Legeslative Branch: Government Hughes

easy peasy lemon squeezy

- Legislate:

To make or enact laws

- Veto:

- Appropriation:

Basing something off of a specfic purpose (such as population size)

- Constituent:

Who politicans represent (All citizens)

- Continuous Body:

Not every seat in the senate is up for election at the same time, so the senate changes constantly.

- Gerrymandering:

Political parties drawing district maps for their advantage

- Lobbyist:

A person who advocates for a bill/political idea.

What is the legislative branch? What are the two houses called?

The legislative branch is in charge of enacting laws. The two houses are called the House of Representatives and The Senate.

• What are some basic differences between the two houses of Congress?

Senate

• 6 year term length

• Older people

• More informal

House of Rep

• 2 year term

• Younger people

• Stricter rules

What does the Speaker of the House do and why are they so important?

The speaker of the house is nominated by the majority party of the house, they lead the debate and decides what bills will be debated and voted on.

What do the majority and minority whips do in both houses?

They help get support and votes for their bill.

What is the difference between implied and expressed powers?

Expressed powers are powers explicitly granted by the consitution while implied powers are necessary to carry out the expressed powers and keep society  going.

What are the steps for impeachment

1) House has the sole power to impeach or bring charges to a president, they need a simple majority to get the senate to vote

2) Senate holds the impeachment trial and needs to reach a 2/3 vote in order to actually impeach

What are the steps for a bill to become a law?

1) Propose

• the idea must be sugested by a citizen, group, lobbyist, or member of congress

2) Introduction

• A Congress member must sponser the bill

• unless it is a tax bill (house of rep) it cant start in the house of senate

• The bill is given a number and is entered into congressional records

3) Committee Review

• The bill is assigned a comittee to be debated and changed to the congressmans liking

• After it does to subcomittiees to be looked at by specalist.

• Then a final report is written on the bill that gets presentd on the fllor and the bill get put on a calender.

4) Bill is Sent to Flor

• More amendments could be added, or filibuster can be used to delay voting

• It needs to pass both house with a simple majority of (51%)

5) Sent to other house

6) The president

• if both houses approve, the presidnet still has to sign

• If the president signs the bill becomes a law

• If the president veetos the process must repate except it must gain a super majority vote

What are the purposes of congressional committees?

Add amendments, debate, and get expert insight .

 3 of the enumerated powers (clauses) that Senate possesses

1) Ratifying treaties,

2) impeaching,

3)to approve or reject presidential nominees for positions such as cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and other high-ranking officials.

3 of the enumerated powers (clauses) that House of Representatives possesses

1. Establish federal courts

2. Control taxing and spending

3. declaring war

How many representatives are in the House of Representatives?

435

How many representatives are in the Senate?

100