The Legislative Branch 

The legislative branch makes laws for the nation.  The main lawmaking body of this branch is known as Congress. Congress meets at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Note: The above information is taken directly from the following website: Ben's Guide.

Congress is divided into two parts:

The United States Senate

Every state has 2 US Senators. Since there are 50 states, there are 100 US Senators. Each Senator is elected for 6 years. There is no limit to the number of times a US Senator may be reelected.

                JACK REED                                                                         LINCOLN CHAFEE

        US SENATOR FROM RI                                                          US SENATOR FROM RI

House of Representatives

In the House, representation is based on the number of people living in each state.  There are a total of 435 representatives in the House.  Each member represents an area of the state, known as a congressional district.  The number of representatives is based on the number of districts in a state. States with larger populations have more representation than states with smaller populations.  Each state has at least one congressional district and therefore one representative in the House.

Each representative serves a term of 2 years.  When the term is over, people from that state may choose to elect a new representative or keep the same one.  There is no limit on the number of terms a representative can serve.

_________

There are two representatives from Rhode Island:

                  PATRICK KENNEDY                                                  JAMES LANGEVIN

            REPRESENTATIVE FROM RI (1)                              REPRESENTATIVE FROM RI (2)

     

_________

The Speaker of the House is a representative chosen by the other representatives to be the most powerful member of the House of Representatives. The job of the Speaker of the House is very important because the Speaker presides over the House during their sessions (meetings). Also, if something bad were to happen to both the President and the Vice President, the Speaker of the House becomes President.  

                   DENNIS HASTERT

                    SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

Note: Some of the above information is taken directly from the following website: Ben's Guide.

Legislative Branch Study Questions

1. Q. What is the legislative branch of our government?

    A. Congress

 

2. Q. What is Congress?

    A. The Senate and the House of Representatives

 

3. Q. What are the duties of Congress?

    A. To make laws

 

4. Q. Who elects Congress?

    A. The people

 

5. Q. How many senators are there in Congress?

    A. One hundred (100)

 

6. Q. Can you name the two senators from your state?

    A. Senators Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee

 

7. Q. For how long do we elect each senator?

    A. Six (6) years

 

8. Q. How many representatives are there in Congress?

    A. Four hundred and thirty-five (435)

 

9. Q. For how long do we elect the representatives?

    A. Two (2) years

 

10. Q. Who becomes President of the United States if the President and Vice President should die?

      A. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert

 

11. Q. Why are there 100 Senators in the Senate?

      A. Two (2) from each state

 

12. Q. Who has the power to declare war?

      A. The Congress

 

13. Q. Where does Congress meet?

      A. In the Capitol in Washington, DC

 

14. Q. How many times may a Congressman be reelected?

      A. There is no limit.

 

15. Q. Name the Representatives from your state.

      A. Congressmen Patrick Kennedy and James Langevin

 

16. Q. Who is the Speaker of the House?

      A. Dennis Hastert

 

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