Legislative Branch

Institutions - Called Congress, divided into the Senate (100) and the House of Representatives (435 members), Committees

Officials - Representatives, based on the population of the state, and Senators (two for each state), Speaker of the House

Functions - they write laws to send to the president

Policy - making laws, holding public hearings, investigations committees. Committees are groups of specialists who design the bill and present it for a vote later. They hold public hearings on special issues

Popular Sovereignty - people elect the members of Congress, Congress makes laws to run the country

Checks and Balances - Congress can impeach the president, Supreme Court can use judicial review on their laws, Senate approves Justice appointments

Abuse of Power - committee members can be corrupted by money, filibusters can be used to stop a law from ever being passed