1. Article I The Legislative Branch

2. The Legislative Branch
JOB: to make the nation’s laws.
Works in the nation’s capitol building.

3. The Legislative Branch
Called the “Congress.”
It is made up of two houses: The Senate (or Upper House) and the House of Representatives (or Lower House).
TERMS OF OFFICE
Senate = 6-years
Representatives = 2-years

4. The Legislative Branch
SENATORS
AGE: 30
CITIZENSHIP: must be a U.S. citizen for at least 9-years.
RESIDENCY: must live in the state where elected.
REPRESENTATIVES
AGE: 25
CITIZENSHIP: must be a U.S. citizen for at least 7-years.
RESIDENCY: must live in the district where elected.

5. The Legislative Branch
Membership in the House of Representatives is based on the population of the individual states.
Currently, there is a membership of 435 in the House of Representatives.
Membership in the Senate is based on equality among the states (2 for each state).
Since there are 50 states, the membership is 100.

6. The Legislative Branch

7. Senate Leader = Vice-president of the U.S.A.
The second in charge is called the PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
President Pro Tempore
Patrick Leahy
Joe Biden

8. Representative Leader = Speaker of the House
John Boehner

9. The Legislative Branch
Most legislators (Congressmen) belong to one of the two major political parties in the USA…
Democrats, or
Republicans
In the House of Representatives the party with the most members chooses a leader called the Speaker of the House.

10. The Legislative Branch
Every state has two senators.
The membership of the Senate is based on EQUALITY among the states.
Senators serve for six years.
DICK DURBIN
Is the Senior Senator from Illinois.
Mark Kirk is the junior Senator from Illinois.

11. The Legislative Branch
Membership in the House of Representatives is based on the population of each state.
Representatives serve for 2 years.
States are given one representative for every 700,000 people.
Illinois has 18 U.S. Representatives.
There are 435 Representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Representative Bill Foster - District 11
Representative Dan Lipinski – District 3

12. Congressional Districts of Illinois
Chicago Area

13. The Legislative Branch
An IMPEACHMENT is a formal accusation of criminal activity against an elected official.
Only the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES may begin an impeachment by accusing the official.
The SENATE serves as the jury during the trial.
The CHIEF JUSTICE of the U.S. Supreme Court serves as the Judge.

14. The Legislative Branch
BOTH HOUSES of CONGRESS MUST…
…meet in the same city;
…meet at the same time.
Neither house can stop meeting without the consent of the other House.

15. The Legislative Branch
An IDEA for a law is called a BILL.
Bills may begin in either House, but must be approved by BOTH Houses in order to become a Law.

16. The Legislative Branch
Bills – Anyone can propose an idea for a bill, but only a member of Congress can actually present it to be voted on.

17. The Legislative Branch
Bills that involve money MUST begin in the House of Representatives.
This is the only type of bill with a requirement.

18. The Legislative Branch
Members of Congress cannot be arrested …
…during meetings of Congress; or
…while going to or from meetings of Congress.
Members of Congress cannot be punished for anything said during one of their meetings.

19. The Legislative Branch
KINDS OF POWERS given by the U.S. Constitution:
ENUMERATED POWERS – listed in the Constitution as belonging to the Federal government.
RESERVED POWERS – those belonging to the states.
CONCURRENT POWERS – powers shared by the Federal and state governments.

20. The Legislative Branch
Impeachments:
Trials to determine if people like the President or Supreme Court Justices are guilty and should be removed are impeachment trials.
The House votes on if there should be a trial.
The Senate hears evidence and decides guilt, acting as the Jury.

21. The Legislative Branch
ENUMERATED POWERS: belonging only to the Federal government.
Make money
Declare war
Provide a military
Establish a post office
ELASTIC CLAUSE: to make all laws necessary & proper to carry out its responsibilities.

22. The Legislative Branch
RESERVED POWERS: belonging to the states.
Power to create a school system.
To create a militia.

23. The Legislative Branch
CONCURRENT POWERS: shared by the Federal and state governments.
To tax.
To build roads.

24. The Legislative Branch