Isabella Carter
The legislative branch of the US government, also known as the United States Congress, is comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This ensures that no individual or group has too much power. The legislative branch 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Congress |
| Houses | House of Representatives and Senate |
| Number of Senators | 100 |
| Maximum number of Representatives | 435 |
| Meeting frequency | At least once a year |
| Meeting date | First Monday in December |
| Powers | Make laws, declare war, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, control taxing and spending policies, confirm or reject presidential appointments, exercise investigative powers, raise and support armies, provide for the militia, and more |
| Legislative record | United States Statutes at Large, Congressional Record, United States Code |
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What You'll Learn
The legislative branch is the US Congress
The legislative branch of the US government is the US Congress, which consists of two chambers: the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. This bicameral system is outlined in Article I of the US Constitution, which enumerates the powers of Congress and the specific areas in which it may legislate.
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 currently six non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. The presiding officer of the chamber is the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the Representatives.
The Senate, on the other hand, includes two Senators from each state, totalling 100 Senators. Senators are elected for terms of two, four, or six years, with one-third of the Senate elected every two years. The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate but does not have a vote unless the Senate is equally divided.
Congress is the only part of the US government with the power to make new laws or change existing ones. It can also confirm or reject many presidential appointments and has substantial investigative powers. It is responsible for declaring war, regulating interstate and foreign commerce, and controlling taxing and spending policies.
Congressional committees and subcommittees play a crucial role in the legislative process. They oversee specific policy areas and invite experts, advocates, and opponents to provide testimony on bills. The committees and subcommittees can also compel people to appear and provide evidence or testimony.
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Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate
The legislative branch of the US government is called Congress, which consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This bicameral system is established by Article I of the US Constitution, which also enumerates Congress's powers and areas of legislation.
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 must be at least 25 years old, have been citizens of the US for at least seven years, and be inhabitants of the state they represent. They are chosen every two years by the people of the respective states, with each state's electors having the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.
The Senate, on the other hand, includes two Senators from each state, amounting to 100 Senators in total. Senators must be at least 30 years old, have been citizens of the US for at least nine years, and be inhabitants of the state they represent. Senators are elected for six-year terms, with one-third of the Senate up for election every two years. The Vice President of the US is the President of the Senate but does not have a vote unless there is a tie.
Congress is responsible for making laws, declaring war, regulating interstate and foreign commerce, and controlling taxing and spending policies. It has the sole authority to enact legislation, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and possesses substantial investigative powers. Congress can also override a Presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
Congressional committees and subcommittees play a crucial role in the legislative process. They oversee specific policy areas and investigate the merits and flaws of bills through hearings and testimony from experts, advocates, and opponents. The House Committee on Ways and Means, for example, includes subcommittees on Social Security and Trade.
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Congress is granted powers by Article I of the Constitution
The legislative branch of the U.S. government is called the United States Congress. It consists of two chambers: the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The Constitution of the United States calls for two Senators from each state (100 Senators) and no more than 435 Representatives, each proportionally representing the population of the 50 states. This is what is known as a bicameral system.
Article I of the Constitution grants Congress all legislative powers. This means that Congress is the supreme lawmaker and consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Vesting Clause embodies two strategies for limiting Congress's power. The first is bicameralism, which was created to represent both the people and the states. The second is the limiting of Congress's power to protect individual liberty.
Article I, Section 1 establishes several fundamental features of Congress. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. No person shall be a Representative who has not attained the age of twenty-five years, been a citizen of the United States for seven years, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of the state in which they are chosen. Representatives and direct taxes are apportioned among the several states included in the Union according to their respective numbers.
Article I also grants Congress the power to provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions. Congress can also organize, arm, and discipline the militia, and govern any part of them that may be employed in the service of the United States. Congress has the power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases over a district not exceeding ten miles square.
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Congress can confirm or reject presidential appointments
The legislative branch of the US government is called the United States Congress, consisting of two chambers: the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. The US Congress is a bicameral system, with two Senators from each state (100 Senators) and no more than 435 Representatives, each proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.
Congress plays a crucial role in confirming or rejecting presidential appointments, as outlined in the Appointments Clause of the US Constitution. This clause, found in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2, empowers the President to nominate individuals for various positions, including ambassadors, ministers, consuls, judges, and other officers. However, these nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, giving Congress the power to confirm or deny a nominee's appointment.
The process of confirmation by Congress serves as a check and balance on the President's power, ensuring accountability and preventing autocratic rule. The Founding Fathers intended to provide a democratic framework for the federal government, and the confirmation process helps maintain this balance. While the President has plenary power to nominate individuals, Congress has the authority to scrutinize and approve or reject these nominations.
The Senate's role in the confirmation process is particularly crucial for principal officers, including ambassadors, Cabinet secretaries, and federal judges. The confirmation of Supreme Court justices, for example, requires the advice and consent of the Senate. On the other hand, Congress may vest the appointment power of "inferior" or lower-level officers solely in the President, judiciary, or department heads.
The confirmation process can be subject to political dynamics, such as filibusters and changes in Senate rules. In 2013, the Senate modified the rules regarding the number of votes needed to end debate on a presidential nomination, reducing it to a simple majority. This change streamlined the confirmation process, making it more challenging for a minority of senators to block a vote through filibusters.
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Congress can override a presidential veto
The legislative branch of the US government, as outlined in Article I of the US Constitution, is called the United States Congress. Congress consists of two chambers: the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Each state is represented by two senators, and no more than 435 representatives, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.
Congress has the power to override a presidential veto. This can be achieved with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. This process prevents the president from blocking an act if there is notable support for it. However, it is uncommon for Congress to override vetoes.
For example, in 2021, the US Congress overturned President Donald Trump's veto of a defence spending bill for the first time in his presidency. The Republican-controlled Senate held a session on New Year's Day to debate the move, which had already been voted for by the House of Representatives. The $740 billion bill funded defence policy for the coming year. Despite Mr Trump's objections to certain provisions in the bill, the Senate voted 81-13 for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), achieving the two-thirds majority required to override a presidential veto.
It is important to note that if Congress approves a bill and sends it to the President, and then adjourns before ten days elapse, the President can prevent the bill from becoming law by not signing it, known as a pocket veto. In such cases, Congress cannot override the veto but must reintroduce the bill and enact it again.
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Frequently asked questions
The legislative branch of the US government is called Congress.
Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The legislative branch makes laws, declares war, regulates interstate and foreign commerce, and controls taxing and spending policies.
To be a Representative, one must be at least 25 years old, a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, and an inhabitant of the state they are chosen to represent.
To be a Senator, one must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and an inhabitant of the state they are chosen to represent.
