Legislative Branch: Makes Laws, Article I

• Congress (Senate & House)

  • House: 435 members, apportioned by population - 1 per district

    • represents the population of each individual state

  • 2-year terms, CLOSER to people + more members = more FORMAL debate

• Senate: 6 year terms, 2 per state = 100 total

  • based on equal representation

• Structures, Powers, Functions

  • House: led by Speaker + other members

  • Senate: VP = Senate President by default; ceremonial role: only breaks ties, Major leader “actually” leads, Minor leader, Whips (collect votes)

  • Committee Types: Standing, select, conference

  • House Rules: all bills in House must pass for debate rules to be considered, closed rule: more strict, open: less strict

  • delegate model - when representative acts on the wills and wishes of their constituency

  • trustee model - when representatives listen to constituents but use their best judgement when deciding to vote

  • politico model - involves both the trustee and delegate model; legislators follow their own judgement until the public becomes vocal about a particular matter, then they follow the will of their constituents

• Bill → Law: any legislator introduces → sent to committee & subcommittee (may be pigeonholed AKA die in committee) → versions passed → conference committee

  • 10 days for President to sign/veto until it becomes law (unless Congress leaves in 10 days) → pocket veto

• Federal Spending

  • the president is the commander in chief of the military but Congress has the power to declare war

  • War Powers Act - aims to give more power to the legislative branch by stating that there must be notification by the President to the legislative branch within 48 hours of deploying troops

  • money for war comes from Congress

  • treaties are formal and only the President is allowed to negotiate a treaty, it must be confirmed by the Senate with a 2/3 majority

• Judicial Branch

  • judicial review - the power by which the Supreme Court can review action of the other branches of government and declare them unconstitutional

  • the Judiciary Act of 1789 established the 3-level federal court system which remains today

    • district courts are the first level of the system (94 district courts)

    • circuit court of appeals is the second level (13 court court of appeals)

    • Supreme court is the highest court in the United States (review cases from state supreme courts and federal courts of appeal)