Legislative Branch

By Grace Robertson

The Main Function of this Branch• The Legislative Branch makes the

laws• Main place where they’re made is

Congress• Made of House of Representatives

and Senate• Senate decides by two-thirds vote• Some powers of Congress are old,

but still in affect• Each house of Congress can make

bills (laws)

Their Meetings

• They meet at the U. S. Capital Building• Their meetings begin after they make a bill

Number of Representatives

• Wisconsin has of them• 435 total

Our Representatives

• Representatives of Wisconsin

Separated into 8 districtsPaul Ryan District 1Tammy Baldwin District 2Ronald Kind District 3Gwen Moore District 4James Sensenbrenner District 5 Thomas Petri District 6David Obey District 7Steve Kagen District 8

All pictures found at www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=WI

Qualifications to be a representative They have to be 25 years oldThey have to be a resident of the U. S. for at least 7 yearsThey must live in the state from the one that their elected

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/03/democrats-introduce-cap-trade-renewable-house.php

http://lead.csusb.edu/sponsors.htm

• 2 years of work

• In order to stay in the House, they have to be re-elected every two years

Terms of

House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives

• Nancy Pelosi• Democratic party• First female speaker

of the house

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Speaker_Nancy_Pelosi.jpg

Number of Senators

• 100 total• Wisconsin has 2

Our Senators• 100 total• Wisconsin has 2• Russ Feingold• Herb Kohl• Every state has2• Number of them is

based on equality

http://www.loansafe.org/wisconsin-senators-announce-emergency-housing-assistance-for-the-unemployed

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/k000305/

Qualifications for Senate

• 30 years old• A citizen of the U. S. for

9 years• Live in the state they

are elected from

Terms of Senate

• 6 years• Every two years, 2/3 is

up for re-election

Presiding Officers• Joe Biden • Nancy Pelosi

• Speaker of the house• First female speaker of the house• Democrat

http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/02/14/joe-biden-in-wonderland/

•The Vice President of the United States of America•Only votes in the event of a tie•Democrat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Speaker_Nancy_Pelosi.jpg

The Impeachment Process• The House starts by

accusing the official• Trial is carried out by

Senate• Senate acts as the jury• Chief Justice of the

Supreme Court acts as judge

• 2/3 of Senate must prove guilty to have them removed from office

How a Bill becomes a Law• Idea of a Representative• Bill• Committee in House• Quorum vote (1 over

half)• Senate Committee• Quorum vote • Committee joint• President • Law

• Idea of a Representative• Bill• Committee in House• Quorum vote• Senate committee• Quorum vote• Committee joint• President vetoes (rejects) bill• Back to Representatives for a 2/3

(290/435) vote• To Senate for a 2/3 (66/100) vote • Law

OR

4 Powers Given to Congress

• The elastic clause- allows congress to have power to make all laws that are necessary

• Enumerated power- powers given to Congress listed in detail in the Constitution

• Implied powers- powers given to Congress listed in general in the Constitution

• Inherent powers- powers not listed in the Constitution, but are needed to run everything smoothly

Limits on Congress• They couldn’t outlaw the slave trade

until 1808• Habeas corpus allows the person to

be seen in court• Cannot pass the ex post facto law

which means if you do something Monday, and it is illegal Wednesday, you can’t get in trouble

• Congress cannot tax products from another state, give preference to another states sea ports, or issue titles of nobility

• Congress puts limits on states states cannot have treaties with other countries and coin their own money

• Delegated powers are given to the national government in Washington D. C. , like the power to declare war

• Concurrent powers are shared by national and government such as the power to tax

• Reserved powers are only powers states have like to create a school system

My Opinion…

Would I like to be part of this branch?

No, I wouldn’t really like to make new laws.

What changes would I make?

I would make all schools go from 9 am to 3 pm. This is because lots of kids have to get up really early, so now they would have an extra hour to sleep in.

Is the Legislative Important

It is very important. Without this branch, our country would be so messed up, and no body would be in school and everyone would be steeling.

Thanks for watching!