LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Legislative Branch

    Two “Houses” in Congress

        House of Representatives (lower house)

        ▪    Representation Based on Population

        ▪    435 Representatives

        Senate (upper house)

        ▪    Equal Representation

        ▪    50 Senators - 2 per State

    Qualifications to be a Member

        House of Representatives (lower house)

        ▪    25 years old

        ▪    Citizen 7 years

        ▪    Reside in state they represent

        Senate (upper house)

        ▪    30 years old

        ▪    Citizen 9 years

        ▪    Reside in state they represent

    Terms of Office

        House of Representatives (lower house)

        ▪    2 years

        ▪    unlimited re-election

        Senate (upper house)

        ▪    6 years

        ▪    unlimited re-election

        ▪    1/3 of the Senate is re-elected every 2 years

    Legislator’s Job Description

        Law Maker - How a Bill Becomes a Law
            Introduced in Committee in the House or Senate

            Presented/Debated on the House or Senate Floor
            Goes to other house to repeat the process

            (must be identical in both houses)
            Presented to President for signature or veto

            Congress can override veto with 2/3 majority in both houses

        Committee Member - Standing Committees for specific issues
        Representative & Servant of Constituents
        Politician - more about this in Session II

 

Your address determines who is your representative. 

 

Find Federal and State Representatives at  http://act.commoncause.org/site/PageServer?pagename=sunlight_advocacy_list_page.

 

Find County officials at
 http://www.votespa.com/en-us/voting-and-elections/be-prepared/Pages/County-Contact-Information.aspx.

 

Find Township/Municipality officials at https://www.civicsforgrownups.org/copy-of-legislators-by-zip-4.

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