the outline of legislative branch
The Legislative Branch
Bicameral system
-House of Representatives ‘Members elected based on population ‘Elected every two years
-The Senate ‘Two senators from each state ‘Elected to six-year terms
Power of Congress
-Raise revenue taxation
-Determine how revenue is spent
-Regulate commerce
-Establish laws necessary for congressional objectives
The purpose of legislation
Three purposes:
-Protective
-Remedial
-Fairly applied to all
The legislative process The path from concept to law
-Introduced to legislature, assigned a number
-Assigned to committee for consideration
-Presented to originating body for vote
-Majority vote wins, submitted to corresponding body
-Bill submitted to president to be signed or voted
Passing constitutional amendments
-Similar to passing a bill
-Amendment must pass both houses by two-thirds majority
-Approved by three-fourth of state legislature
Function of lobbyists
-Represent special interests of citizens or industries
-Persuade legislators to vote in their favor
-Give insight of strength or weakness of proposed legislation
Public hearings and sessions -Method of gathering information firsthand -Congress meets several months each year to consider proposed legislation -Each session numbered consecutively and assigned public law number: codification
Publication of legislation
-All federal laws are published in United State Code (U.S.C) 1.Revised statutes or codes 2.Annotated statute
Legislation and Judicial Review Two common issues of statutory interpretation:
1. Whether statute should be applied
2. How the state should be applied
-Statutes are broadly written
-Must be broken down to elements
The Executive Branch
Changes in the electoral process -Most significant: selection of the vice president -Failed majority in Electoral College led to two elections House of Representatives elect president Senate elects vice president
Bicameral system
-House of Representatives ‘Members elected based on population ‘Elected every two years
-The Senate ‘Two senators from each state ‘Elected to six-year terms
Power of Congress
-Raise revenue taxation
-Determine how revenue is spent
-Regulate commerce
-Establish laws necessary for congressional objectives
The purpose of legislation
Three purposes:
-Protective
-Remedial
-Fairly applied to all
The legislative process The path from concept to law
-Introduced to legislature, assigned a number
-Assigned to committee for consideration
-Presented to originating body for vote
-Majority vote wins, submitted to corresponding body
-Bill submitted to president to be signed or voted
Passing constitutional amendments
-Similar to passing a bill
-Amendment must pass both houses by two-thirds majority
-Approved by three-fourth of state legislature
Function of lobbyists
-Represent special interests of citizens or industries
-Persuade legislators to vote in their favor
-Give insight of strength or weakness of proposed legislation
Public hearings and sessions -Method of gathering information firsthand -Congress meets several months each year to consider proposed legislation -Each session numbered consecutively and assigned public law number: codification
Publication of legislation
-All federal laws are published in United State Code (U.S.C) 1.Revised statutes or codes 2.Annotated statute
Legislation and Judicial Review Two common issues of statutory interpretation:
1. Whether statute should be applied
2. How the state should be applied
-Statutes are broadly written
-Must be broken down to elements
The Executive Branch
Changes in the electoral process -Most significant: selection of the vice president -Failed majority in Electoral College led to two elections House of Representatives elect president Senate elects vice president