1. Legislative Branch
A Breakdown

2. Bicameral Legislature
This means there are 2 houses in Congress.
House of Representatives
Senate
Legislative Branch I
Congress
I I
House of Rep Senate

3. House of Representatives
Qualifications
25 years old
U.S. citizen for 7 years
Legal residents of the state that elects them
Term lasts for 2 years
Census (every 10 years) determines how many representatives each state gets

4. Senate Qualifications 2 Senators from each state. 30 years old
U.S. citizen for 9 years
Legal resident of state
Terms last for 6 years
2 Senators from each state.
Maryland’s Senators: Barbara Mikulski & Ben Cardin

5. Congress Total of 535 members
Delegates are sent to Congress but cannot vote from: D.C., Guam, American Samoa, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
Remains in session until members vote to adjourn
Neither may adjourn for more than 3 days without the other’s approval

6. Characteristics of Congressmen
Half are lawyers
Mostly white, males over 50
Membership changes slowly since office holders rarely lose re-election
Why??
Easier to raise campaign money
Gerrymandering
Better known to the people
Can use position to solve problems

7. Key Terms
Article I – Part of the Constitution that outlines the structure of Congress and describes the powers granted and denied to Congress.
Expressed Powers – those powers given to Congress that are listed in the Constitution (enumerated powers)
Implied Powers – Gives Congress the power to make laws which are not explicitly granted by the enumerated powers (necessary and proper clause) (elastic clause)
Legislator – member of legislative branch

8. House of Representatives
Rules are created to ensure quick legislation
Committees are established to accomplish this
Committees study only certain issues and allow Representatives to have more influence
Reps. Choose committees to join based on what is important to their voters

9. House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
Leader of the House
Is chosen by the majority party (whichever party has the most number of Reps.)
Decides who speaks, schedules bills, assign committees
Is next in line for Presidency after the V.P.

10. House of Representatives
House Floor Leaders
Majority Leader
Speaker’s top assistant
Plans the party’s legislative program
Oversees committees’ chairs
Minority Leader has same responsibilities but over the minority party
Whips
Watch how party members are voting
make sure they are present to vote
persuade them to vote the way of the party

11. Senate Rules more flexible than House
Vice President is President of the Senate
can not vote except to break a tie
Can not participate in debates
Senate elects a President pro Tempore to run Senate if V.P. can’t

12. Senate Majority and Minority Leaders
Most important officers in the Senate
Party officials rather than Senate officers
Majority Leader
Steer their party’s bills through
Makes sure party members attend Senate sessions
Creates Senate work schedule with Minority leader
Minority Leader
Develops criticisms of majority party’s bills
Keeps Senators of minority party working together

13. Closure
Why did the founding fathers include expressed and implied powers.
Is the power of Congress limited government?
Does Congress have the power to make any law it wishes?