The Legislative BranchThe Legislative Branch

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Three Constitutional Principles

• Separation of Powers– Congress has powers given to it by the

Constitution that are separate from the other branches of government

• Checks and Balances– Congress also has the power to check the

actions of the other two branches of govern.

• Limited Government– Congress can exercise only those powers

given to it by the Constitution

Bicameral Legislature• Two houses

• Senate

• House of Representatives

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National LegislatureNational Legislature

Function is to make laws

Congress in the Constitution:

Article I, Section I

Function is to make laws

Congress in the Constitution:

Article I, Section I

Representative government: System of

government in which a small group of persons are chosen by the people to act as their representatives

Expresses public will

Representative government: System of

government in which a small group of persons are chosen by the people to act as their representatives

Expresses public will

Public Will

Public support for policy action or change by the government “Public sentiment [will]

is everything. With public sentiment nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.”

Abraham Lincoln 1858

Public Will

Public support for policy action or change by the government “Public sentiment [will]

is everything. With public sentiment nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.”

Abraham Lincoln 1858

Public Policy

All of the goals a government sets and the various courses of action it pursues as it attempts to realize these goals

Public Policy

All of the goals a government sets and the various courses of action it pursues as it attempts to realize these goals

Why does Congress have two Houses?Why does Congress have two Houses?

In order to give fair representation to both large and small states

Connecticut Compromise Virginia Plan: pro large states NJ Plan: pro small states

In order to give fair representation to both large and small states

Connecticut Compromise Virginia Plan: pro large states NJ Plan: pro small states

Reasons for BicameralismReasons for Bicameralism

Historical Reasons British Parliament had 2 houses Most of the 13 colonies had two houses

PA and GA had unicameral Practical Reasons

Settle the conflict between small and large states at the Philadelphia Convention

Each state is equally represented: Senate Larger states get larger representation: House of

Representatives

Historical Reasons British Parliament had 2 houses Most of the 13 colonies had two houses

PA and GA had unicameral Practical Reasons

Settle the conflict between small and large states at the Philadelphia Convention

Each state is equally represented: Senate Larger states get larger representation: House of

Representatives

Theoretical Reasons

Two houses so one might act as a check on the other

Theoretical Reasons

Two houses so one might act as a check on the other

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Definitions• Term length of time served after election

– How long does it last? Two years, starts Jan 3rd of every odd numbered year

– How many sessions in a term? Two, one per year

• Session meeting– Who adjourns each session? Congress - both houses

• Adjourn end a session with consent of both houses• Special session meeting called by the President

– Why would a President call Congress into a special session? Deal with a pressing issue

– Why has the President’s power to call a special session lost much of its importance? Congress meets year round

DefinitionsDefinitions Term

How long does it last? How many sessions in a term?

Session Who adjourns each session?

Adjourn Special session

Why would a President call Congress into a special session?

Why has the President’s power to call a special session lost much of its importance?

Term How long does it last? How many sessions in a term?

Session Who adjourns each session?

Adjourn Special session

Why would a President call Congress into a special session?

Why has the President’s power to call a special session lost much of its importance?

Review1. Why is Congress the most basic

governmental function of our democratic system?

a. Because Congress makes the nation’s laws

b. Because many Presidents first were Senators or Representatives

c. Because Congress spends the people’s money

2. Theoretically, the Framers of the Constitution favored bicameralism because

a. The houses might act as a check and balance on each other

b. Two houses could block the acts of one President

c. One house would spend more money that two

3. Which of the following is the main reason that the President rarely had to call Congress into a special session?

a. The President controls te Congress and does not need special sessions

b. Congress now meets nearly year-round anyway

c. Congress made it clear that it was tired of special sessions

True or False

4. Bicameralism was the invention of the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

5. A Term is the length of time between elections in Congress.

6. The President may not call the Congress into session.

The End

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