The Constitution Legislative
Alyssa Moliis
How a Bill becomes a Law
Step One: Being thought of. The idea must pop into a mind and be written and sent to Congress. The written statement is called a Bill.
Step Two: The Congress Decision. Congress will hold a committee that will decide whether or not that the bill is a good idea and whether or not to send the Bill to the President.
Step Three: Presidential Veto. If the Bill has passed the Congress committee, the Bill is sent to the President, where he(or she- in the future) will decide to veto the bill or make it a law.
Step Four: Enforcement. If the bill was not vetoed, the Bill is now a law. The law would be enforced in the places it refers to.
Rules of Congress
Each House has its own set of rules, can punish the members for disorderly behavior, or can expel members with voting with a two/thirds result.
Meeting Times of Congress
The 20th Amendment changed the date of the Congress meeting from the first Monday in December to January 3rd. The 20th Amendment was ratified in 1933. The Constitution states that the Congress must meet at least once a year.
Qualifications of Congressmen & Job Expectations
- Representatives must be at least 25 years old and 7 years a citizen
- Representatives must come from the state they are representing
- The House must keep a check of power on the Senators
- Senators must be at least 30 years old and 9 years a citizen
- Senators check the power in the House to make sure its balanced.
- The Senators must keep a check of power on the House of Representatives
Powers Granted to them
- Revenue
- Borrowing
- Commerce
- Naturalization
- Currency
- Counterfeiting
- Post Office
- Copyrights/ Patents
- Courts
- Piracy
- Declaration of War
- Army
- Navy
- Armed Forces Rules
- Militia
- National Guard
- Nation's Capital
- Elastic Cause