Chapter 11 Lawmakers and legislatures Government Alive! Chapter 11 Lawmakers and legislatures

11.2: Legislators and Their Constituents Legislators usually start in local politics Constituents: people that are in home district and states Formal qualifications: Must be residents of the state that they are elected to represent Senators must be at least 30 years old Representatives 25 years old

11.2: continued… Apportionment: Senate has 100 seats, 2 for each state House of Representatives has 435 seats divided among each states population The constitutional principle behind apportionment is equal representation “one person, one vote”. Each district should have about the same number of people The U.S. census every ten years reapportions each states districts due to population change

11.4: The Work of Congress The Powers of Congress levy and collect taxes borrow money regulate interstate and foreign commerce coin money declare war

11.4: continued… How Congress Checks the Other Branches Oversight: oversees executive agencies Confirmation: must confirm key officials appointed by president Impeachment: The H of R can impeach federal officials including the president by voting to accept the formal accusation against the person, senate conducts the trial and votes on whether to remove from office Ratification: senate must ratify all treaties negotiated by the president Override: Congress can override presidential veto Amendment: vote of both houses can propose an amendment to the Constitution