Key Facts
- Who
- Congress — the Senate (100 members) and House of Representatives (435 members)
- Term
- Representatives: 2 years. Senators: 6 years (staggered).
About the Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch is the lawmaking body of the federal government. It is bicameral, meaning it has two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Founders designed Congress to be the most powerful branch, listed first in the Constitution (Article I).
Key Powers
- Write and pass federal laws
- Declare war
- Control the federal budget
- Levy taxes
- Confirm presidential appointments
- Ratify treaties (Senate)
- Impeach federal officials (House)
- Override presidential vetoes (2/3 vote)
- Propose constitutional amendments
Checks and Balances
How the Legislative Branch checks the others:
→ ExecutiveOverride vetoes (2/3 vote), control funding, confirm appointments, impeach the president
→ JudicialConfirm or reject judicial nominees, impeach judges, propose constitutional amendments
How the other branches check the Legislative:
Executive →Veto legislation, call special sessions, recommend legislation
Judicial →Declare laws unconstitutional, interpret statutes