The Legislative Branch

The U.S. Congress
Bicameral
Senate
100 members
Six years
House
435
2 years
Reapportioned after each census

Congressional Duties
Make the Laws
Representatives of their constituents

Powers of Congress – Article 1
Raise and collect taxes
Borrow money
Regulate commerce
Set laws for Naturalization and Bankruptcy
Coin Money
Punish counterfeiting
Post office
Copyrights and patents
Set up courts
Declare war
Establish the military and National guard
Make rules and allot funds for the military and National guard
Punish pirates
Run Washington D.C. and all federal property
Elastic clause- implied power

ELASTIC CLAUSE
The necessary and proper clause gives Congress the power to make laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the delegated duties
Also known as the ‘elastic clause’ it stretches the power given Congress

House of Representatives
Term: 2 years
Qualifications
25 years old
7 years as a U.S. citizen
Resident of represented state

House of Representatives
Number of representatives: 435
Speaker of the House – Paul Ryan 3rd in line of succession
Decides the committees each member will serve on
Decides the order in which bills will be heard

House of Representatives
Special Powers of the House of Representatives
All money (appropriations) bills start here
Select the President in an Electoral College tie
Write the article of impeachment against high ranking officials

Senate
Term of office: 6 years
Qualifications:
30 years old
9 years a citizen of the U.S.
Resident of the represented state

Senate
Number of Senators: 100
Head of the Senate: U.S. Vice President – Mike Pence
Power: Decides committee members and order bill are debated.

Senate
Special Powers
Approves all treaties
Approves all appointments
Chooses the Vice President in an Electoral College tie
Acts as the jury in all trials of impeachment

Privileges and Compensation of Congress members:
Salary $193,000 per year
Medical and dental benefits
Free office, parking, and trips to home state
Franking privilege- free postage on all mail to constituents

Privileges and Compensation of Congress members:
Immunity or legal protection:
Cannot be sued of anything they say or write while carrying out their duties
Cannot be arrested for minor offenses while Congress is in session
May not hold other political office at the same time

How Does a bill becomes a law?
http://youtu.be/tyeJ55o3El0