Legislative Branch: The Congress (2895)

The legislative branch is the Congress, which consists of the Senate, the upper house, and the House of Representatives, the Lower House. Each state has its own government – State Assemblies or, Legislatures with two houses. According to the constitution of the USA, all citizens of both sexes over 18 years of age have a right of voting. The main function of the legislative branch is to make laws. The Congress can make laws about trade, taxes, citizenship and about the District of Columbia. It can maintain Army, Navy and Air Force, declare war, establish U.S. Post Office, print and borrow money. The Congress cannot take away the right to a trial, give title of nobility, put a tax on exports, and use tax money without authorization. It cannot make laws about marriage, driver's licences, police, etc. A new Congress session begins on the 3rd of January each odd number year and continues for two years.

The Constitution established that the Congress must meet regularly. A new Congress begins every two years with the election of new Senators and Representatives. Congress meets for its sessions in the Capitol Buildings in Washington, D. C. The House of Representatives has a large room, the Senate a smaller one and the president has some offices for his use.

The House of Representatives has 435 members. The number of Representatives depends on the population of each state. A Representative must be at least 25, a U.S. citizen for seven years, and live in the state from which he is elected. There is usually one representative for about 580,000 people in a state. However, all states must have at least one representative in the House. States with many representatives have more power in the House than states with only a few representatives.

Democrats sit on the Speakers right, republicans – on his left. The Speaker presides over the House and conducts debates. The Speaker, like Vice-president, may vote. Most of the Congressmen are lawyers, businessman and bankers.

The Senate is composed of 100 members - two from each of 50 states, who are elected for a term of 6 years. A Senator must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the USA for 9 years and a resident of the state from which he is elected. Democrats sit in the western part of the chamber, on Vice-president’s right. Republicans sit on his left. Their special duties are: to ratify or approve treaties, to confirm appointments, to try impeached officials. Only the House of Representatives can impeach officials. Only Senate can try the officials. The Senate decides if the official can stay in office. Two-thirds of the Senate must agree to remove an official from office.

In addition to making laws, the main function of the legislative branch, the Constitution also gives Congress the power to raise money by means of taxes or borrowing; to make rules for trade with foreign countries and between states; to organize the Armed Forces; to declare war, etc.

There are 16 permanent committees in the Senate and 20 in the House. Each committee sifts and sorts the bills it is responsible for.

Often discussing Congress of the USA, the third chamber is mentioned. It's a specific American phenomenon called lobbies. Today it is big corporations, social organisations, foreign diplomats, who try to influence lawmaking process in their favour. Practically lobbyism has become legal, it means that the passing of a bill can be prevented, if it doesn't suit the interests of a definite group of big business.

Check your comprehension.

1. How is the legislative branch called in America? 2. What chambers does it consist of? 3. What is the main function of the Congress? 4. What cannot the Congress do? 5. How often does the Congress meet? 6. Where does it meet for its sessions? 7. For what term are Senators elected? 8. How many representatives can any state have in the Congress? 9. How old must be an American to be elected to the Senate the House of Representatives? 10. How many permanent committees are there in the Senate and in the House?

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Political System of the USA (1371)	\|	Major Political Parties (1910)

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