Branches of Government = Separation of
Powers
The Legislative Branch: The US Congress
Bicameral legislature: having 2 houses in Congress
The House of Representatives
Representatives must:
Be at least 25 years old.
Be a U.S. citizen for the past 7
years.
Live in the state they represent
The HOR is based on the number of people living
in a state. Each state is guaranteed 1 member.
Each representative represents an area known as
a congressional district.
There are 435 members in the US House of
Representatives.
Special House Powers
• The House has special jobs that only it
can do. It can:
• Start laws that make people pay taxes.
• Decide if a government official should be
put on trial before the Senate if s/he
commits a crime against the country.
The Senate
Senators must:
Be at least 30 years old.
Be a U.S. citizen for the
past 9 years.
Live in the state they
represent
Each state has 2 members in the US
Senate. That means that all states are
equal. A Senator’s term is 6 years.
Special Senate
Powers
• The Senate has special jobs that only it can do. It
can:
• Say yes or no to any treaties the president makes.
• Say yes or no to any people the president recommends
for jobs, such as cabinet officers, Supreme Court
justices, and ambassadors.
• Can hold a trial for a government official who does
something very wrong.
National vs. State Government
Federalism: The idea that both the state
& national government have powers.
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/government/federalism.html
Exclusive Powers of the National
Government and State Governments
Expressed or Enumerated Powers = National
Reserved Powers = State
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/government/federalism2.html
Shared or Concurrent Powers
•
•
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•
•
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Collect taxes
Build roads
Borrow money
Establish courts
Make and enforce laws
Charter banks and corporations
Spend money for the general welfare
Take private property for public purposes, with
just compensation
Powers Denied to the National Government and State
Governments
= Limited Government
• Grant titles of nobility
• Permit slavery (13th Amendment)
• Deny citizens the right to vote due to race,
color, or previous servitude (15th
Amendment)
• Deny citizens the right to vote because of
gender (19th Amendment
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/government/federalism3.html
Role on the Job
• Trustee – the people ‘trust’ that the official
will vote in the constituent’s best interests
• Partisan – the official acts as a member of
his/her political party and votes with the
party
• Politico – the official votes partially as a
‘trustee’ and partially as a ‘partisan’ to
COMPROMISE and get work done
Salary as of 2012
• President Pro-tempore: $223,500 ??
• Regular Senator: $174,000
• Majority/Minority leaders: $193,400
• Speaker of the House: $223,500
Regular Representative: $174,000
• Majority/Minority leaders: $193,400
Non Salary Benefits &
Privileges
• Franking Privilege, tax break on
maintaining 2 homes
• Medical care, office space, retirement
plan, gyms, travel allowance