The Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch (deriving its name from the Latin lex, legis for “law”), does what its name suggests – makes laws. Let’s go into the structure of this branch, and then more deeply into how lawmaking actually works.
| The Legislative Branch | |
| Role | Makes the laws |
| Body | Congress Bicameral Legislature: Divided into two chambers, the Senate and House |
| Key Offices | The Senate Composed of 100 Senators The House of Representatives Composed of 435 voting members |
| Summary of Powers | Congress drafts, debates, and votes on bills, and can override presidential vetoes with a two-thirds majority. Congress also has the power to declare war, approve budgets, and regulate commerce (business) |
The legislative branch is responsible for making laws, declaring war, and regulating business (commerce). The Senate and the House of Representatives are offices in the legislative branch of the United States government. Together, they make up Congress.
| Vocabulario Esencial | |
| El Congreso | Congress |
| El Senado | Senate |
| La Cámara de Representantes | House of Representatives |