Can You Make It?
Legislative Branch
What is the Legislative Branch
Who is in it?
In the House of Representatives, The Speaker of the House is Paul D. Ryan.
The Majority Leader- Kevin McCarthy.
The Democratic Leader- Nancy Pelosi.
In the Senate- The Vice President is Joe Biden.
The President Pro Tempore- Orrin Hatch
The Majority Leader- Mitch McConnell
The Democratic Leader- Harry Reid
Our states members of the senate are- Ed Markey and Elizibeth Warren
Our Representatives in our state is Niki Tsongas
What are the requirements to become a member?
- To be a senator a person must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, and have fulfilled the requirements for residency in the state that person wishes to represent
- To be a Representative, a person must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and when elected, must be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen
How often are they elected?
- Representatives are elected to serve for a period of 2 years
- Senators are elected for 6 years
- The elections are made so that both senators from a state are not elected at the same time
What do they do?
If you want to become a member, here are some things you must know
As a member of the House of Representative you will have many delegated powers and implied powers
With these different powers you will need to create laws or abolish laws, but not doing so in the range of the powers you are delegated or that are implied
Delegated powers are Collect taxes, establish post offices, regulate trade, make rules for citizens, coin money, set standards for weights and measures, Borrowing, Commerce, Copy rights patient, Federal courts, Piracy, Declarations of war, Army, Navy, Rules of military, Militia, rules for militia, National capitol
Implied powers are Regulate transportation, to set standards for television, to determine citizens rules
What are the differences?
The House of representatives is larger than the Senate
There is one representative per several hundred thousand people
At the first session of the House of Representatives there were 59 members, now there are 435 members
There are 2 senators for each state, no matter the size of population
How does A bill become a law?
The U.S. government has a number of laws that help to keep order and protect the people of the country.
- Each new law must be agreed upon by both houses of Congress and the President.
- Every law goes through a specific process before it is officially a new law of the country.
- Each bill starts as a idea. Then, this idea will be written and explained, and will have a sponsor.
- After it is introduced to either the house or the congress, it is officially a bill. The bill is sent to a committee.
- Committees are smaller groups of congress that are experts in certain areas.
- If the committee finally agrees to pass the bill, it will then move on to the main chamber of the House or Senate for approval.
- The House will vote on the bill. If the bill passes, then it will be sent to the Senate.
- The Senate will then go through the same process, it will discuss and debate the bill and then take a vote.
- If the bill passes through the Senate, it will then be sent to the President.
- The final step in a bill becoming a law is the president's signature. Once the president signs the bill, then it officially becomes a law.
- The president can decide to not sign the bill which is called a veto. The Senate and House can choose to take over the president's veto by taking another vote.
- The president has 10 days to sign a bill into law. If he doesn't sign it within 10 days then one of two things can happen: If Congress is in session it will become a law. Or If Congress is not in session it will be considered vetoed
Pages Cited
"Congress for Kids: [Legislative Branch]: Introduction to the Legislative Branch." Congress for Kids: [Legislative Branch]: Introduction to the Legislative Branch. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"United States Government." US Government for Kids: Legislative Branch. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"Branches of Government." Branches of Government. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec.2015.
"U.S. Senate." U.S. Senate. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"Watch HouseLive." The United States House of Representatives ยท House.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
If you want additional information about becoming a member, Contact Paul D. Ryan
Location: H-232 The Capitol, Washington DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-0600