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 30 years old

Question 6

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

Answer 6

9 years

Question 7

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

Answer 7

7 years

Question 8

How old does a representative have to be?

Answer 8

At least 25 years old

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 population of the state.

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 in the House of Representatives today?

Answer 12

435

Question 13

Which article of the constitution gives the legislative branch its power?
What does this show?

Answer 13

Article I

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

Question 13

Why is the Senate considered the “upper house”?

Answer 13

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

Question 15

Who can propose a bill on taxes?

Answer 15

A member of the House of Representatives

Question 16

What is the lawmaking process?

Answer 16

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 17

What are the powers of congress besides making laws?

Answer 17

• 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 18

What does the elastic clause do?

Answer 18

It gives congress the flexibility it needs to do its job

Question 19

Who can submit a proposal for a new law?

What is this proposal called?

Answer 19

Any member of the Senate or House of Representatives

A bill