Isabella Carter
The legislative branch of the US government is outlined in Article I of the US Constitution, which establishes a bicameral Congress comprising two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This structure, proposed by Roger Sherman, was the result of a Great Compromise between delegates from larger and more populated states, who argued for congressional representation to be based on state population, and those from smaller states, who sought equal representation. Article I also outlines the powers granted to Congress, including regulating commerce, laying taxes, and passing laws, as well as the requirements for individuals seeking to run for Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Powers | To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises; to borrow money on the credit of the United States; to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states; to establish a uniform rule of naturalization; to coin money; to provide for the punishment of counterfeiting; to constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court; to declare war; to raise and support armies; to exercise exclusive legislation; to confirm or reject presidential nominations; to remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances; to make rules for its own proceedings |
| Composition | A bicameral legislature with two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate |
| Requirements to run for Congress | Age of 25 or above; been seven years a citizen of the United States; an inhabitant of the state in which they are chosen |
| Meeting Requirements | Assemble at least once a year; a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business |
| Rules | Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings; each chamber has the constitutional authority to make its own rules |
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What You'll Learn
Article I outlines the legislative branch
Article I of the U.S. Constitution establishes the legislative branch, outlining the structure and powers of Congress. It consists of two sections, with Section 1 stating that "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States". This Congress is bicameral, meaning it has two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This structure, known as the "Great Compromise", was proposed by Roger Sherman and seeks to balance the interests of the states with the effects of popular majorities.
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states, with each state's electors having the qualifications required for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been citizens of the United States for at least seven years, and be inhabitants of the state they are chosen to represent.
The Senate, on the other hand, has equal representation for each state, with each state electing two senators to serve six-year terms. This ensures that only a small proportion of the Senate is up for election in any given cycle. While both chambers have equal legislative roles and functions, they have developed different ways of processing legislation due to their constitutional differences. The House generally allows a numerical majority to act quickly, while the Senate's rules favour deliberation, providing individual senators with significant procedural leverage.
Article I also outlines specific powers granted to Congress. These include the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises; to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the states, and with Indian tribes; to establish a uniform rule of naturalization and uniform laws on bankruptcy; to coin money and regulate its value; and to provide for the punishment of counterfeiting. Additionally, Congress can declare war, raise and support armies, and provide for the militia.
While Congress has the power to make laws, its power is limited by the Constitution. The President also has influence in the legislative process, as they can recommend legislation and have the power to veto bills passed by Congress. The process by which a bill becomes a law can vary significantly, and it is rare for a law to be enacted over a presidential veto.
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The legislative branch is bicameral
The legislative branch of the US government is outlined in Article I of the US Constitution. This article establishes a bicameral legislature, which means that Congress is composed of two chambers or houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The idea of a bicameral legislature was proposed by Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut, and was the result of a "Great Compromise". This compromise aimed to balance the interests of larger and more populated states with those of smaller states. The Virginia Plan, supported by larger states, called for congressional representation to be based on a state's population. On the other hand, smaller states advocated for the New Jersey Plan, which proposed that each state should have one vote in a one-chamber legislature.
The Founding Fathers ultimately agreed to the Great Compromise, which resulted in the creation of two houses. The House of Representatives has representation based on population, while the Senate provides equal representation for each state, with two senators from each state. This bicameral structure ensures that the interests of both larger and smaller states are considered in the legislative process.
The two chambers of Congress have equal legislative roles and functions, and both must agree to the same bill before presenting it to the President for signature or veto. Each chamber has the authority to make its own rules, leading to differences in how the House and Senate process legislation. The House generally allows a numerical majority to process legislation quickly, while the Senate favors deliberation and provides more leverage to individual senators.
The legislative process involves both chambers, with standing committees from both parties developing and assessing legislation. Congressional action is coordinated by party leaders in each chamber, and the President also has influence through budget proposals, legislative suggestions, and the power to veto legislation. The bicameral nature of Congress is a key aspect of the system of checks and balances in the US government, ensuring careful study and deliberation of proposed laws.
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The House of Representatives
Article I of the US Constitution grants all legislative powers to a bicameral Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. This structure was a contentious issue during the Constitutional Convention, with larger states supporting the Virginia Plan, which called for bicameral legislation with proportional representation in the House, and smaller states favouring the New Jersey Plan, which proposed a unicameral Congress with equal representation for the states. The Convention ultimately reached the Connecticut Compromise, or Great Compromise, which adopted the bicameral structure with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
The House and the Senate have different ways of processing legislation due to their constitutional differences. The House's rules and practices allow a numerical majority to process legislation relatively quickly, while the Senate's rules and procedures favour deliberation and provide significant procedural leverage to individual senators. The House is the only chamber that can originate revenue legislation, while only the Senate confirms presidential nominations and approves treaties. However, the enactment of laws requires both chambers to agree to the same bill before presenting it to the President.
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer and is elected by the members of the House. The Speaker acts as the leader of the House and combines several institutional and administrative roles.
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The Senate
Article I of the U.S. Constitution grants all legislative powers to a bicameral Congress, which consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate was formed in 1789, modelled on the ancient Roman Senate, with the name derived from the Latin "senatus", meaning council of elders.
The legislative process in the Senate is typically planned and coordinated by party leaders in each chamber. Senate rules and procedures favour deliberation over quick action, providing significant procedural leverage to individual senators. Much of the policy expertise in the Senate resides in standing committees, which are panels of members from both parties that lead in developing and assessing legislation.
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The legislative process
Article I of the U.S. Constitution establishes the legislative branch, outlining the formation and functioning of Congress. It consists of a bicameral legislature, with a House of Representatives and a Senate, representing a "Great Compromise" to balance the interests of states with the effects of popular majorities. This structure was proposed by Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut.
The House of Representatives is based on population, with members chosen every second year by the people of the states. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been citizens of the U.S. for at least seven years, and be inhabitants of the state they represent. The Senate, on the other hand, provides equal representation for each state, with two Senators elected by the voters of each state serving six-year terms.
Congress holds certain enumerated powers, including regulating commerce, laying and collecting taxes, borrowing money, establishing post offices and roads, coining money, and defining and punishing piracies and felonies on the high seas. It can also declare war, raise and support armies, and provide for the calling and organisation of the militia.
While Congress drives legislative ideas and action, the President also wields influence through budget recommendations, legislative suggestions, and the power to veto legislation. This often leads to Congress accommodating the President's position on proposed policies. The process of a bill becoming a law is unpredictable and varies significantly from case to case. For a bill to become law, it must pass both Houses of Congress and be presented to the President for signature.
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Frequently asked questions
The legislative branch is one of the three branches of the US government, alongside the executive and judicial branches. It is made up of Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The legislative branch has powers including regulating commerce, passing laws, laying taxes, establishing post offices and post roads, and defining and punishing piracies and felonies committed on the high seas.
The legislative branch functions through the House of Representatives and the Senate, which have different ways of processing legislation due to their constitutional differences. The House allows a numerical majority to process legislation quickly, while the Senate favors deliberation and provides procedural leverage to individual senators. Congressional action is planned and coordinated by party leaders in each chamber.
