Legislative Branch Structure

The legislative branch includes the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Article I of the U.S. Constitution outlines the structure, roles and responsibilities of Congress.

Key Article I themes include:

– A two-house legislature (the House of Representatives and Senate)

– Specific powers delegated to Congress

The Powers of Congress

Congress makes laws for the entire nation.

Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, declare war, coin money, regulate immigration, naturalization and trade, and to raise and support the armed forces.

Article I also gives Congress the power to impeach and remove high level public officials where the House impeaches and the Senate holds trials.

The Structure of the Legislative Branch

Level of Government

Legislative Titles

Chamber Titles

Institution Title

Members

National RepresentativeSenator

U.S. House of RepresentativesU.S. Senate

U.S. Congress

435 U.S. Representatives100 U.S. Senators

State RepresentativeSenator

Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida Senate

Florida Legislature

120 Representatives40 Senators

Local City/County Commissioner

N/A City CouncilCounty Commission

Determined by city and county charters

The Legislative Process at the National and State Levels of Government

Power Explanation of Power Possible Outcome

Introduce Legislation

Ask the legislative chamber to consider a proposed law (bill)

Bill is forwarded to committee

Forward Bill to Committee

Ask a committee to consider the bill Bill is forwarded to legislative chamber

Vote on Bill A majority of members of each chamber (50%+1) must approve of the bill before it is forwarded to the chief executive

Bill is forwarded to the chief executive

Chief Executive acts on Bill

Chief Executive may sign the bill into law or veto the bill.

National lawState statute

How A Bill Becomes A Law

The Appointment Process

Power Level of Government Explanation of Power

Nomination by Chief Executive (U.S. president or Florida governor)

NationalState

The Chief Executive nominates persons to hold specific public offices.

Appointment by Senate

NationalState

The U.S. Senate must approve, by majority vote, of persons named by the president to hold specific offices (nominees).

The Florida Senate must approve, by majority vote, of persons named by the governor to hold specific offices (nominees).

The Impeachment Process

Power Level of Government

Explanation of Power Possible Outcome

Impeach NationalState

The power to bring charges of official wrongdoing against a person holding public office

Impeachment requires a majority vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Impeachment requires a majority vote in the Florida House of Representatives

Convict NationalState

Conviction leads to the removal of executive and judicial branch officials and a criminal record

Conviction requires a 2/3 vote in the U.S. Senate.

Conviction requires a 2/3 vote in the Florida Senate.

Party Leadership Congress and the Florida Legislature

Majority leader: The leader chosen by the party with the most seats in his or her house of Congress; this person represents the majority party in policy debates.

Minority leader: The leader chosen by the party with the least seats in his or her house of Congress; this person represents the minority party in policy debates.

President pro tempore of the Senate: The second highest ranking member of the U.S. Senate (The U.S. Constitution provides that the vice-president is the president of the Senate). The person who presides over the Florida Senate when the Senate president is not present.

Speaker of the House: The person who presides over the U.S. House of Representatives/the person who presides over the Florida House of Representatives. The majority party selects the Speaker of the House in the United States and in Florida.