1. Legislative Branch

2. 1. Congress
Every two years all of the members of the House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senators are elected.
This two year period between elections is called a “Congress.”

3. 2. Sessions Two sessions per term/Congress Begin in January
Joint Session: House of Representatives and the Senate meet together.
Special Session: The President may call a special joint session of Congress even if they have adjourned (ended) for the year.

4. 3. Parties (Democrats and Republicans)
The political party that has the most members in each house is known as the majority party.
The political party that has fewer members is called the minority party.

5. Senate and the House of Representatives
4. Bicameral
Two Houses
Senate and the House of Representatives
Two house system allows each house to ‘check’ the actions of the other and helps prevent Congress from passing laws in a hurry.

6. 5. House of Representatives
Membership
The number of Representatives each state can elect is based on the size of that state’s population.
Each state has at least 1 Representative.
435 total Representatives.
Every 10 years, after the census is taken, Congress determines how the seats in the House are to be apportioned, or distributed.

7. 6. Requirements to be a Representative
Representatives must be:
At least 25 years old
A U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
A legal resident of the state they represent
Serve 2 terms
Elections are held in November of each even-numbered year.

8. 7. Leader Speaker of the House Elected from the majority party.
Presiding officer of the house.
No representative may speak until called on, or recognized, by the Speaker.
Second in line of Presidential Succession.

9. 8. Special Powers of the House of Representatives
Powers that only the House of Representatives has:
Begin impeachment proceedings
Initiate bills to raise money (appropriation bills)
Select president when no candidate receives sufficient electoral votes

10. 9. Senate Membership Each state is represented equally.
2 members per state.
100 senators total.
Members are called senators.

11. 10. Requirements to be a Senator
Senators must be:
At least 30 years old.
A U.S. Citizen for at least 9 years.
A legal resident of the state they represent.
Serve 6 year terms
One third (1/3) of the Senate’s membership comes up for election every two years in November.

12. 11. Leaders Vice President
According to the Constitution presides over the Senate.
Only votes to break a tie.
President Pro Tempore
Fills in for the Vice President when necessary. Third in line of presidential succession. Customarily the most senior senator in the majority party

13. 12. Special Powers of the Senate
Powers that only the Senate has:
Hold impeachment trials.
Select the vice president when no candidate has sufficient votes.
Approve treaties.
Approve high officials. (Cabinet Members, Supreme Court Justices, and Ambassadors).