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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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