The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch

The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch

Also called “The Also called “The Congress”Congress”

““Bicameral”Bicameral” Two HousesTwo Houses

House of House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

US SenateUS Senate

US SenateUS Senate

100 total100 total 2 from each state2 from each state

6 year terms6 year terms 1/3 elected every 2 1/3 elected every 2

yearsyears QualificationsQualifications

Must be 30 years oldMust be 30 years old Must live in stateMust live in state Must be a US citizen Must be a US citizen

for at least 9 yearsfor at least 9 years-The Senate chamber in the US Capitol Building

US Senate Cont’dUS Senate Cont’d Presiding Officer: Presiding Officer:

Vice President of the Vice President of the United StatesUnited States Currently Joe BidenCurrently Joe Biden

President Pro-President Pro-Tempore of the Tempore of the Senate = The person Senate = The person that acts in the Vice that acts in the Vice President’s place President’s place when he/she is when he/she is absent from the absent from the Senate chamber.Senate chamber. Currently Robert ByrdCurrently Robert Byrd

Our Illinois Senators!Our Illinois Senators!

Roland BurrisRoland Burris ““Junior Senator”Junior Senator”

Dick DurbinDick Durbin ““Senior Senator”Senior Senator”

US House of RepresentativesUS House of Representatives 435 members435 members

Based on population of Based on population of statestate

Determined by censusDetermined by census Fewest per state = 1Fewest per state = 1

2 year terms QualificationsQualifications

25 years old Resident of state US citizen for 7 years

Illinois = 19 Total Reps!

US House of Representatives US House of Representatives Cont’dCont’d

Presiding Officer: Presiding Officer: Speaker of the Speaker of the HouseHouse Currently Nancy Currently Nancy

PelosiPelosi

Our US RepresentativeOur US Representative

Melissa BeanMelissa Bean Represents Illinois’ Represents Illinois’

8th Congressional 8th Congressional DistrictDistrict

Powers Powers Delegated Delegated to Congress to Congress (both the House and the Senate)(both the House and the Senate)

Delegated = In the Constitution!Delegated = In the Constitution! Declare WarDeclare War Pass taxesPass taxes Raise, maintain, and supply the Raise, maintain, and supply the

nation’s military forcesnation’s military forces Coin moneyCoin money Regulate foreign tradeRegulate foreign trade Regulate interstate commerceRegulate interstate commerce

Powers Powers DelegatedDelegated to Congress to Congress Cont’dCont’d

Pass “Necessary and Proper” LawsPass “Necessary and Proper” Laws Known as the “Elastic Clause”Known as the “Elastic Clause” Congress has the authority to change Congress has the authority to change

the role of the national government the role of the national government (write new laws) without going through (write new laws) without going through the amendment process.the amendment process.Why is this important?Why is this important?

Sole (Special Powers) of Each Sole (Special Powers) of Each Branch of CongressBranch of Congress

US House of US House of RepresentativesRepresentatives To impeach To impeach

government officialsgovernment officials ““Accuse”Accuse”

Starts all revenue Starts all revenue billsbills

Elects a President if Elects a President if no candidate no candidate receives a clear receives a clear majoritymajority

US SenateUS Senate To try impeachment To try impeachment

casescases Approves all Approves all

treatiestreaties Approves Approves

Presidential Presidential appointmentsappointments

How a Bill Becomes a Law…How a Bill Becomes a Law…

School House Rock!School House Rock!

Write your own law!Write your own law!

This classroom is now the US Congress!This classroom is now the US Congress! Senate = 9 peopleSenate = 9 people House of Reps = ? PeopleHouse of Reps = ? People

In groups of three, take a few minutes and In groups of three, take a few minutes and think of a law that would affect the think of a law that would affect the classroom rules or regulations for Mr. W’s classroom rules or regulations for Mr. W’s US History 7US History 7thth period on Monday… period on Monday… Rules: Law must be Constitutional! (It must Rules: Law must be Constitutional! (It must

abide with the code of conduct and class rules)abide with the code of conduct and class rules) Mr. W is President with full veto power (Used Mr. W is President with full veto power (Used

only if necessary.)only if necessary.)