The United States of America

Constitution TheUnited States of America Article I Legislative Branch

Vocabulary Census A count of the people

Vocabulary Impeach To accuse an official of some wrongdoing or misuse of power

Vocabulary Term Length of Meeting

Vocabulary Expel To remove a member from office

Vocabulary Privilege Special rights granted to the person due to their service to the government

Vocabulary Majority One over half

Vocabulary Minority Less than half

Vocabulary Quorum One person over half

Vocabulary Adjourn To end a meeting

Legislative Branch Major Job • To make our country’s laws • Based on representative form of government • Representatives are to carry out the will of the people

Legislative Branch Majority • Laws are passed by a majority vote • One over half • The larger group of politicians are known as the Majority

Legislative Branch Minority • The smaller group of politicians • If you are on the minority side • You try to persuade people on majority side to change sides or ideas

Legislative Branch Congress • Name for the Legislative Branch • House of Representatives • Senate • Begins meeting the 3rd day of January every odd-numbered year

Legislative Branch Term • Length of meeting • Recess during the summer months • 1st term from 1789-91

Congress House & Senate meet in different chambers On opposite sides of the Capitol Building In Washington, DC

Expel To remove a member from office Takes 2/3 vote of Congress

Congressional Record • A published record, notes and minutes of all meetings of the House and Senate

Legislative Branch Congressional Privileges • Cannot be arrested when going to or coming from Congress • Nor while attending a session • Cannot be sued or punished for anything he/she might say in Congress

Legislative Branch House of Representatives • Largest house of Congress • 435 representatives? • Based on population in state • Term of 2 years

Legislative Branch House of Representatives • One representative per 500,000 people • Census is taken every 10 years • used to find out how many people are in each state • A count of the people • First census was in 1790

Legislative Branch House of Representatives • Requirements • Must be at least 25-years-old • Must be a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years • Must live on the state elected

Legislative Branch House of Representatives • Speaker of the House • Presiding officer of the House of Representatives • Selected by the members of the House • Usually a member of the majority party • 2nd in line to the Presidency in case of an emergency

Legislative Branch House of Representatives • Impeachment • The House has sole power to impeach a government official • The House begins the process by accusing the official • Trial held by the Senate

Legislative Branch Senate • The smaller group of Congress • Each state has 2 Senators (for a total of 100 Senators) • Serves a 6-year term

Legislative Branch Senate • Every 2 years • 1/3 of the Senate are up for re-election • Provides there is never an entirely new group of Senators • At first the Senators were chosen by the state legislature • 17th amendment changed so Senators are elected by the people

Legislative Branch Senate • Requirements • Must be at least 30-years-old • Must be a citizen of the United States for at least 9 years • Must live in the state he/she represents

Legislative Branch Senate • Vice President of the United States • The leader of the Senate • Can only vote in case of tie

Legislative Branch Senate • Pro tempore • Leader of the Senate when the Vice President is not available • Chosen by the Senate • 3rd in line to the Presidency in case of Emergency

Legislative Branch Senate • Regards to Impeachment • The Senate acts as a Jury after the House accuses the person of a crime • Decides if the person is guilty or not

Legislative Branch Senate • Regards to Impeachment • Chief Justice of the Supreme Court acts as the judge • 2/3 of the Senators present must find the official guilty to remove the person from office

Legislative Branch Rules, Rights, & Privileges of Congress • Quorum • One person over half • This is the amount of members of Congress that must be present to hold a meeting

Legislative Branch Rules, Rights, & Privileges of Congress • Expel • Remove from office • Used when a member of Congress breaks the rules of Congress • 2/3 majority of the House or Senate must agree to expel

Legislative Branch Rules, Rights, & Privileges of Congress • Both house of Congress must meet in the same city during the same time

Legislative Branch Rules, Rights, & Privileges of Congress • Adjourn • To stop meeting • Each house must have the consent of the other house to adjourn

Legislative Branch Rules, Rights, & Privileges of Congress • Salary • Paid by the United States Government

Legislative Branch Rules, Rights, & Privileges of Congress • Only the House of Representatives can introduce bills to raise money

The United States of America