Gavin Howe
The US Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government, established by Article I of the Constitution. It is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. Congress has the sole authority to enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and hold investigative powers. The legislative process involves the introduction of a bill, which is then referred to the appropriate committee for review. The committees are comprised of members from both parties and are responsible for developing and assessing legislation. The judicial branch, including the Supreme Court, has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve cases involving federal laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of branches | 3 (legislative, executive, and judicial) |
| Powers of Congress | Enact legislation, declare war, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, investigative powers, and provide oversight of policy implementation |
| Composition of Congress | House of Representatives and Senate |
| Number of members in the House of Representatives | 435 elected members and 6 non-voting members |
| Number of Senators | 2 from each state, serving 6-year terms |
| Committee structure | 17 Senate committees with 70 subcommittees, 23 House committees with 104 subcommittees |
| Committee roles | Drafting and considering legislative proposals, providing oversight and investigations |
| Legislative process | Bills are introduced and referred to committees for review, consideration by subcommittees and committees, hearings, and presentation to the President |
| Presidential involvement | Recommends budget, suggests legislation, and has the power to veto legislation |
| Judicial branch | Supreme Court, with one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices, has the authority to decide the constitutionality of laws and acts of Congress |
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What You'll Learn
The legislative branch
The House of Representatives consists of 435 elected members, distributed among the 50 states in proportion to their population. Additionally, there are six non-voting members representing Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and four other US territories. The Speaker of the House, elected by the Representatives, is third in line to the Presidency. Members of the House are elected every two years and must be at least 25 years old.
The Senate, on the other hand, is composed of 100 Senators, with each state electing two Senators. Senators serve six-year terms, staggered so that approximately one-third of the Senate faces reelection every two years. Senators must meet the minimum age requirement of 30 years, be US citizens for a minimum of nine years, and reside in the state they represent. The Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate and can cast a tie-breaking vote.
The legislative process typically begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress can introduce it. Bills can originate from the President, such as the annual federal budget, or from individual members of Congress. After introduction, a bill is referred to relevant committees and subcommittees for review, amendment, or rejection. Committees are chaired by members of the majority party and focus on specific policy areas. The House and Senate have a combined total of 34 committees and 174 subcommittees, allowing for in-depth legislative consideration and specialisation.
Once a bill passes through the committee stage, it proceeds to a floor vote in each chamber. For a bill to become law, both the House and the Senate must pass it by majority vote. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto by achieving a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. This showcases the system of checks and balances in place, where each branch of government can influence the actions of the other branches.
In summary, the Legislative Branch, through the House of Representatives and the Senate, plays a crucial role in enacting legislation, conducting oversight, and providing a check on the Executive Branch. The legislative process involves multiple stages, from bill introduction to committee review and floor votes, ensuring thorough deliberation and representation of the people's interests.
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The House of Representatives
The members of the House of Representatives, often referred to as Representatives, are elected to a two-year term. Each Representative serves the people of a specific congressional district. To be eligible for election, a candidate must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for at least seven years, and an inhabitant of the state they represent. The schedules of Representatives are typically very busy and planned out in short increments. They attend briefings, meetings, hearings, and votes, and they interact with constituents and review various materials.
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The Senate
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Legislative Branch, established by Article I of the Constitution, consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.
The enactment of law requires both the Senate and the House of Representatives to separately agree to the same bill in the same form before presenting it to the President. Congressional action is typically planned and coordinated by party leaders in each chamber, who have been chosen by members of their own caucus or conference. In the Senate, the leader of the majority party proposes items for consideration.
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The President's influence
The US Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which are the two chambers of the legislative branch of the federal government. Congress is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing laws.
The President is the head of state, leader of the federal government, and Commander-in-Chief of the US armed forces. The President has influence in the legislative process, as they recommend an annual budget for federal agencies and often suggest legislation. The President also has the power to veto legislation passed by Congress, which can significantly affect the content of bills. This power is substantial, as it is rare for laws to be enacted over a presidential veto. Therefore, Congress usually has to accommodate the President's position on proposed policies.
The President nominates heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court, which are then confirmed or rejected by Congress. The President can also grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
Congress has oversight of the executive branch, which acts as a check on the President's power and a balance against their discretion in implementing laws and making regulations. Congress also has extensive investigative powers, and members spend much of their time holding hearings and investigations in committee. Congressional subpoenas can be used to compel the production of evidence or testimony, and refusal to cooperate can result in charges of contempt of Congress, potentially leading to a prison term.
In summary, while Congress has the sole power to make and change laws, the President has significant influence in the legislative process through their ability to suggest and veto legislation, as well as their role in appointing federal agency and court officials. Congress, in turn, has oversight powers over the executive branch and can investigate and subpoena the President and other executive branch officials.
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The Supreme Court
Article III, Section II of the Constitution establishes the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states or cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers. The Certiorari Act of 1925 gives the Court the discretion to decide whether or not to hear a case. Each year, the Supreme Court agrees to hear about 100-150 cases out of the more than 7,000 cases it is asked to review.
The decisions of the Supreme Court have a significant impact on society, including in several landmark cases involving students. For example, in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District (1969), the Court held that students could not be punished for wearing black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War, asserting that "students do not shed their rights at the schoolhouse gate."
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Frequently asked questions
No single branch of Congress hears all cases of law. The legislative branch, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, has investigative powers and can hold hearings and investigations in committee. The judicial branch, on the other hand, has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve cases involving federal laws.
The legislative branch, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate, is responsible for enacting legislation and declaring war, confirming or rejecting Presidential appointments, and conducting investigations.
A bill is first introduced and then referred to the appropriate committee for review. There are standing committees and subcommittees in both the Senate and the House, each overseeing specific policy areas. The bill is considered in a subcommittee, where it may be accepted, amended, or rejected. If moved forward, it goes to the full committee, repeating the process. Hearings are held to investigate the bill's merits and flaws.
The judicial branch, including federal courts and the Supreme Court, hears cases and interprets and applies the law. The Supreme Court, as the highest court, interprets the law, decides its relevance, and rules on its application, setting a precedent for lower courts.
The legislative process emphasizes protecting the minority, allowing all sides to be heard and considered. This safeguard ensures that proposals must be reviewed and approved by both Houses of Congress before becoming law, showcasing the strength of our bicameral system.
