Images of Congress

The Official Seal of the US Congress

Congress meets in
Washington, D.C.

US Capitol Building
This is where the magic happens!!
Federal Laws are made here!

Congress is the
lawmaking body
of the federal
government.

Structure of the
LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
(Congress)

Congress is
bicameral
2 Houses.

Why is Congress
bicameral?

To make sure that both small

and large states would be fairly
represented.
To allow each house to check
the actions of the other.

in

a building called
the U.S. Capitol

The Capitol Building has 2

meeting areas:
House

Senate

House of
Representatives
(House)
the

Members of the House are

called Representatives.

The House of Representatives

has 435 members

Floor of the House

Number of Reps. based on
state population = 435 total

Number of Reps. based on

state population= 435 total

Each state is entitled

to at least one
Representative in the
House.

Each member
(Representative)
represents a
congressional district
in their state.

Virginia Districts
Virginia has 11 districts

Your District VA #2

Your Representative
Scott Rigell (R)
the Congress Guy!!

Representation is based on
population.
(States with a large
population get to send
more Representatives to
the House)

The total House

membership
always
stays at 435.

The number 435

NEVER changes

Qualifications of a
House of Representative
- Must be 25 years of age
-Must be a resident of the state they
represent
-Must be a a U.S. resident for at
least 7 years
-2 Year term

Leadership in the House

The leader in the House of
Representatives is known as the
Speaker of the House
Speaker of the House
leads debate,
divides up responsibility

Floor of the Senate

2 senators per state =
100 total senators

The Capitol Building has 2

meeting areas:
House

Senate

the

Senate

Members of the Senate are

called Senators.

The Senate has

100 members

The total Senate

membership stays at
100 until another state
is added.

Every state has

2 representatives
in the Senate.

Representation is
based on equality.

Each Senator
represents his or
her entire state.

Your Senators

Mark Warner (D)

Tim Kaine (D)

Qualifications of a
Senator
- Must be 30 years of age
-Must be a resident of the state
they represent
-Must be a a U.S. resident for at
least 9 years
-6 year term
- (1/3 elected every 2 years)

Leadership in the Senate

The Vice President is responsible for
leading Senate debate.
The VPs only power in the senate is to
cast a tie-breaking vote.
When the VP cannot be in the Senate,
the President Pro Tempore takes his
place as leader.

Total Number of
Representatives = 535
(Both Senate and House)

House
435

Senate
100

bicameral

Def: having two

legislative houses

Congress

Def: the U.S. Senate plus

the U.S. House of Representatives

Senate
Def: (upper house)
representation is based on
equal number of
representatives
(2 per state = 100)

Senators
Must be 30 years old
Be a U.S. Citizen for 9 years
Be a resident of their state
Have a 6 year term

Lead By
The Vice President
nd
President Pro Tempor is 2 in
charge when the V.P. is gone

House of Representatives
Def: (lower house)
representation is based on
population of each state
(435)

Representatives
Must be 25 years old
Be a U.S. resident for 7 years
Be a resident of their state
Have a 2 year term

Lead By
The Speaker of the House