1. The legislative branch of the United States government is known as Congress. The United States Congress is bicameral in nature. This means that there are two lawmaking groups, or assemblies. These assemblies are the House of Representatives and the Senate. A member of the House of Representatives is called a congressman or congresswoman. A member of the Senate is called a senator.
The House of Representatives has proportional representation—each state has voting power in accordance with the size of its population. In the Senate, a fixed number of representatives (currently 2) for each state is allowed, regardless of the size of the state.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, the state of Maine has 2 representatives and the state of California has 53 representatives. Does this make sense to you? Why or why not? Write two or three sentences for your answer.

2. Legislatures

3. Legislature (n.)
The body of a country or state that has the power to make laws
U.S. Constitution divides the power to make laws between the federal gov’t and state gov’ts

4. Marble or Layered?

5. U.S. Congress House of Representatives Senate
Proportional Representation
Each state represented according to the size of its population
Senate
100 Members
Equal Representation
Laws passed by Congress apply to ALL states.
Laws passed by state legislatures only apply within their boundaries.

6. Congress passes laws known as federal statutes
Statutes deal with issues of national importance
Environmental quality
National Defense
Homeland Security
Labor Relations
Veterans Affairs
Etc.
State legislatures typically meet on an annual basis
Laws deal with statewide impacts
Education
Transportation
Traffic
State Taxes
Marriage & Divorce
Criminal Laws
Etc.

7. City Governments
Cities, towns, and counties also have lawmaking bodies.
County or city councils
Boards of aldermen
Local boards of education
Local gov’ts pass laws known as ordinances or regulations
Land use
Parking
Schools
Regulation of local business
Only apply to a county, city, or town

8. Supremacy Clause
Federal laws sometimes come into conflict with state and local laws
1960s: federal laws against racial segregation came into conflict against state laws requiring separate accommodations for African-Americans and whites
Today: Federal marijuana laws vs. Washington & Colorado marijuana laws
In these instances, the courts ruled the state laws invalid, based on Article VI of the Constitution
“The Supremacy Clause”

9. Supremacy Clause
“…the Constitution and the Laws of the United States… shall be the supreme law of the land.”
Does not apply to laws about topics that are the proper focus of the states