The Legislative Branch
By: Jaleyia Perry
Parts/Members
The Senate and House of Representatives which together makes up the Congress are the parts of the Legislative Branch.
Selected By
The members of the Senate and House of Representatives are elected and are chosen by the people of the state of which they run for.
- House of Representatives/ Elected by the people
- Senate/ Elected by State Legislatures
Minimum Requirements
In order to serve in the Legislative Branch the requirements are:
- You must be 25 years of age or older.
- You must have been an American citizen for at least seven years.
- You must be a resident of the state your running for.
Major Powers
The first major power you would have being a member of the Legislative Branch is that you get to make laws. Another power you get is impeaching officials if you don't like them or the laws they are setting. One last power you get to have as a member of the Legislative Branch is that you ratify treaties.
- Make Laws
- Impeach Officials
- Ratify Treaties
- Elect the President
I feel like the power of making laws is most important. It is most important because it regulates and keeps our country in line. The U.S is a free country but without rules and regulations our country would be out of control and a disaster. If we didn't have some sort of stability it could lead to our country becoming ruled by a dictatorship instead of communist.
Surprisingly the power of enforcing laws isn't a power that the Legislative Branch has. I would think that since they come up with the laws they would get to enforce them.
Also you would think that they would have the power to declare war since they make laws, but only the chief in commander has that right which is the president.
Missing Powers
I don't really think this branch shouldn't have any of the powers that it already has.
Limits On Branch
- The Legislative Branch cannot pass laws that have cruel and unusual punishments.
- They have to follow the "Rule of Law".
- They can't declare war.
- They can't pay federal debts.
Interactions With Other Branches
- The Legislative Branch interacts with the Executive Branch. The Executive Branch enforces the laws made by the Legislative Branch.
- Checks and Balances
- The Congress (legislative) can impeach the president (executive)
- The Judicial Branch can interpret laws passed by the Legislative Branch and announce them unconstitutional.
- The president can veto laws made by the Executive Branch.