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Legislative Branch

Legislative Branch. Makes the Laws. The Basics. Legislative Branch=Congress, which is divided into the House of Representatives & the Senate (bicameral) Representatives (House) are elected according to a state’s population and Senators are elected 2 per state

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Legislative Branch

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  1. Legislative Branch Makes the Laws

  2. The Basics • Legislative Branch=Congress, which is divided into the House of Representatives & the Senate (bicameral) • Representatives (House) are elected according to a state’s population and Senators are elected 2 per state • Representatives=435 Senators=100 • Representatives elected every 2 years • Senators elected every 6 years

  3. Requirements • House of Representatives • Must be at least 25 yrs. old • Must be a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years • Must live in the state in which he/she is elected • Senate • Must be at least 30 years old • Must have been a citizen of the United States for at least 9 years • Must live in the state in which he/she is elected

  4. Structure

  5. Checks & Balances • Can impeach elected officials (put them on trial for wrong-doing) • Can override a President’s veto • Must approve the President’s selections for judges and other officials

  6. How a Bill Becomes a Law There is a simple process Congress must use to make laws. • A member of Congress (either the House or the Senate) must propose a bill. • The bill must then go to committee. • The committee in each house must review it and possibly edit it. • If the either committee dislikes the bill, they can “kill it” or refuse to bring it to a vote. • Once the bill passes through each committee, different versions may exist. A joint committee (House and Senate) must agree to the same language for the bill.

  7. How a Bill Becomes a Law • The bill then goes to each house for a vote. • It must pass with a majority of 51% in each house to move on to the next step. • The President must either sign the bill or veto it. • If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override it. Each house must vote to override the veto with a 2/3 majority vote.

  8. How an Amendment is Ratified • There are two ways an amendment can be proposed. • Congress • Both the House and the Senate must approve the proposal by a 2/3 majority (Most Common) • State Convention • At a convention called by 2/3 of the States • After an amendment is proposed, it must be ratified (approved). This can be done in two ways. • State Legislatures (Most Common) • ¾ of the State Legislatures approve • State Conventions • ¾ of the State Conventions approve

  9. Bill of Rights • Many of the Framers refused to support a new Constitution unless it guaranteed rights for individuals called the Bill of Rights. • The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights. • These are your MOST BASIC rights as a citizen!!! • We will study these more next week!

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