The Legislative Branch
How Congress is Organized
The U.S. Congress
Article I of the US Constitution
explains the roles and responsibilities
of the Legislative Branch, also known
as Congress.
The U.S. Congress

The Legislative Branch
of the U.S. Government
is made up of the
– The House of
Representatives
– The Senate

Congress consists of 535
members in a two house,
or bicameral, system.
The Jobs of Congress

Congress has three main
jobs:
– Their main duty is to make
laws for the nation.
– Helping constituents work
out problems
– Helping their district or
state by pushing issues
that help their own
constituents.
Session of Congress

Congressional
Sessions last from
January 3rd until
session is
adjourned, or
ended.
“U.S. House of Representatives”

Consists of 435 total
members
 The number of
representatives for each state
is based on population, each
state getting at least one
representative
– Population is determined by a
Census taken every ten years.
“U.S. House of Representatives”

Requirement to become a
Representative:
– 25 years old
– Live in the district you plan to
represent
– Live in the US for the past 7
years

Serve 2 year terms and focus
on concerns of their local
constituents, or people they
represent.
“U.S. Senate”

Consists of 100 total members
 The number of Senators is based
on equal representation – 2 per
state.

Requirement to become a
Senator:
– 30 years old
– Live in the state you plan to
represent
– Live in the US for the past 9
years
“U.S. Senate”

Senators serve 6 year
terms with only onethird of the Senate up
for reelection at a time.
 Focus on the concerns of
the state constituents.
Congressional Leadership and
Committees
Congressional Leadership
Political
Parties play a large
role in Congress
Controlling Congress

Party with the most
elected members is known
as the Majority Party
– Each “majority party” has
a majority leader, who
has the task of pushing
party issues on the floor of
each house.
Controlling Congress

Party with the least
elected members is
known as the
Minority Party

The minority party
will also select a
minority leader.

House of Representatives
Leadership
The Speaker of the
House is the most
powerful position in
the House and is 2nd in
line for presidency,
after the Vice
President.
 He sets the agenda for
the House of
Representatives
“Speaker of the House”

The current speaker
is Rep. Paul Ryan
from Wisconsin
Senate Leadership
Role of the Vice President

The Senate is
technically overseen
over by Vice-President
who cannot always be
there
 The current Vice
President is Joe Biden
(D).
Senate Leadership

The President Pro
Tempore of the
Senate is in charge
when the Vice
President is not there
and is 3rd in line to
the presidency.
“Senate Pro Tempore”

The current “pro tem”
of the Senate is Sen.
Orrin Hatch (R) of
Utah
Congressional Committees
Congressional Committees

Congressional committees
are subgroups within
Congress that only look at
specific needs of the
country.
– Congress members are
selected for these
committees based on
interest and seniority.
“Standing Committees”

Standing Committee
are permanent
committees in both
houses that meet every
session.
“Select Committees”

Select committees are
committees created to
do a special job for a
limited period of time.
“Joint Committees”

Joint Committees:
include members from
the House and Senate
that work together on
issues.
“Conference Committees”

Conference
Committees: Joint
committee that
works on the final
wording of bills.