The Legislative Branch

Article I of the Constitution grants all legislative powers of the federal government to a Congress divided into two chambers, a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate, the smaller of the two, is composed of two members for each state as provided by the Constitution. Membership in the House is based on population and its size is therefore not specified in the Constitution.

Each Senator is elected for six years and each Representative for two years, with no limitation on the number of terms.

Each of the 50 states elects two Senators under a system in which one-third of the Senate is elected every two years. Senators are chosen in statewide elections held in even-numbered years. A senator must be over 30 years old and must have been an American citizen for at least nine years and must be the resident of the state from which he is elected.

The House of Representatives has 435 members. The total number of the House of Representatives has been determined by Congress. That number is then divided among the states according to their populations. Regardless of its population, every state is constitutionally guaranteed at least one member of the House of Representatives. Each state is divided into congressional districts of roughly equal population, and the voters of each district elect one Representative to Congress. A member must be at least 25 years of age and must have been an American citizen for no less than seven years and must be the resident of the state which sends him to Congress.

Each house of Congress has the power to introduce legislation on any subject except revenue bills, which must originate in the House of Representatives. The large states may thus appear to have more influence over the public purse than the small states. In practice, however, each house can vote against legislation passed by the other house. The Senate may disapprove a House revenue bill - or any bill, for that matter - or add amendments which change its nature. In that event, a conference committee made up of members from both houses must work out a compromise acceptable to both sides before the bill becomes law.

The Senate also has certain powers especially reserved to that body, including the authority to confirm presidential appointments of high officials and ambassadors of the federal government as well as authority to ratify all treaties by a two-thirds vote. Unfavorable action in either instance nullifies executive action.

In the case of impeachment of federal officials, the House has the sole right to bring charges of misconduct that can lead to an impeachment trial. The Senate has the sole power to try impeachment cases and to find officials guilty or not guilty. A finding of guilt results in the removal of the federal official from public office.

9.16. Answer the following questions:

1. Can a person be a Senator for 16 years?

2. Someone is 25 years old. Can this person be a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives?

3. Which part of Congress must approve bills before they become laws?

4. Do members of the House of Representatives ratify treaties?

17. Discuss the following chart. Compare the powers of the US Congress with those of the legislative branch in your country.

The broad powers of the whole Congress granted by the Constitution:	Certain acts by Congress specifically forbidden by the Constitution.
Congress may:	Congress may not:
levy and collect taxes;	suspend the writ of habeas corpus, unless necessary in time of rebellion or invasion;
borrow money for the public treasury;	pass laws which condemn persons for crimes or unlawful acts without a trial;
make rules and regulations governing commerce among the states and with foreign countries;	pass any law which retroactively makes a specific act a crime;
make uniform rules for the naturalization of foreign citizens;	levy direct taxes on citizens, except on the basis of a census already taken;
coin money, state its value, and provide for the punishment of counterfeiters;	tax exports from any one state;
set the standards for weights and measures;	give specially favorable treatment in commerce or taxation to the seaports of any state or to the vessels using them;
establish bankruptcy laws for the country as a whole;	authorize any titles of nobility.
establish post offices and post roads;
issue patents and copyrights;
set up a system of federal courts;
punish piracy;
declare war;
raise and support armies;
provide for a navy;
call out the militia to enforce federal laws, suppress lawlessness or repel invasions by foreign powers;
make all laws for the District of Columbia;
make all laws necessary to enforce the Constitution.

18. Before reading the text match a word on the left with a definition on the right.

1. judiciary a) find an accused person guilty of a crime in

a court of law

2. court b) the system of law courts in a country

3. Supreme Court c) do something that compensates for

(a wrong)

4. vest d) the highest judicial body in the US

Government (consisting of 9 members

appointed for life by the President with the

Senate’s approval)

5. court of appeal e) the award of money assessed to compensate

for financial loss to the injured party in a

lawsuit.

6. jurisdiction f) to place authority, power, etc. in the control

of a person or body

7. abolish g) officer appointed to try cases in a law court

8. judge h) legal authority

9. damages i) put an end to; do away with

10. redress j) one hearing cases previously tried in the

inferior court

11. convict k) body with judicial powers, tribunal

19. Test your general knowledge in the quiz below:

1. In the US there is a ... court system?

1. dual

2. single

3. multiple

2. The US court system is composed of a ... .

1. state judiciary and fifty federal judiciaries

2. national judiciary and fifty district judiciaries

3. federal judiciary and fifty state judiciaries

3. The Supreme Court is usually is session ... .

1. from October to June

2. from June to October

20. Before reading the text discuss some questions:

1. Name the highest court in the US and in the RF.

2. What does the abbreviation «FBI» stand for?

3. What body in your country is similar to the FBI?

9.21. Now read the text and see if you were right.