president in trouble" politically. It has the authority to impeach and remove the president from office. The House of Representatives can impeach with a majority, and the Senate can convict and remove the president from office with a two-thirds supermajority vote. The Senate can also separately vote to bar the president from holding any future federal office. This process is not punitive, and the president cannot grant a pardon in the case of impeachment. The removed president may still be liable for criminal prosecution under a subsequent criminal proceeding.
Impeachment is a political process that is expressly permitted by the Constitution. It is not a criminal process, and the ""punishment" is simply removal from office. The Constitution limits the grounds of impeachment to "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors", but does not define "high crimes and misdemeanors".
Congress can also remove the president from office without impeachment, through the constitutional method of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.
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Frequently asked questions
The legislative branch is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, collectively known as the Congress.
The legislative branch has the power to make laws, declare war, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, and control taxing and spending policies. It also has the right to confirm or reject presidential appointments.
The legislative branch is established by Article I of the Constitution, which enumerates the powers of Congress and the specific areas in which it may legislate. Congress is also empowered to enact laws deemed "necessary and proper" for the execution of the powers given to any part of the government under the Constitution.
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