Legislative Branch

Question 1

Which branch of government makes the laws?

Answer 1

The Legislative branch

Question 2

What are the two house of the legislative branch?

Answer 2

Senate and House of Representatives

Question 3

How long is a senator’s term?

Answer 3

6 years

Question 4

How long is a representative’s term?

Answer 4

2 years

Question 5

How old does a senator have to be?

Answer 5

At least thirty years old

Question 6

How old does a representative have to be?

Answer 6

At least twenty five years old

Question 7

How long does a senator have to be a U.S. citizen for?

Answer 7

9 years

Question 8

How long does a representative have to be a U.S. citizen for?

Answer 8

7 years

Question 9

How many senators does each state get?

Answer 9

2

Question 10

How many representatives does each state get?

Answer 10

It depends on the state’s population

Question 11

How does the government find the right number of representatives for each state?

Answer 11

The constitution calls for a census (a count of the population) every 10 years. Based on the population a state gets a certain number of districts which is the same amount of representatives that the state gets.

Question 12

How many members are there in the House of Representatives today?

Answer 12

435

Question 13

Which article in the Constitution gives the Legislative branch its power?
What does it show?

Answer 13

Article 1 of the constitution.

It shows that the legislative branch is the most important branch.

Question 14

Why is the Senate considered the “upper house”?

Answer 14

It’s members are supposed to be smarter and more experienced.

Question 15

Who can propose an idea for a law?

What is this proposal called?

Answer 15

Any senator or representative

A bill

Question 16

Who can propose a bill on taxes?

Answer 16

Any representative

Question 17

What is the lawmaking process?

Answer 17

If the majority of one house approves the bill, it goes to the other house for debate. If both houses approve the bill, it goes to the president. The bill becomes a law if the president signs it. If the president vetoes it, then congress can override the president’s veto with a two thirds majority vote in both houses.

Question 18

What are the powers of congress (besides lawmaking)?

Answer 18

• Can decide how to spend the money raised through taxes
• Power to raise an army and navy
• Power to declare war
• Power to pay government debts
• Power to grant citizenship
• Power to “make all laws which shall be necessary to carry out its other powers.

Question 19

What does the elastic clause do?

Answer 19

It gives congress the flexibility it needs to do its job