Chapter 6 Legislative Branch
Molly HunterPeriod 5
How is Congress Organized
Bicameral
Map Of Apportionment
House of Representatives
• The House of Representatives is the larger part of congress.
• The amount of representatives in each state is decided by the population, but each state has to have at least 1 representative.
Senate
• 100 members, 2 for each state• Senator represents entire state not a
particular district• Serve 6 year terms
Committee work
• Standing Committee- permanent committees• Some Committees in H.O.R• Agriculture• Budget• Science• Standing Committees in Senate
Powers Of Congress
• Congress can• Create money• Make new laws• Stretch laws to meet needs• Approve or reject presidential nominees• Impeach the president
Legislative Powers
• Expressed Powers- clearly listed powers• Implied powers- congress still has the power
to do what ever is necessary and proper• Elastic clause- can stretch congresses powers
to meet needs
Nonlegislative powers
• Congress has nonlegislative powers such as• To impeach• Reject presidential nominees
Power Limitations
• Congress can not pass laws that restrict freedom of speech or ban freedom of religion
• Congress can not suspend writ of habeas corpus
• Congress is banned from passing bill of attainder
• Congress can’t pass ex post facto laws
Representing the people
• Each American is represented by a 2 congress member and 1 representatives.
Qualifications and Privileges
• You must be 30 for senate/ 25 for house of representatives
• You must live in the state you wish to represent
• You must be a US citizen for at least 7 years
Congress at Work
• Represent people of their states• Case work• Making laws• Committee work
How a Bill Becomes a LawCommittee Action------------- Floor Action--------Conference Action
Committee action- goes to correct committee can either be passed, marked up with changes, ignore and let die, replace it with a new bill, let it die
Floor Action- member argue their pros and consConference- conference committee works out
differences and sends identical bill to both chambers
From Bill to a Law
• Committee Action------------- Floor Action--------Conference Action
Voting On a Bill
• Types Of Votingo Voice Vote- Saying “Yea” or “nay”o Standing vote-