1. Legislative Branch

2. Legislature House of Representatives Broken into a bicameral Congress –House of Representatives Elected every 2 years Each state gets a proportional representation –One per @ 660,000 citizens »435 total –Alaska has one (Don Young) »New census changes placement of representatives

3. House of Representatives –Original idea for number of reps. in the Constitution. One per every 30,000 citizens –Arguments in Federal Convention about number of reps »Some thought 1 per 40,000. some for 1 per 15 or 20 thousand »Some argued in favor of an accurate portrayal of society (proportional number for each occupation) – there would be around 9400 representatives if the original idea was still being followed »1929 law limited the number to 435

4. Senate The Senate is made up of 2 senators from each state –Elected every 6 years Not all senators are elected each rotation –Removes the proportional representation –Each state becomes equal in stature Lisa Murkowski Dan Sullivan

5. Senate –Equality among states is often seen as unfair States with small populations gain power in the Senate –Ted Stevens »Was 4 th in line for president »Chairman of powerful committees –Senate was created as a way to “check” the power of the House Framers were afraid of power being in the hands of the people

6. Senate A way was needed to replace the upper class and still protect their interests –States developed the Senate –Senate given the power »to confirm appointees »To ratify treaties »To try impeachments