Legislative Branch Main Jobs Flashcards

Legislative Branch

• Primary function is to make laws.
• Composed of two houses: House of Representatives and Senate.

Preamble

• Serves as the introduction to the Constitution.

Constitution Structure

• Contains seven articles detailing the framework of the government.
• Amendments refer to the 37 changes made to the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

• The first ten amendments that outline individual rights.

Three Branches of Government

• Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches work together to govern.

Congress

• The House of Representatives has 435 members, allocated based on state population, assessed every decade via census.
• Senate consists of 100 members, with two senators from each state.

Congressional Record

• A comprehensive written record of all speeches and proceedings in both houses of Congress.

Elastic Clause

• Allows Congress the flexibility to exercise implied powers as necessary.

House of Representatives

• Must be 25 years or older, a U.S. citizen for 7 years, and a resident of the represented state.
• Terms last 6 years; Speaker of the House is the leader.

Senate

• Senators must be at least 30 years old, U.S. citizens for 9 years, and residents of their state.
• Terms also span 6 years, led by the President of the Senate.

Habeas Corpus

• Ensures the right of the accused to appear before a judge and be informed of charges.

Powers of Congress

• Responsibilities include taxing, printing money, and declaring war.

Ex Post Facto Law

• Prohibits penalizing individuals for actions taken before the enactment of a law against those actions.

Executive Branch

• Main job is to enforce laws.
• The President, term limited to 4 years, must be a native-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident for 14 years.

Selection of President and Vice President

• Chosen through the Electoral College; 270 electoral votes are required for victory.

Presidential Succession

• The Vice President is next in line, followed by the Speaker of the House.

Powers of the President

• Acts as commander in chief of the armed forces, appoints Supreme Court justices and ambassadors, and can veto or approve legislation.

Judicial Branch

• Responsible for interpreting laws.
• The Supreme Court is the highest court, composed of 9 justices with life terms, appointed by the President.

Federal Courts

• Includes district courts and courts of appeals, established by Congress.

Constitution

• The supreme law of the land, signed on September 17, 1787.

Amendments Overview

• Changes to the Constitution are known as amendments; the Bill of Rights comprises the first ten.
• Amendment 13 abolished slavery, while Amendment 18 initiated Prohibition.
• Amendment 19 granted women the right to vote, and Amendment 26 lowered the voting age to 18.
• Amendment 22 limits the presidency to two terms, with a maximum of 10 years in office.

Current Political Figures

• Barack Obama served as president, and Joseph Biden is the current vice president.
• Illinois representatives include Daniel Lipinski, while Richard Durbin and Roland Burris/Mark Kirk serve as state senators.

Test your knowledge about the legislative branch and its main responsibilities with these flashcards. Learn key terms such as amendments, the preamble, and the bill of rights, along with their definitions. Perfect for students studying government and politics!