Article 1: Legislative Branch

U.S. Capitol

Article 1: Legislative Branch

U.S. Capitol

Article 1: Legislative Branch

U.S. Capitol

Article 1: Legislative Branch

U.S. Capitol

Article 1: Legislative Branch

Congress is bicameral - it has two houses or two groups that work to

make laws

Article 1: Legislative Branch Powers of Congress

1. The power to tax2. The power to regulate trade (for states and with foreign countries)3. The power to borrow money (sell savings bonds or from banks)4. The power to coin (print) money

Article 1: Legislative Branch Powers of Congress

5. The power to create (and eliminate) lower courts6. The power to create and maintain an army and navy7. The power to declare war on another country8. The power to regulate commerce (make business regulations)

Article 1: Legislative Branch Powers of Congress

9. The power to run the post office10. The power to give out copyrights and patents11. The power to regulate weights and measures

Article 1: Legislative Branch Limits on Congress

1. Cannot pass a trade law that helps one state more than another2. Cannot pass a law that takes away any of the people’s natural rights3. Cannot give any citizen special titles (like king, prince, or princess)

Article 1: Legislative Branch

Proportional Representation - the number of representatives each state gets depends on its

population.

Article 1: Legislative Branch

Congressional Districts - A congressional district is drawn so that each representative,

represents about the same number of citizens.

Michigan’s population = 9,883,640

So each representative represents about 658,000 people.

Article 1: Legislative Branch

The House of Representatives

Article 1: Legislative Branch The House of Representatives

Total number of members: 435

Number of representatives per state:proportional representation- the number from each state depends on the population of the state Term in office (how long): 2 years

Name of the leader in this house:Speaker of the House

Current Speaker of the House:John Boehner

Article 1: Legislative Branch The House of Representatives

Special Powers of the House of Representatives:

the power to impeach government officials

all appropriations bills (about taxes or spending tax money) must start in the House of Representatives

if the Electoral College fails to elect a president, the House of Representatives chooses the president.

Article 1: Legislative Branch

The House of Representatives

Requirements:

- at least 25 years old

- must be a citizen for at least 7 years

- must live in the district that you are representing

Article 1: Legislative Branch

The Senate

Article 1: Legislative Branch The Senate

Total number of members: 100

Number of representatives per state: 2

Term in office (how long): 6 years

The SenateWho leads this house (when not busy)?The Vice President of the United States

Who leads this house when the V.P. is busy? The President Pro TemporeCurrent President Pro Tempore: Patrick Leahy (Senator from Vermont)

Vice PresidentJoseph (Joe)

Biden

Article 1: Legislative Branch The Senate

Special Powers of the Senate:

approves presidential appointments for jobs, cabinet members, judges, ambassadors

approves or rejects any treaty made by the president

serves as the jury for impeachment trials - votes whether or not to convict of impeachment

Article 1: Legislative Branch The Senate

Requirements:

- at least 30 years old

- must be a citizen for a least 9 years

- must live in the state you represent