The Legislative Branch
By Molly G.
Who is in the Legislative Branch?
The Legislative Branch is Congress. Congress is made up of two Houses. The Houses are the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
People to Work With
House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
Paul Ryan (Republican)
Majority Leader
Kevin McCarthy (Republican)
Democratic Leader
Nancy Pelosi (Democrat)
More People to Work With
Senate
District 3 Rep.
District 3 in MA
Niki Tsongas (Democrat)MA Senators
Ed Markey (Democrat)
Elizabeth Warren (Democrat)
Vice President
Joe Biden (Democrat)
President Pro Tempore
Orrin Hatch (Republican)
Majority Leader
Mitch McConnell (Republican)
Democratic Leader
Harry Reid (Democrat)
Requirements to have
Each House has requirements you need to pass to become a member, just like all the roles in the government do.
House of Representatives:
- You have to be at least 25 years old.
- You have to have been a US Citizen for at least 7 years.
- You have to live in the state you represent.
Senate:
- You have to be at least 30 years old.
- You have to have been a US Citizen for at least 9 years.
- You have to live in the state you represent.
What will You Do?
Congress is in charge of making laws for our country.
Senate:
- Help people in the state they represent.
- Can approve or reject treaties/ presidential nominations for public office.
House of Representatives:
Delegated Powers:
- Declare War
- Regulate Commerce
- Rules for Military
- Rules for Militia
- Post Offices and Roads
Implied Powers:
- Set standards for television
- Airplanes
- Air waves (Radio, TV)
How Often Can You Run?
A person is elected to be in the House of Representatives every 2 years. You may run as many times as you want.
A person is elected to be in the Senate every 6 years. You may run as many times as you want.
Differences Between the Houses-
This will help you pick which one to run for.
How a Bill becomes a law
- Someone comes up with an idea. It can be anyone from any branch of the government. It can even be someone who isn't in a branch, like a regular citizen.
- The idea is written down and thoroughly explained. A bill "is the first draft of the idea". The bill needs to be sponsored. The sponsor strongly believes in the bill. The Sponsor can be a member from the House of Representatives or a Senator.
- The Sponsor "introduces" the bill to the Senate or the House of Representatives. Once it's introduced the bill gets a number and is "officially recorded as a bill".
- The bill is sent to a committee (Smaller groups of Congress that are experts in certain areas). The committee discusses and debates the bill. Sometimes they bring in experts outside of Congress to help. The Committee may make changes. If the Committee agrees to pass the bill, it will move for approval to the Main Chamber.
- For approval, the bill will first be sent where it started. The members of that House will debate it more and then vote on it. If it passes, the bill will move to the other House and go through the same procedure.
- If the bill passes through both Houses it is sent to the President. Once the President signs the bill, it is a law.
- The President can also veto a bill (not sign it). The two Houses can chose to override the veto and take another vote. This time the bill must pass both Houses by a two-thirds majority.