2.1

• Bicameral Legislature


  Has two houses
• Senate


  • Each state is represented equally (two representatives — two votes)
  • Senators hold six year terms
  • Less connected to their constituents due to only having two representatives representing the whole state: listens to big issues
• House of Representatives


  • Each state is represented by population
  • More populous states have more representatives & less populous states have less
  • Each state is guaranteed one representative
  • Has 435 members
  • Representatives are determined by the Census
  • Seats are reapportioned to reflect population changes
  • Representatives hold two year terms
  • More connected to their constituents as they are kept in check frequently
• Congress


  • The Legislative Branch
  • Makes laws
  • Receives power from the Constitution's Article 1 Section 8
• Enumerated powers of Congress

  • Power to pass federal budgets (Power of the purse)
  • Power to raise revenue (Taxes, tariffs)
  • Power to coin money
  • Power to declare war
  • Power to raise a militia
• Implied powers of Congress

  • Not explicitly stated in the Constitution, but Congress can still carry these powers out
  • Given by the Necessary & Proper Clause: Any law that are deemed necessary & proper to carrying out the enumerated powers
  • Process of naturalization: declaring citizenship to immigrants
  • Regulating interstate commerce
  • Creating federal courts and their jurisdiction
  • Conducting oversight of the executive branch including the bureaucracy