The Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch

Copy everything that is YELLOW ONLY

Multiple Choice

Pre-test: The job of Congress is to _______________.

• Make the Laws

• Enforce the Laws

• Interpret the Laws

Multiple Choice

Congress is divided into two chambers: the ______________ and the House of Representatives.

• Supreme Court

• White House

• Capitol Building

• Senate

Multiple Choice

Each state has _______ senators.

• two

• three

• four

• five

Multiple Choice

The number of Representatives a state has is _________________.

• always equal

• based on the population.

Multiple Choice

A draft of a law is called a __________.

• Veto

• Filibuster

• Bill

• Constituent

I. Congress

• We have a bicameral legislature (meaning 2 parts)

• House of Representatives + Senate = Congress

II. House of Representatives

• Representation is based on a states' population (census data)

• Each state is guaranteed AT LEAST one representative

• Reps. are elected every 2 years and must be at least 25 years old

• There are no term limits for Representatives

House of Representatives (continued)

• Representatives must maintain a resident in both Washington D.C. and their home state

• Representatives only represent the specific district in their state that elected them

• Alabama is split into 7 different districts

Fill in the Blanks

III. Senate

• Number of senators from each state is ALWAYS two (no matter what the population is)

• Senators must be at least 30 years old

• Senators are elected every 6 years

• There are no term limits for senators

Senate (continued)

• Senators also must maintain a residence in the state that elects them and Washington D.C.

• Unlike Representatives, Senators serve their entire state (not just one single district within their state)

• ​These are the 2 current Alabama Senators - Richard Shelby and Tommy Tuberville

Poll

Do you think Senators and Representatives should have term limits? (Like Presidents do)

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

Many Americans think Senators and Representatives should have term limits. Why do you think some people feel this way?

IV. Both

• Both Senators and Representatives must be U.S. citizens (at least 9 years)

• Both Senators and Representatives must be citizens of the state that elects them

• A bill (or rough draft of a law) can be started be either the Senate or House of Representatives

V. Powers

1. EXPRESSED POWERS - are powers that are specifically spelled out in the Constitution

• ex. to raise and support an armed force

• IMPLIED POWERS - are powers Congress has that aren't specifically spelled out in the Constitution

• ex. to create a military draft

Multiple Choice

Review: The branch of government that makes the laws is the ______________.

• Executive Branch

• Legislative Branch

• Judicial Branch

Multiple Choice

Each state has TWO ____________.

• Senators

• Representatives

Multiple Choice

Congress is divided into two chambers: the Senate and the _________________.

• White House

• House of Represenatives

• Supreme Court

• Capitol Building

Multiple Choice

The number of _________________ a state has is based on a state's population.

• Senators

• Representatives

Multiple Choice

A Bill is ____________________.

• a nickname for amendments to the Constitution

• a law that has been ratified by all of the states

• a law that has been repealed

• a rough draft of a law