Omar Bennett
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States. It establishes the framework for the federal government, including the legislative branch, which is known as the United States Congress. Congress is composed of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives, with each having specific powers and responsibilities. The legislative branch is responsible for enacting laws, declaring war, and providing a check on the executive branch through its power to confirm or reject presidential appointments. The creation of Congress through the Constitution aimed to establish a balance of powers and protect the fundamental rights of citizens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legislative body created by the constitution | Congress of the United States |
| Number of branches of government | Three (legislative, executive, and judicial) |
| Powers of the legislative branch | Enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, investigative powers, make new laws, change existing laws, raise and support armies, call forth the militia, exercise exclusive legislation, and more |
| Composition of Congress | Senate and House of Representatives |
| Composition of the House of Representatives | 435 elected members, 6 non-voting members, and the Speaker of the House |
| Election of Representatives | Every second year by the people of the states |
| Qualifications of Representatives | Minimum age of 25 years, seven years of US citizenship, and inhabitant of the state they represent |
| Composition of the Senate | 100 members (two from each state), with one-third elected every second year |
| Qualifications of Senators | Minimum age of 30 years, nine years of US citizenship, and inhabitant of the state they represent |
| President of the Senate | Vice President of the United States (with no vote unless there is a tie) |
| Meeting frequency | At least once a year (first Monday in December unless a different day is appointed) |
| Quorum | Majority of each House to constitute a quorum |
| Powers within each House | Determine rules of proceedings, judge elections and qualifications of members, punish members for disorderly behavior, expel members with a two-thirds concurrence |
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What You'll Learn
The US legislative branch is Congress
The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers. Congress is also responsible for raising and supporting armies, calling forth the militia, and exercising exclusive legislation over a district not exceeding ten miles square.
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 6 non-voting members, representing Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for seven years, and live in the state they represent. The presiding officer of the chamber is the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the Representatives.
The Senate, meanwhile, consists of Senators from each state, with one-third being chosen every second year. Senators must be at least 30 years old and have been citizens of the United States for nine years. The Vice President of the United States is also the President of the Senate, but they do not have a vote unless there is an equal division.
Congress must assemble at least once a year, with the default meeting date being the first Monday in December. Each House can determine its own rules, judge the elections and qualifications of its members, and expel members with a two-thirds concurrence.
Congress has significant powers in the US system of government, with all legislative power vested in it. This means that only Congress can make or change laws, although the President may veto bills. However, Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
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Congress consists of the Senate and House of Representatives
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the United States. It is the source of all government powers and outlines the basic framework of the federal government. The Constitution established three distinct branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial, with their powers vested in the Congress, the President, and the Federal Courts, respectively.
The legislative branch, as outlined in 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 enacting legislation and declaring war, confirming or rejecting Presidential appointments, and carrying out investigations. The House of Representatives is composed of 435 elected members, with each state receiving representation proportional to its population. Additionally, there are six non-voting members representing the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, citizens of the United States for seven years, and residents of the state they represent.
The Senate, on the other hand, represents the states equally, with each state having two senators. Senators must be at least 30 years old, citizens of the United States for nine years, and residents of the state they represent. The Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate but only votes in the case of a tie.
Congress, as the legislative branch, holds significant powers. It is the only branch of government that can create or change laws. While Executive Branch agencies can issue regulations, they do so under the authority of laws enacted by Congress. Congress can override a Presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. After being introduced, a bill is referred to the appropriate committees and subcommittees in the Senate and the House for review. For a bill to pass, both the House and the Senate must approve it by a majority vote. Once passed by both chambers, the bill is sent to the President for their signature. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto by passing the bill again in each chamber with a two-thirds majority.
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Each state elects two Senators
The United States Constitution established a federal system of national law, with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government deriving their powers from it. Article I of the Constitution outlines the design of the legislative branch of the US government, which is the Congress. Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation and declare war, to confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and it also has substantial investigative powers.
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states. The Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for seven years, and live in the state they represent. The number of Representatives from each state is proportionate to the state's total population.
The Senate, on the other hand, represents the States apportioned equally. Each state elects two Senators, who must be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and live in the state they represent. The seats of the Senators are vacated on a staggered basis, with one-third of the Senate up for election every two years.
The legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. For a bill to pass, both the House and the Senate must pass the same bill by a majority vote. If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may override the veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
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Representatives are elected every two years
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the land, empowering the federal government with the sovereign authority of the people. The Constitution outlines the basic framework of the federal government, consisting of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The legislative branch, established by Article I of the Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, together forming the United States Congress. The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population.
Article I, Section 2, of the Constitution, states that members of the House of Representatives "shall be chosen every second Year by the People of the several States." This means that representatives are subject to frequent elections, ensuring direct accountability to their constituents. The specific requirements to be a representative include being at least 25 years old, a citizen of the United States for seven years, and a resident of the state they represent.
The frequent elections of representatives every two years promote responsiveness and allow citizens to hold their elected officials accountable. This aspect of the legislative branch's design contributes to the system of checks and balances inherent in the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution.
The legislative branch, as one of the three coequal branches of government, holds significant powers. These include the sole authority to enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject presidential appointments, and conduct investigations. The legislative process involves the introduction of bills, their consideration by committees, and voting in both the House and the Senate. The President may veto bills passed by Congress, but Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
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Congress has the sole power to enact legislation
The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the land. It is the source of all government powers and provides important limitations on the government that protect the fundamental rights of US citizens. The Constitution was established in 1787, with the chief aim of creating a government with enough power to act on a national level, while also ensuring that fundamental rights would not be at risk.
The US Federal Government is composed of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The powers of each branch are outlined in the Constitution, with powers not assigned to them reserved for the States. The legislative branch, as described in Article I of the Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress.
Congress is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing laws. It is the sole body with the authority to enact legislation and declare war, as well as the right to confirm or reject Presidential appointments. Congress must assemble at least once a year, and a majority of each House constitutes a quorum to do business. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and expel a member with a two-thirds concurrence.
The legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation. After being introduced, a bill is referred to the appropriate committee for review. A bill must pass both Houses of Congress before it goes to the President for consideration. If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may override the veto by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution created the legislative branch of the federal government, which is called Congress.
Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 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 6 non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other US territories.
Congress is one of three coequal branches of government, alongside the Executive and Judicial branches. Congress has significant powers, including the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.
