About the Legislative Branch of U.S. Government

About the Legislative Branch of U.S. Government Every society needs laws. In the United States, the power to make laws is given to Congress, which represents the legislative branch of government. The Source of Laws The legislative branch is one of three branches of the U.S. government- the executive and judicial are the other two- and it is the one charged with creating the laws that hold our society together. Article I of the Constitution established Congress, the collective legislative body made up of the Senate and the House. The primary function of these two bodies is to write, debate and pass bills and to send them on to the president for his approval or veto. If the president gives his approval to a bill, it immediately becomes law. However, if the president vetoes the bill, Congress is not without recourse. With a two-thirds majority in both houses, Congress may override the presidential veto. Congress may also rewrite a bill in order to win presidential approval; vetoed legislation is sent back to the chamber where it originated for reworking. Conversely, if a president receives a bill and does nothing within 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law. Investigative Duties Congress can also investigate pressing national issues and it is charged with supervising and providing a balance to  the presidential and judicial branches as well. It has the authority to declare war; in addition, it has the power to coin money and is charged with regulating interstate and foreign commerce and trade. Congress also is responsible for maintaining the military, though the president serves as its commander in chief. Why Two Houses of Congress? In order to balance the concerns of smaller but more populated states against those of larger but more sparsely populated ones, the framers of the Constitution formed two disparate chambers.   The House of Representatives The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population according to the system of apportionment based on the latest U.S. Census. The House also has 6 non-voting members, or â€Å"delegates,† representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other territories of the United States. The Speaker of the House, elected by the members, presides over meetings of the House and is third in the line of presidential succession. Members of the House, referred to a U.S. Representatives, are elected for 2-year terms, must be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens for at least 7 years, and residents of the state from which they are elected to represent. The Senate The Senate is made up of 100 Senators, two  from each state. Before the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913, the Senators were chosen by the state legislatures, rather than the people. Today, Senators are elected to by the people of each state to 6-year terms. The terms of the Senators are staggered so that about one-third of the Senators must run for reelection every two years. Senators must be 30 years old, U.S. citizens for at least nine years, and residents of the state they represent. The Vice President of the United States presides over the Senate and has the right to vote on bills in the event of a tie.    Unique Duties and Powers Each house has some specific duties as well. The House can initiate laws that require people to pay taxes and can decide whether public officials should be tried if accused of a crime. Representatives are elected to two-year terms. The Senate can confirm or reject any treaties the president establishes with other nations and is also responsible for confirming presidential appointments of Cabinet members, federal judges, and foreign ambassadors. The Senate also tries any federal official accused of a crime after the House votes to impeach that official.  The House also has the power  elect the president in the case of an electoral college tie. Phaedra Trethan is a freelance writer who also works as a copy editor for the Camden Courier-Post. She formerly worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she wrote about books, religion, sports, music, films, and restaurants. Edited by Robert Longley