How the U.S. Government Is Organized

• Legislative—Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate)
• Executive—Carries out laws (president, vice president, Cabinet, most federal agencies)
• Judicial—Evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts)

Two branches of government that did not exist under the Articles of Confederation. Executive, Judicial.

The Constitution created the 3 branches of government:

• The Legislative Branch to make the laws. Congress is made up of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
• The Executive Branch to enforce the laws.
• The Judicial Branch to interpret the laws.

Through legislative debate and compromise, the U.S. Congress makes laws that influence our daily lives. It holds hearings to inform the legislative process, conducts investigations to oversee the executive branch, and serves as the voice of the people and the states in the federal government.

The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.

The United States Congress or U.S. Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States and consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Congress has 535 voting members: 100 senators and 435 representatives.

Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution vests all lawmaking power in Congress’s hands, and Article 1, Section 6, Clause 2 prevents the president (and all other executive branch officers) from simultaneously being a member of Congress.

Consequently, Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution states that “The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.”

Participating in the process of amending and adopting revenue bills is a representative’s main duty. Representatives must meet with constituents and make sure laws the House approves are beneficial to their home district.

The U.S. House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

The size of individual members’ personal staffs were still relatively small, with the average senator having six staffers and representatives limited to having five staffers.