Chapter 6 Legislative Branch

Molly HunterPeriod 5

How is Congress Organized

Bicameral

Map Of Apportionment

House of Representatives

• The House of Representatives is the larger part of congress.

• The amount of representatives in each state is decided by the population, but each state has to have at least 1 representative.

Senate

• 100 members, 2 for each state• Senator represents entire state not a

particular district• Serve 6 year terms

Committee work

• Standing Committee- permanent committees• Some Committees in H.O.R• Agriculture• Budget• Science• Standing Committees in Senate

Powers Of Congress

• Congress can• Create money• Make new laws• Stretch laws to meet needs• Approve or reject presidential nominees• Impeach the president

Legislative Powers

• Expressed Powers- clearly listed powers• Implied powers- congress still has the power

to do what ever is necessary and proper• Elastic clause- can stretch congresses powers

to meet needs

Nonlegislative powers

• Congress has nonlegislative powers such as• To impeach• Reject presidential nominees

Power Limitations

• Congress can not pass laws that restrict freedom of speech or ban freedom of religion

• Congress can not suspend writ of habeas corpus

• Congress is banned from passing bill of attainder

• Congress can’t pass ex post facto laws

Representing the people

• Each American is represented by a 2 congress member and 1 representatives.

Qualifications and Privileges

• You must be 30 for senate/ 25 for house of representatives

• You must live in the state you wish to represent

• You must be a US citizen for at least 7 years

Congress at Work

• Represent people of their states• Case work• Making laws• Committee work

How a Bill Becomes a LawCommittee Action------------- Floor Action--------Conference Action

Committee action- goes to correct committee can either be passed, marked up with changes, ignore and let die, replace it with a new bill, let it die

Floor Action- member argue their pros and consConference- conference committee works out

differences and sends identical bill to both chambers

From Bill to a Law

• Committee Action------------- Floor Action--------Conference Action

Voting On a Bill

• Types Of Votingo Voice Vote- Saying “Yea” or “nay”o Standing vote-