Homeschool Study Guides - The United States Government

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US Government	Teach-At-Home
The Foundation of the U.S. Government
The U.S. Constitution established the three branches of the U.S. Government:
The Executive Branch - headed by the President The Legislative Branch - the Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) The Judicial Branch - the Supreme Court (and other federal courts.)

The Legislative Branch
The Congress of the United States of America is the legislative branch of the federal government. Congress is responsible to pass the laws that govern the country and determine how money collected in taxes is spent. It is the president's responsibility to enforce the laws. Congress consists of two parts: The Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate
The Senate has 100 members - two Senators from each state. The Constitution requires that the Senate have the same number of representatives from each state. In this way, small states have the same number of Senators as large states. Senators are elected every six years and there is no limit on the number of terms a Senator can serve. The Constitution requires a Senator to be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a resident of the state from which they are elected In addition to passing laws and spending money, the Senate is responsible for:
Approving Presidential appointments - Supreme Court Justices, cabinet members. Approving all treaties - requires a two-thirds vote. Trying high-ranking government officials who have been impeached by the House of Representatives.

The Senate

The Senate has 100 members - two Senators from each state. The Constitution requires that the Senate have the same number of representatives from each state. In this way, small states have the same number of Senators as large states. Senators are elected every six years and there is no limit on the number of terms a Senator can serve. The Constitution requires a Senator to be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a resident of the state from which they are elected

In addition to passing laws and spending money, the Senate is responsible for:

Approving Presidential appointments - Supreme Court Justices, cabinet members.
Approving all treaties - requires a two-thirds vote.
Trying high-ranking government officials who have been impeached by the House of Representatives.

U.S. Senate Members

The House of Representatives
The House of Representatives has 435 members. The number of Representatives from each state depends on its population as determined in the latest Census count. Each state has at least one Representative regardless of its population. House members are elected by popular vote every two years. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens for at least seven years, and residents of the state from which they are elected. In 1789, the House of Representatives had only 65 members. As the country grew in population so did the number of Representatives. When the 2000 Census is complete, the number of Representatives from each state may change.

The House of Representatives

The House of Representatives has 435 members. The number of Representatives from each state depends on its population as determined in the latest Census count. Each state has at least one Representative regardless of its population. House members are elected by popular vote every two years. Representatives must be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens for at least seven years, and residents of the state from which they are elected.

In 1789, the House of Representatives had only 65 members. As the country grew in population so did the number of Representatives. When the 2000 Census is complete, the number of Representatives from each state may change.

U.S. House Members

How Laws are Made

1. A Bill is Proposed

A "bill" is a proposed law introduced or "sponsored" by a member or members of Congress. The bill is introduced and then considered separately by the Senate and the House.

2. House and Senate Committee

The bill is first sent to a committee in the House and Senate for review. A committee is made up of members of the House or Senate. The committee usually specializes in a certain area: Agriculture, Appropriations, Finance, etc.. Hearings may be held so people can speak for or against the bill.

3. Committee Vote

The committee can change the bill if necessary. A vote is taken and if the vote is in favor of the bill it goes to the full House and Senate.

4. The Debate

The bill is debated by the full House and Senate and changed again if necessary. The full House and Senate then vote on the bill.

5. The Conference Committee

The House and Senate may pass different versions of the same bill. The bill is sent to a conference committee, with members from both the House and Senate, to work out the differences in the bills.

6. The Final Vote

The full House and Senate vote on the conference committee bill. If it passes by a majority of members of both the House and Senate it is passed to the president for signature.

7. The President

The president reviews the bill. If the president signs the bill, it goes into law. If the president doesn't sign the bill - this is called "vetoing" the bill - the bill goes back to Congress.

8. Overriding a Veto

A vetoed bill is returned to Congress where members can vote again. The Congress can override the president's veto if they pass the bill by a two-thirds majority. If overridden, it is passed into law.

The U.S. Legislative Branch

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