1. Identify and explain the organization of the Legislature 2. Identify and provide an example of the powers of the Legislature, both formal and informal. 3. Identify and explain how Congress shares powers with the Executive, Judiciary, and bureaucracy. 4. Discuss the implications of Congress sharing powers with each of the following: Executive, Judiciary, and bureaucracy. 5. Discuss the functions that Congress performs. 6. Identify how the power of the Congress has/may evolve gradually. 7. Identify how the power of the Congress has/may changes dramatically as a result of crisis. 8. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and political parties. 9. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and interest groups. 10. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and media. 11. Identify and discuss the ties between the Congress and state and local governments.
1] The legislative branch is divided into 2 houses, the House of Representatives and Congress. The House consists of 435 members and Congress consists of 100. 2] The legislative branch has the power to propose/pass legislation with either the president's consent or 2/3 vote of both houses. They have the power of impeachment. They can also confirm or deny presidential appointments. 3] The legislative branch makes laws, the president enforces said laws, and the judiciary branch interprets laws. 4] The system of checks and balances make it so that no single branch has more power over another. However, the Legislative branch in particular has the greatest access to the people and their vote bestowed by popular sovereignty. 5] Congress enacts things such as lawmaking, educating the public, representing the voice of the people, and helping constituents. 6] The power of Congress is being more and more limited as time goes by. Congress can no longer declare war and that power is now reserved for the president. 7] Congress can fill a temporary president to ensure political security. 8] Congress relies on political parties to decide how to vote because if a member votes against their party they could lose their position. 9] Members of Congress support interest groups to improve their public opinion. 10] Congress will sometimes leak information to the media to observe how the public will react to a certain piece of legislation. This acts as an almost test run for a bill without it actually being a real thing yet so they can cancel the bill before the waste their time on it. 11] All of these areas are connected, but each have their own specific role in carrying out certain processes needed to pass a bill.