1. The Legislative Branch

2. Essential Question
How would you describe the structure and the roles of the Legislative Branch?

3. 1) Bicameral legislature- 2 houses of a lawmaking body of government
Lesson Vocabulary
1) Bicameral legislature- 2 houses of a lawmaking body of government
2) Bill- a draft of a proposed law presented in Congress
3) Levy- imposing or collecting (a tax)

4. 4) Veto- to reject a proposed law
Lesson Vocabulary
4) Veto- to reject a proposed law
5) Statute- a written law passed by a legislative body
6) Legislative- having the function of making laws

5. Divisions at the Constitutional Convention
The Virginia Plan
Proposed a bicameral, or two-house, national legislature
Each state would send representatives in proportion to the number of its citizens.
The new legislature would have the power to tax; the right to regulate foreign and interstate commerce; to veto, or prohibit from becoming law, any act of a state legislature; and to use force against a state, should that state defy national authority.
After the Articles of Confederation failed, a meeting was held in Philadelphia that eventually led to the creation of the United States Constitution. The main argument over the legislative branch of the government was whether to have representation based on population or have equal representation for each state. Virginia, a large state, wanted representation based on population.

6. Divisions at the Constitutional Convention
The New Jersey Plan
Proposed a unicameral, or one-house, national legislature, and the creation of executive and judicial branches
Each state would send the same number of representatives to the legislature.
The new legislature would have the right to tax and to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
In the 1780s, New Jersey had a relatively low population compared to other states. Representatives from NJ wanted the legislature to have the same number of representatives from each state.

7. Great Compromise
In the Great Compromise, delegates agreed to create a legislative branch made up of two houses.
One house, the Senate, would have the same number of representatives from each state.
In the other house, the House of Representatives, representation would be based on state population.
Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a bi-cameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representatives from each state.

8. Reaching Agreements
Another difficult issue was whether or not to include enslaved persons when determining a state’s population and therefore its representation. According to the Three-Fifths Compromise, three fifths of a state’s slave population would be counted when determining representation.
After further debate, the convention approved the final draft of the United States Constitution on September 17, The strengths of the Constitution have helped it endure for more than 200 years.
Large states wanted enslaved persons to be counted as part of the population when determining the number of representatives for the House. The agreement reached allowed for three fifths of a state’s slave population to be counted when determining representation. This was later nullified through the 13th amendment.

9. Legislative Branch Review
Function: Make the Laws
Congressional Joint Powers
Levy and collect taxes
Raise and maintain military
Grant statehood
Control national lands
Regulate interstate trade
Naturalize citizens
Declare war
Control making of currency
The legislative branch of the government makes the laws. The executive branch enforces the laws. The judicial branch interpret the laws. The main powers of the legislative branch are outlined in Article one of the Constitution.

10. Legislative Branch Review
3. Members
Senate
1. Qualifications
a. 30 Years Old
b. American citizen for 9 years
c. Resident of state elected
2. Method of Selection – Election by the people
3. Term of office – 6 years
4. Members per state – 2
5. Powers reserved for Senate only
a. Confirm Presidential appointments
b. Approve/reject treaties
c. Jury for impeachment trial
In order to be a senator, you must be at least 30 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for 9 years, and be a resident of the state your represent. Each senators term is for six years and every two years a third of the senate is up for reelection.

11. Legislative Branch Review
B. House of Representatives
Qualifications
25 years old
U.S. Citizen for 7 years
Resident of state elected
Method of Selection – Election by the people
Term of Office – 2 years
Members per State – Based on population – 435 total
Powers reserved for the House only
Originates money bills (taxes)
Begins impeachment process
Elects President if Electoral College fails to do so
In order to be a member of the House of Representatives, you must be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for 7 years, and be a resident of the state your represent. Each member’s term is for two years and every state has at least one representative in the House.

12. The U.S. Congress in Brief
Bicameral
Senate
100 members
Six years
More prestigious
House
435
2 years
Reapportioned after each census (once every 10 years)
The senate is considered the upper house and the House of representatives is considered the lower house. Every ten years a census is taken. A census is when the population of the United States is counted. This count is used to determine representation for the House of Representatives.

13. Officers of the Legislative Branch
Speaker of the House
Currently: Paul Ryan, Republican from Wisconsin
Presiding officer of the House
Job: acknowledges speakers, signs bills, appoints committees, calls a vote.
The head of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House. He or she is third in line to be president.

14. Officers of the Legislative Branch
President of the Senate-
V.P. – Joe Biden
Less power
Presiding officer but may not speak or debate
President pro tempore
Resides in V.P.’s absence
Elected by the Senate
Majority Party
4th in line for president
Currently: Orin Hatch
The vice president breaks ties in the senate. The most senior member of the senate is the President Pro Tempore.

15. Committees in Congress
Standing committee: permanent groups which all similar bills could be sent. (Ex. Budget committee)
Select committee- a special group set up for a specific purpose for a limited time. (ex. Senate Watergate Committee)
Joint Committees- members from both houses.
In congress, members choose numerous committees to be part of.

16. Committees in Congress
Informal groupings- Black caucus, democratic study group, House Republican study group, pro-Life caucus, etc.
Conference Committee- temporary joint body to work out different versions of a measure or bill

17. How does a Bill become a law?
Bills- proposed laws, or drafts of laws presented to the House or Senate for enactment.
Two types:
Public- measure applying to the nation as a whole- (tax bills)
Private-only apply to certain persons or places rather than to the nation generally.
A bill is a proposed law. It must go through the house and the senate and get a majority vote in order to go to the president for approval.

18. How does a Bill become a law?
Only members may introduce bills to the house.
The bill is referred to a standing committee, where most bills die.
Given to a subcommittee
The House Debates the bill
The House votes on the bill and amendments may be introduced.
Same process in the Senate
If versions are the same it goes to the president.
If versions are different it goes to a conference committee.
When a bill reaches the President, he has three choices. He can:
1. Sign and pass the bill—the bill becomes a law.
2. Refuse to sign, or veto, the bill—the bill is sent back to the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the President’s reasons for the veto. If the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold another vote on the bill. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President’s veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law.
3. Do nothing (pocket veto)—if Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days. If Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law.

19. How does a Bill become a law?
The President can sign the bill into law or he can veto (or reject) the law.
If the President vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if _____________ of the House and Senate vote to approve the bill.
If the President does not veto the
bill, it becomes a law after ______
Days.
When a bill reaches the President, he has three choices. He can:
1. Sign and pass the bill—the bill becomes a law.
2. Refuse to sign, or veto, the bill—the bill is sent back to the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the President’s reasons for the veto. If the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold another vote on the bill. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President’s veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law.
3. Do nothing (pocket veto)—if Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days. If Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law.

20. Legislative Branch
Turn to the back of your vocabulary page in your blue lesson packet. As you watch the video, write four facts about the major things that you have learned about the Legislative Branch. Find someone from across the room and exchange 2 facts with them!!

21. Legislative Branch-
The Senate Republican and Democratic floor leaders are elected by the members of their party in the Senate at the beginning of each Congress. Depending on which party is in power, one serves as majority leader and the other as minority leader.
More Republicans= Republican Majority and
Democrat Minority.
More Democrats= Democratic Majority and Republican Minority.

22. Legislative Branch
Summarizer 1: What is the 3/5 compromise and why was it an important agreement? Provide as much detail as possible

23. You are the teacher!!
You will write 4 questions that will appear on a test for the legislative branch.
Guidelines to follow:
Your question must be a question that can not be answered as True or False or a one word answer.
Below each question, you will write the correct answer.
Example:
How many Senators are there in the U.S. Senate?
Answer: There are 100 senators in the United States Senate.
A filibuster is a parliamentary procedure where debate is extended, allowing one or more members to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal. It is sometimes referred to as talking out a bill, and characterized as a form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body.

24. You are the teacher!!
Make sure that your name is on the top of your paper.
Exchange your four questions with someone in the room.
Write your name at the bottom of the paper.
You are now going to rate the questions that your partner has written.
3-very good 2= good 1-okay
0- this should not be on a test
A filibuster is a parliamentary procedure where debate is extended, allowing one or more members to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal. It is sometimes referred to as talking out a bill, and characterized as a form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body.

25. Legislative Branch
Summarizer 2 Tell me 3 facts about the Senate Tell me 3 facts about the House of Representatives

26. Legislative Branch
Essential Question Lets brainstorm together to arrange all the information that should be included in your response to the Essential Question. Make a drawing on your paper like you see on the board.

27. Legislative Branch
Answer the Essential Question Make sure that you provide as much details and information as possible!!