Legislative Branch
The U.S. Congress
General Description
Legislative Branch
- Legislature is a decision making organization usually associated with a national government
- a bicameral group. Which makes up Congress
- Congress is made of The Senate and The House of Representatives.
- Debates on new laws using the legislative process.
Congress
Senate
- 100 members, 2 from each state.
Staggered so that ⅓ of senate is up for election every 2 years.
6 year terms
30 years old and must reside in a state to become a Senator.
Must reside in the state they represent
Must be citizen for 9 years
- 435 members, distributed to each state based on the population.
- 2 year terms
- 25 years old and reside in the U.S. to become a Representative
- must be a citizen for at least 7 years
Legislative Process
Process of Passing a bill
- Anyone can create a bill but a congress member must present it to the committee.
- Committees created to analyze bills to decide whether it should even be presented for debate.
- Once accepted it is presented to the Congress.
- Each member that wants to speak get a couple minutes to present their argument.
- They can also add ideas to the bill, which often can prevent "good" bills from being passed because people add "bad ideas" to the bill. Making members not want to pass the bill.
Wisconsin's two senators, who travel to D.C. to debate and discuss in Congress
Tammy Baldwin
Wisconsin's Senator since 2013. Age 52, born in Madison
Ron Johnson
Wisconsin's Senator since 2011. Age 59, born in Mankato, MN.
John Boehner, U.S. Speaker of the House, speaking in front of Congress
This Is About Fairness